Overview
- U.S. Central Command confirmed the F-35 was flying a combat mission over Iran before landing at a regional American air base in the Middle East.
- CNN, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported the jet was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it engaged the aircraft and released video purporting to show a hit, which has not been independently verified.
- If verified, the episode would be the first Iranian strike on a U.S. aircraft since the war began on February 28 and possibly the first time an F-35 has been hit by enemy fire.
- Officials have not specified the jet’s variant or service branch as an investigation proceeds, with the incident occurring as U.S. leaders assert battlefield gains despite recent aircraft losses.