A US F-35 stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing in West Asia after a combat mission over Iran, with Tehran claiming it had struck the aircraft – a claim that, if confirmed, would mark a first in combat.
The US military has not confirmed that the jet was hit. However, US Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged that the aircraft was on an operational mission over Iran when it had to divert. The pilot is safe, and the incident is under investigation.
The episode has quickly become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict, as it raises a larger question: can one of the world’s most advanced stealth jets be tracked and targeted in active combat?
Iran claims ‘first strike’, US urges caution
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its air defence systems targeted the F-35 over central Iran around 2:50 am local time. In a statement, it described the strike as a breakthrough, claiming the aircraft may have been critically damaged.
These claims have not been independently verified.
A CNN report, citing US defence officials, said the jet may have been caught in a surface-to-air missile barrage. But officials stopped short of confirming a direct hit.
CENTCOM spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins told CNN that the aircraft “landed safely” and that the pilot was “in stable condition”. He added that the cause of the incident is still being examined.
Why this incident matters
The F-35 Lightning II is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world- and a key part of how the US fights its wars in the air. Priced at over $100 million, it is designed to evade detection and operate in contested airspace.
More than 19 countries either operate or are preparing to deploy the aircraft, making any vulnerability a matter of global interest.
If Iran’s claim is proven correct, it would be the first known instance of an F-35 being successfully hit during combat since it entered service.
War losses and rising pressure
The incident comes as fighting in West Asia enters its third week, with both sides reporting losses.
According to reports, the US has lost multiple aircraft during the conflict, including drones and crewed platforms. Not all losses have been due to enemy action. Three F-15 jets were reportedly downed in a friendly fire incident involving Kuwaiti air defences, while a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crash in Iraq killed all six crew members on board.
Iran, meanwhile, has said its air defence systems have intercepted over 100 drones in recent days – a claim that remains unverified.
Despite these developments, senior US officials continue to maintain that the broader military campaign is progressing as planned. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is “winning decisively” and claimed Iran’s air defence network has been significantly weakened.
Conflict shows no sign of slowing
Even as both sides push their narratives, the situation on the ground remains fluid. The US is reportedly moving additional forces into the region, including a Marine Expeditionary Unit, as concerns grow over a wider escalation.
The USS Tripoli, part of an amphibious ready group, has also been seen moving through the region.
For now, what happened to the F-35 remains unclear. But the competing claims around it have already added a new layer to a conflict that is expanding both militarily and in perception.