An American F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US airbase in West Asia on Thursday, according to reports. The aircraft had just completed a combat mission over Iran.

The incident has drawn attention because the jet may have been hit by Iranian fire. If this is confirmed, it would be a major development. So far, there has been no confirmed case of an F-35 being struck by enemy fire since it began combat operations in 2018.

What US officials have said

A spokesperson for the US Central Command, US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, confirmed the incident. He said the aircraft landed “safely” and that the pilot was “stable”.

Hawkins also stated that the matter is still being investigated.

Reports suggest possible Iranian strike

According to a report by CNN, citing sources, the F-35 may have been hit by Iranian forces. Soon after the news became public, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting a US aircraft.

The IRGC said that its air defence systems struck the stealth jet over central Iran early Thursday. A video shared by Tehran Times reportedly shows the moment the aircraft was hit. The footage appears to show explosions, smoke trails, and the jet changing direction mid-air.

If these claims are verified, it would mark the first time Iran has successfully hit an F-35. The aircraft is a fifth-generation stealth fighter worth over $100 million and is considered a key part of US air power.

The war in West Asia has now entered its 21st day. Fighting has remained intense and continuous. As a result, losses are rising on all sides. Reports suggest that the United States has lost at least 16 military aircraft so far. These include around 10 Reaper drones that were shot down by enemy fire. In addition, several crewed aircraft were destroyed either in combat or due to accidents.

Aircraft losses continue to grow

The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. These strikes reportedly killed Ali Khamenei.

Since then, the US has suffered multiple aircraft losses. Some estimates put the total at 16. According to CNN, three US F-15 fighter jets were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defences. However, all crew members managed to eject safely.

In another incident, a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq last week. All six crew members on board died. The US military clarified that the crash was not caused by enemy fire.

Rising casualties among US troops

The war has also resulted in casualties among American forces. At least 13 US service members have been killed so far, while around 200 others have been injured.

US and Israeli leaders claim success

Despite these losses, senior US officials continue to express confidence in the campaign. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United States is “winning decisively.” He also claimed that Iran’s air defence systems have been “flattened.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made strong remarks about Iran’s capabilities. “After 20 days, I can tell you — Iran today has no ability to enrich uranium, and no ability to produce ballistic missiles,” said Netanyahu in Jerusalem.