TEHRAN — Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that its air defense systems successfully struck and seriously damaged a U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jet in the skies over central Iran. The incident marks the first time a fifth-generation stealth aircraft has been hit by enemy fire in combat.

In a statement, the IRGC's Public Relations office detailed that the F-35 was engaged at approximately 2:50 a.m. local time. The aircraft was targeted by a “new advanced aerospace defense system” operated by the IRGC.

“The fate of this fighter jet is unknown and is under investigation,” the statement read. “There is a high possibility it has crashed.”

The statement added that the successful tracking and targeting of the stealth jet “shows the effective and targeted changes in the country's integrated air defense systems.”

The IRGC has released the footage of the interception. 

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not confirmed that the jet was shot down. However, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN that a U.S. F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing after it was struck by suspected Iranian fire. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed to The National Desk that the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to land at a U.S. air base in West Asia. Hawkins confirmed the jet landed safely and the incident is under investigation. He did not provide details on the extent of the damage or the condition of the pilot, only stating that the pilot was stable.

The Trump administration has been accused of hiding the real U.S. casualties and damage of the war against Iran. 

On Wednesday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth projected confidence in the U.S. campaign, claiming at a Pentagon briefing that “Iran's air defenses flattened” and that the U.S. is “winning decisively and on our terms”.

The F-35 Lightning II, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is considered the world's most advanced stealth fighter, designed specifically to evade enemy radar. It has been a cornerstone of U.S. and Israeli air aggression for years without ever being successfully engaged by the other warring party. The F-35C variant, a carrier-based version, costs over $100 million per unit.

In the early days of war, Iran downed three F-15 fighter jets in Kuwaiti territory. CENTCOM claim those jets were downed by “friendly fire” even though there were targeted in three different locations. Iran has also downed at least 118 advanced U.S. and Israeli drones over its airspace since the war began on February 28.