Iran puts bounty on US pilots after shooting down F-35 fighter jet

Iran has reportedly placed a bounty on American pilots after claiming it shot down a US fighter jet, in a development that has heightened tensions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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Iranian state-linked media released images said to show the wreckage of the aircraft, alleging that a pilot ejected over Iranian territory. Authorities in the Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said residents were being urged to hand over any captured US pilots to security agencies in exchange for a reward.

State television also announced a financial incentive for information leading to the capture of the pilots. US officials have not confirmed the claim, and the Pentagon has not responded publicly. Previous Iranian claims of downed aircraft have often been disputed by Washington.

Reports indicate that search and rescue efforts may be underway, with helicopters reportedly seen over Tehran amid suggestions that two pilots could be missing. If confirmed, the incident would mark the first time a US jet has been brought down in enemy territory since the current conflict began.

The development comes amid escalating hostilities, with US President Donald Trump warning that military operations against Iran could intensify.

“Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” Trump said. “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”

The conflict has continued to spread across the region, with Iran launching strikes on energy infrastructure, including a fire reported at Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery, while air defence systems were activated in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in response to drone threats.

Meanwhile, Israel has carried out retaliatory strikes in Tehran and the central city of Isfahan, further intensifying the regional confrontation.