United States media reported on Thursday that a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter was struck by suspected Iranian fire, forcing an emergency landing at an American airbase in the Middle East.
Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed the aircraft landed safely and that the pilot remains in stable condition.
“This incident is under investigation,” he added, without confirming details from outlets including ABC and CNN.
The U.S. has lost several aircraft during the ongoing conflict, including three F-15s mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti forces, as well as a KC-135 refueling plane that crashed in Iraq.
However, prior to this incident, no U.S. aircraft had been confirmed as struck by Iranian fire.
The alleged attack comes amid a massive U.S.–Israeli air campaign targeting Iran, following a major buildup of U.S. forces—including F-35s—in the region.
Since the start of operations on February 28, 13 U.S. service members have been killed: six in the KC-135 crash and seven in early Iranian attacks.
Around 200 personnel have been wounded across seven Middle Eastern countries, most of whom have returned to duty, according to the US military.
The reports added to heightened tensions in the region, as the U.S. and Israel continue to launch extensive operations targeting Iranian forces.
The incident has sparked international concern over the safety of U.S. aircraft and personnel in the Middle East.
