Military Says Aircraft Hit by Domestic Air Defense System Over Western Iran
TEHRAN: Iran’s military on Saturday claimed to have shot down a third Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet, escalating tensions further amid ongoing hostilities between the two countries. The aircraft was reportedly intercepted while flying in Iranian airspace, according to a statement from the Iranian army.
If verified, this would mark the first confirmed downing of a U.S.-manufactured F-35 in combat.
Iranian officials said the jet was struck by an indigenous air defense system. The pilot ejected before the aircraft crashed and was subsequently taken into custody by Iranian commandos, according to foreign media reports. No details about the pilot’s identity or nationality have been released.
State-run Tasnim News Agency previously reported on Friday that two Israeli aircraft, including one F-35, had been downed within 24 hours. Iranian sources now claim this brings the total number of Israeli F-35s shot down to three since Israel launched its large-scale military campaign against Iran.
Of the earlier incidents, one pilot was reportedly killed, while another, believed to be a female pilot, was captured. Iran’s military also claimed to have neutralized a number of incoming micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) during the ongoing aerial confrontations.
Rising Tensions
The alleged shootdown comes in the wake of a major Israeli air offensive that began early Friday, targeting sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The strikes reportedly killed around 100 people, including civilians, senior IRGC officials, and nuclear scientists. Several key nuclear and military installations were also said to have been hit.
The latest developments have significantly raised the stakes in the conflict, fueling fears that the confrontation could spiral into a full-scale regional war.
