Overview
- U.S. Central Command said the F-35 was on a combat mission over Iran before it made an emergency landing at a U.S. base in the Middle East, and the pilot is in stable condition.
- The command confirmed the incident is under investigation and has not detailed the cause or the extent of any damage.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said a modern air-defense system struck an “aggressor” over central Iran at 02:50 local time and released video purporting to show the impact, with no independent verification or details on damage or the aircraft’s whereabouts.
- Two sources told CNN the jet landed after being hit by what they believe was Iranian fire.
- Reporting indicates that, if confirmed, this would be the first Iranian hit on a U.S. aircraft in the current conflict, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. is “winning decisively” and Iran’s air defenses have been “razed.”