US official says jet ‌shot down ‌over Iran: report

Tehran strike aftermath
US and Israeli air strikes have continued to hit sites in Iran's capital Tehran. -EPA

A ‌US fighter jet ‌has been shot down ‌over Iran and a search and rescue operation ‌is underway ‌for ⁠any survivors, ​a US official has told Reuters.

The ⁠official, who ‌spoke ​on condition ​of anonymity, ‌did not offer further ​details.

The Pentagon and ​US ​Central ​Command did not ‌immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iranian media reported on Friday that a US pilot or pilots had ejected over southwestern Iran.

The television channel in Iran's Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said police wanted Iranians to hand over any downed pilots alive to security agencies to "receive a precious prize".

Iranian state media soon after shared images online of what appeared to be US aircraft flying over the area including helicopters, planes and drones.

The channel showed metal debris in the back of a pick-up truck while making the announcement but provided no other immediate details.

The province is mainly home to Iran's Lur people, many of whom are farmers.

The extreme south of the province is the start of Iran's oil fields in the area.

A major explosion from an air strike struck Iran's capital Tehran at about the same time on Friday afternoon.

It was not clear what had been hit.

Earlier on Friday, Iranian missiles damaged a desalination plant and set alight a refinery in Kuwait.

The state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp said firefighters were working to control several blazes at the Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery.

with AP