Iran claims third Israeli F-35 downed amid escalating tensions

TEHRAN: Iran has claimed a significant escalation in its ongoing conflict with Israel, announcing on Saturday that its air defense forces have shot down another Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet in the country’s western airspace.

If confirmed, it would be the first combat incident involving the downing of a US-made F-35.

According to a statement from the Iranian military, the F-35 collided with the country’s defense system while flying in Iranian airspace. According to foreign media, the pilot allegedly ejected and was later taken into custody by Iranian commandos. Iran’s state news agency Tasnim reported earlier on Friday that two Israeli jets, including an F-35, had been shot down in the past 24 hours.

However, the Iranian military claimed that this latest incident brought the total number of F-35s shot down to three since Israeli forces launched a large-scale attack on Iran, as reported by the Tehran Times. In previous incidents, one pilot was reportedly killed, while the other, said to be a female pilot, was captured.

Initial reports suggest that Iran’s air defenses also neutralized several micro aerial vehicles (MAVs).

The Iranian military did not release further details about the identity or nationality of the captured pilot. However, the statements have heightened tensions at a time when the two countries appear to be on the brink of a full-scale war.