Iran Claims Strike on F-35 Captured on Video

(SeaPRwire) –   According to reports from American media, the stealth jet sustained damage but was able to perform an emergency landing.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has asserted that it struck a US F-35 fighter with anti-aircraft fire, releasing video footage showing the aircraft being hit.

These claims were supported by CNN, which indicated that the plane was damaged but managed to land at a US airbase within the region.

Thermal video provided by the IRGC depicts a silhouette matching an F-35 being struck by an unidentified projectile, with the footage ending abruptly after the impact.

“The condition of the fighter jet is currently unknown and under review, though a crash is considered highly likely,” the IRGC noted in a statement, further claiming that more than 125 long-range drones from the US and Israel have been intercepted throughout the conflict.

US Central Command has confirmed the event, reporting that the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing while “conducting a combat mission over Iran.” The command has not confirmed or denied if the jet was struck by ground fire.

“The pilot is in stable condition and the aircraft landed safely. This matter is under investigation,” stated Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command.

However, two sources with knowledge of the incident told CNN that the plane was hit by what is suspected to be Iranian fire.

The projectile used in the strike appears to be the ‘358 missile,’ also referred to as the SA-67, a domestic Iranian surface-to-air missile introduced in the late 2010s. It is thought to combine the characteristics of traditional anti-aircraft weapons and long-range drones, reportedly capable of loitering in the air for extended durations while waiting to engage a target.

This incident represents the first confirmed interception of an F-35 during the current conflict. The aircraft, which have an average price tag of approximately $100 million, have been used extensively by US and Israeli forces for operations against Iran.