Conflicting accounts emerge as U.S. investigates incident involving advanced fighter jet over Iran.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Thursday that it struck a U.S. F-35 fighter jet during combat operations, marking what would be the first reported hit on an American aircraft since the start of Operation Epic Fury.
According to CNN, Iranian officials said the aircraft was “severely damaged” while flying a mission over Iranian territory. The jet reportedly made an emergency landing at a U.S. base in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. officials confirmed the aircraft landed safely, but have not verified Iran’s claim that it was struck by enemy fire. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said the pilot is in stable condition and that the incident remains under investigation.
CENTCOM has not confirmed whether the damage resulted from Iranian weapons, and has previously disputed similar claims made by Tehran throughout the conflict.
A social media post from CENTCOM, available on X, reflects ongoing denials of Iranian assertions that U.S. aircraft have been shot down during the war.
If confirmed, the incident would represent a significant development in the conflict, as the F-35 is among the most advanced aircraft in the U.S. military inventory.
Other U.S. aircraft losses during Operation Epic Fury have been attributed to non-combat incidents. Earlier in the campaign, Kuwaiti air defenses mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles in a friendly fire incident. In a separate event, a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in Iraq following a mid-air collision, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members aboard.
The reported F-35 incident remains under review as U.S. officials assess the cause of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing.
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