Israel/Iran conflict

A second US Air Force combat aircraft went down in the Middle East on Friday (local time), according to a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation.

It was not clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down or whether Iran was involved. Neither the crew’s status nor where the aircraft went down was immediately known.

But Iran's state TV is reporting that "an American A10 aircraft was shot by the defence systems of the Army Air Defence Force and crashed in the Persian Gulf in southern Iran", citing a statement from the Iranian Army.

It claims that it was shot down hours ago around the Strait of Hormuz.

The claim comes hours after an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran, according to Iranian media and US sources. One crew member was rescued while another remains missing inside the country, sparking a desperate search and rescue operation.

Meanwhile, two US officials told cable network CBS that two US aircraft involved in the rescue of the American F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran – including an A-10 Warthog – also came under fire. It's not yet clear if this is the same incident.