The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Friday to have downed a United States F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, according to local media reports. The fate of the pilot remains unknown following the destruction of the aircraft, the Tasnim news agency reported, citing an IRGC statement relayed by Antara.
Hours later, Iranian media outlets cited Anadolu in reporting that a US helicopter, deployed for search and rescue operations for the downed jet, was also struck by a projectile.
The semi-official Mehr news agency confirmed the helicopter was searching for the pilot of the fighter jet allegedly shot down earlier. While the agency published an image of the purported wreckage, it offered no further details regarding casualties or the specifics of the strike.
The White House previously confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed on a US fighter, potentially an F-15, downed over Iran. However, CBS News, citing two US officials, reported that one crew member from the aircraft had already been successfully rescued by US forces.
This IRGC announcement marks the second time Iran has claimed to have downed an F-35 since the conflict escalated on February 28. A similar claim made on March 19 was denied by the US. Additionally, Iran claimed on Thursday to have shot down an Israeli F-16 fighter jet.
Second Fighter Plane
In a separate incident, a second US Air Force jet crashed in the Middle East on Friday, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations. It remains unclear if the aircraft crashed due to mechanical failure or was shot down, or if Iran played a direct role. The status of the crew and the exact crash site have not yet been confirmed.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that the second aircraft, an A-10 Warthog, had crashed and its sole pilot was successfully rescued. The A-10 reportedly went down near the Strait of Hormuz around the same time an Air Force F-15E was downed over Iran.
These incidents represent a significant escalation in hostilities, occurring just two days after President Trump declared in a national address, as reported by France24, that the US had "defeated and completely destroyed Iran" and would "finish the job, and we will finish it quickly."
Official details remain scarce, with the total number of crew members involved still unverified. While the initial circumstances of the crash are murky, a Pentagon email obtained by the Associated Press indicated that the military had received notification of "a plane being shot down" in the Middle East without further elaboration.
The losses occurred as Iran launched strikes against targets across the Middle East on Friday, maintaining pressure on Israel and Gulf neighbors despite US and Israeli insistence that Tehran’s military capabilities are nearly exhausted. Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and its control over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas—have rattled stock markets and sent oil prices soaring, threatening to drive up costs for essential goods and food.
Before news of the rescue emerged, social media footage showed American drones, planes, and helicopters patrolling mountainous terrain where a state TV affiliate reported at least one pilot had ejected. A presenter urged local residents to hand over any "enemy pilots" to the police, promising a reward.
This marks the first time the US has lost an aircraft within Iranian territory during the current conflict, potentially signaling a new level of pressure on the American military. The region has remained on high alert since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on February 28, which have killed more than 1,340 people, including the then Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes across Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US assets, causing casualties, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting global markets and aviation.
Read: Iran Rejects Washington's 48-Hour Ceasefire Proposal, Report Says
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