Iran governor urges locals to help track down US pilots after fighter jet downing

TEHRAN -- Yadollah Rahmani, governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, called on Friday for residents in tribal and rural areas to assist authorities in locating "enemy pilots."

"The people of the province, particularly those in tribal areas, are doing their utmost to find these pilots," Rahmani said. "If enemy forces are spotted, capturing them alive is a priority."

He added that security, law enforcement, and military forces are closely monitoring the situation. Rahmani also said individuals who succeed in capturing or neutralizing hostile forces would be formally "commended" by the governorate.

Earlier on Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said its air defense systems had shot down a US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, adding the fate of the pilot remained unknown.