Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its air defense systems shot down two advanced US fighter jets on Friday, including a second F-35 stealth aircraft, in what it described as a significant response to ongoing military tensions.
In an official statement, the IRGC said one of the aircraft—a stealth F-35—was intercepted over central Iran using newly developed air defense systems. The jet, reportedly linked to a US squadron based at RAF Lakenheath, was completely destroyed upon impact, with no confirmed information on the pilot’s fate.
Earlier the same day, Iranian forces reported targeting another advanced fighter jet in the southern region near Qeshm Island. According to the statement, the aircraft crashed into waters between Qeshm and Hengam islands in the Persian Gulf after being struck by naval air defense units operating under Iran’s integrated defense network.
The IRGC framed the incidents as a direct rebuttal to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had claimed that American forces had neutralized Iran’s air defense capabilities. Iranian officials rejected those assertions, stating that their systems remain fully operational and effective.
The latest claims add to Iran’s broader narrative of inflicting heavy aerial losses on US forces since the onset of hostilities. Iranian sources have previously reported the downing of multiple US aircraft, including F-15s, F-16s, and F-18s, as well as additional F-35s.
Meanwhile, US officials have acknowledged limited aircraft losses during the conflict but have not confirmed the scale or specifics outlined by Iranian authorities. Reports from American media have indicated incidents involving damaged aircraft, though details remain contested.
The situation continues to evolve amid heightened military confrontation between Iran and the United States, with both sides presenting differing accounts of battlefield developments.
