Search for missing U.S. airman

The downing of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 attack plane marks a significant escalation in the five-week-old conflict between the United States and Iran.

Iranian state media released footage of the wreckage while claiming their air defense systems are successfully targeting American aircraft one by one.

U.S. special forces have reportedly entered Iranian territory to conduct high-stakes search-and-rescue operations under the threat of continued hostile fire.

This incident represents the first time manned American warplanes have been lost to enemy fire in the region in over two decades.