A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after being struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, according to two sources familiar with the matter cited by US media.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the fifth-generation stealth jet was "flying a combat mission over Iran" when it was forced to land. He stated the aircraft landed safely, the pilot is in stable condition, and the incident is under investigation.
The incident would mark the first time Iran has hit a US aircraft since the war began in late February. Both the US and Israel are flying F-35s in the conflict, with each aircraft costing upwards of US$100 million.
The US has lost other aircraft during the war, though none previously known to have been hit by enemy fire. Three US F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, with all six crew members ejecting safely. Last week, a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew aboard. The US military said that incident was "not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
As the war nears the end of its third week, senior US officials continue to claim widespread success. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday morning the US is "winning decisively" and that Iran's air defenses have been "flattened."
