On Friday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared that it had successfully shot down a second U.S. F-35 fighter jet within the nation's central airspace. This action occurs amidst a joint offensive involving Washington and Israel against Iranian territory.
A spokesperson from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, as quoted by Iran's Mehr news agency and reported by Reuters, stated that the aircraft was hit by the Revolutionary Guard's air defense systems and was "completely destroyed."
The spokesperson further commented that given the intensity of the explosion, the chances of the pilot surviving were slim.
As of this article's release, U.S. authorities have neither confirmed nor commented on the alleged incident.
The Backstory
This announcement follows a related incident: On March 19, the U.S. military confirmed an emergency landing of an F-35 at a base in the Middle East following a "combat mission" over Iran, after Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have hit the aircraft.
During that event, Washington stated that the jet landed successfully, while Iran maintained that the plane had been "hit" and sustained "severe damage."
Recent Tensions Escalate
The claim of the second downing emerged mere hours after U.S. airstrikes in Iran's Alborz province resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals and left 95 injured. The attack led to the destruction of the B1 bridge, regarded as the longest in the Middle East.
The strikes occurred as Iranian families were observing Nature Day near the city of Karaj, west of Tehran.
President Donald Trump released images of the bridge's destruction, cautioning that "much more is to come."
International Reactions
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denounced the attacks on civilian infrastructure as a "moral collapse."
Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, issued a warning of potentially "more devastating" strikes against the U.S., Israel, and their allies if infrastructure attacks persist.
Conflict Origins
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with the launch of Operation Epic Fury by the U.S. and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel, which targeted over 900 Iranian sites within the first 24 hours.
Iranian authorities report over 2,000 casualties since the offensive began, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, and Defense and Intelligence Ministers Aziz Nasirzadeh and Esmaeil Khatib.
On April 1, Trump announced that Iran had requested a ceasefire, though he stipulated any agreement would hinge on terms related to Iran's nuclear program and halting Tehran's support for regional militant groups.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Iran-U.S. Conflict
What initiated the current conflict between the U.S. and Iran?
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, with the U.S.'s Operation Epic Fury and Israel's Operation Roaring Lion, targeting over 900 Iranian sites.
Have the U.S. authorities confirmed the downing of the F-35?
As of now, U.S. authorities have neither confirmed nor commented on Iran's claim of the F-35's downing.
What was the outcome of U.S. airstrikes in Alborz province?
The U.S. airstrikes in Alborz province resulted in at least eight deaths and 95 injuries, along with the destruction of the region's longest bridge.