"After 'defeating Iran 37 consecutive times', the great but unplanned war they launched has been reduced to 'Hey! Has anyone seen our pilot? Please'", Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X on 3/4, in a clear jab at Washington.

"Well, what an incredible step forward. Absolute genius", Ghalibaf added.

Ghalibaf's comments came after US media reported on the same day that an F-15E fighter jet was shot down in southwest Iran. The US immediately launched a search operation, deploying HH-60 helicopters and an HC-130J combat search and rescue aircraft, successfully rescuing the pilot.

The fate of the weapon systems officer, who sits behind the pilot in the cockpit, remains unknown.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf presides over a meeting in Tehran on 1/2. Photo: AFP

Rescue efforts were documented in videos posted on social media, showing an aircraft flying low to the ground with two helicopters in close pursuit. NBC News later cited a US official, who stated that "two helicopters came under fire while participating in the search and rescue operation related to the F-15E fighter jet shot down in Iran" and confirmed that all personnel on board were safe.

Concurrently, Iranian officials urged citizens to join the search for US military personnel.

"If you capture and hand over live enemy pilots to law enforcement and the military, you will receive a substantial reward", an IRIB channel presenter announced.

The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwest Iran, pledged a 10 billion toman (USD 76,000) reward for anyone who hands over "US criminal pilots".

By Nhu Tam (Source: CNN, AFP)