Iran Claims Second U.S. F-35 Downed Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions

Islamic Revolutionary Guard says pilot fate unknown as Tehran and Washington trade unverified combat claims

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Friday that it shot down a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, marking the second such claim since the conflict began on February 28.

The fate of the pilot remains unknown due to the destruction of the aircraft, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Washington has not responded to the latest claim. Iran previously announced on March 19 that it had downed a U.S. F-35, a claim rejected by the United States.

Tehran also claimed Thursday to have shot down an Israeli F-16 jet. The region has been on high alert since the U.S. and Israel launched their joint air offensive on February 28, which has killed more than 1,340 people including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with sustained drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage and widespread disruption to global markets and aviation.

SPONSORED

SPONSORED