Tehran: Iranian air defence systems shot down a US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran on Friday, the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported, quoting the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
This marks the second such claim since the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28.
According to the IRIB report, the aircraft belonged to a squadron linked to Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the UK, home to US Air Force F-35 operations and the 48th Fighter Wing. Debris reportedly carried “LN” tail markings consistent with aircraft from that base.
It added that the jet was targeted by advanced Iranian air defence systems and exploded on impact, with the pilot possibly killed. “A second US fifth-generation F-35 was struck and downed over central Iran by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system. Given the massive explosion on impact and during the crash, the pilot is unlikely to have ejected,” Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Spokesman stated as quoted by Press TV.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also published multiple sets of images it said showed the wreckage. However, no independent verification of the crash or pilot’s fate has emerged.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has previously rejected similar Iranian claims, stating that “no US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran”. On March 19, Iran had made a similar claim when an F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a military base in West Asia.
