The Iranian news agency FARS published video that, it claims, shows the moment an American stealth fighter F-35 was struck early on Thursday morning. Iranian military officials said the aircraft sustained serious damage over the central part of the country, and its fate remains unclear. The United States, for its part, confirmed that an F-35 made an emergency landing at an American base in the region, but noted that the pilot is safe and that the circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
In their statement, Iran’s air defence forces, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said a modern and highly developed air-defence system was used to intercept the target. They emphasized that this successful interception demonstrates effective and targeted changes in the country’s integrated air-defence systems. Iranian military officials also linked the operation to defensive capabilities developed after recent regional conflicts, attempting to present it as proof of their technological superiority.
The American side provided its version of events. A spokesperson for US Central Command said the command is aware of the reports and confirms that an F-35 made an emergency landing after flying over Iran. According to him, the aircraft landed safely. CNN, citing sources, reported that the plane was forced to land after what is believed to have been fire from the Iranian side. This incident is considered the first case of Iran striking an American aircraft in the war that began in late February.
The incident carries significant weight because F-35 fighters, widely used by the United States and Israel, are among the most expensive in the world, with a price tag exceeding $100 million. Any damage or loss of such equipment carries serious political and military consequences. The event comes against the backdrop of other recent air incidents in the region, including Kuwaiti air-defence forces accidentally shooting down three American F-15s and the crash of a KC-135 tanker in Iraq last week.
The incident reflects growing risks of escalation between Tehran and Washington amid the ongoing regional conflict and adds further pressure on efforts to contain tensions. The true circumstances of the event and the exact cause of the aircraft’s damage remain subject to investigation by the parties involved, with official Iranian and US accounts diverging. At present there are few confirmed facts, and assessment of future risks will depend on the results of official investigations and subsequent political and military responses.
Comments on the news
What role does the FARS news agency play in Iran’s media landscape and how is it connected to the state? - FARS is a semi-official news agency closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It holds an influential position in Iran’s media space, often publishing news from the perspective of conservative and security establishments. Although formally not a state agency, its ties to the IRGC make it effectively a mouthpiece for the positions of Iran’s security organs and the conservative establishment.
How does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) differ from the regular Iranian army and why is it the IRGC that controls air-defence forces in this incident? - The IRGC is a parallel military structure created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect revolutionary values. Unlike the regular army (Artesh), which is responsible for traditional border defence, the IRGC has broader powers: internal security, ideological protection, intelligence, and control over strategic air-defence and missile forces. The IRGC controls key air-defence systems, such as the Bavar-373 system, which explains its leading role in such incidents.
Which specific “recent regional conflicts” do Iranian military officials refer to when speaking of the development of their defensive capabilities? - Iranian military officials typically refer to conflicts in Syria (where they support the Assad government), Yemen (support for the Houthis), Iraq (support for Shiite militias), and periodic clashes with Israel. Tehran views these conflicts as part of the “axis of resistance” against the influence of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia in the region. The experience gained in these conflicts has been used to improve Iran’s air-defence systems, missile technologies and asymmetric military capabilities.
Full version: الحرس الثوري ينشر فيديو لاستهداف طائرة "إف 35" الأمريكية