Overview
- The stealth jet was flying a combat mission over central Iran and diverted to a regional U.S. base, according to U.S. Central Command.
- Two sources told CNN the aircraft was likely struck by Iranian fire, though officials have not confirmed the cause.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it “seriously damaged” the F-35 and released unverified footage purporting to show a missile intercept.
- If validated, the incident would mark the first Iranian hit on a U.S. manned aircraft in the current conflict.
- The episode comes after other recent U.S. aviation losses tied to accidents or friendly fire, even as U.S. leaders say Iranian air defenses have been “flattened.”