A US F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at an American air base in the Middle East after being struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran, according to two sources familiar with the incident.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, confirmed the fifth-generation stealth aircraft was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it sustained damage requiring an emergency landing. The jet landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins said. “This incident is under investigation.”
The incident marks the first time Iran has successfully struck a US aircraft since the conflict began in late February, representing a significant development in the ongoing hostilities.
Both American and Israeli forces have been flying F-35s in the theater, with each aircraft valued at upwards of $100 million.
The emergency landing comes as the war enters its 19th day, with the US and Israel conducting joint military operations under the codename Operation Epic Fury following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
The incident’s timing is particularly notable, occurring just as senior US officials were asserting widespread success in their campaign against Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Thursday morning that the US is “winning decisively” and that Iran’s air defenses have been “flattened” .
Hegseth later briefed that the US has struck over 7,000 Iranian targets since operations began, claiming Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles has “taken the hardest hit of all” and that ballistic missile attacks against US forces are down 90 percent.
He also announced the destruction of 11 Iranian submarines and over 120 naval vessels.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine acknowledged during Thursday’s Pentagon briefing that while Iran’s capabilities continue to degrade, Tehran “still retain some capability.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the escalating conflict by warning that Tehran would demonstrate “ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” He claimed Iran had used only a “fraction” of its power in retaliatory responses out of “respect for requested de-escalation.”
The F-35 incident follows satellite imagery released this week showing significant damage to Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Air Base from Iranian missile strikes, with multiple hangars housing US F-35s and drone units sustaining heavy damage.
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