A US F-35 Lightning II has reportedly been hit by suspected Iranian fire and forced to make an emergency landing at an American air base in the Middle East, according to US media reports.
A spokesperson for United States Central Command, Captain Tim Hawkins, confirmed that an incident involving the aircraft had occurred, though he did not verify claims that it was struck by Iranian fire. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins said. “This incident is under investigation,” he added.
Reports from outlets including ABC and CNN suggested the jet may have been damaged during operations linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
While the US military has lost multiple aircraft since the conflict began, including three F-15 jets accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti forces and a KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in Iraq, none had previously been confirmed as being hit by Iranian fire.
The developments come amid an intensified air campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran following a major military buildup in the region, which included the deployment of advanced fighter jets such as the F-35.
Since the start of the operation on February 28, 13 US service members have been k!lled, including six in the KC-135 crash and seven in Iranian attacks early in the conflict.
The US military also reported that around 200 personnel have been wounded across seven countries in the Middle East, although most have since returned to active duty. The incident adds to growing concerns over the scale and intensity of the conflict, as both sides continue to exchange strikes across the region.