According to reports, a US fighter jet was hit by Iranian artillery fire in the Middle East and was forced to make an emergency landing.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said: “We are aware of reports that a U.S. F-35 aircraft made an emergency landing at a U.S. regional air base after conducting a combat mission over Iran.” independent.
“The aircraft landed safely and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins added. “The incident is under investigation.”
Two people familiar with the matter told CNN that the plane was believed to have been hit by Iranian fire. The attack would mark the first time Iranian forces have attacked a U.S. aircraft since the war began late last month.
Both the U.S. and Israeli militaries fly F-35 jets in the region, which cost more than $100 million.
According to reports, an American F-35 fighter jet was hit by Iranian artillery fire in the Middle East and was forced to make an emergency landing. The picture shows a U.S. Air Force F-35A fighter jet flying over Puerto Rico in December (AFP via Getty Images)
A week ago, a U.S. tanker plane crashed while flying in friendly airspace over Iraq, killing all six crew members. According to reports, the incident involved two aircraft and may have been a mid-air collision. new york times. It is still under investigation.
Trump administration officials have repeatedly claimed that the United States is winning the war that Israel and the United States jointly launched on February 28, while Iran is actually unable to respond.
“Iran has no air defenses,” Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth told reporters last week. “Iran has no air force. Iran has no navy. Their missiles, missile launchers and drones have all been destroyed or shot out of the sky.”
The war, now in its third week, has engulfed the wider region, with attacks reported in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries. On Thursday, Heggs said the United States had struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran.
According to Iranian officials, at least 1,200 Iranians were killed and more than 10,000 injured. The Pentagon said 13 U.S. service members were killed and more than 140 injured.
The conflict has also raised concerns about global economic instability as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for international trade, has come to a standstill. As a result, oil prices have soared, breaching the $100-per-barrel mark multiple times in recent weeks. The average cost of a gallon of diesel surged to more than $5 this week.
Hegseth said on Thursday that the United States has attacked more than 7,000 targets in Iran. In this photo, smoke and flames rise over Tehran after an airstrike rocked the city (Getty)
The war shows no signs of abating as U.S. airstrikes intensify and more Marines and warships are deployed to the Middle East. Last week, Trump told Fox News that conflict will end when “I feel it in my bones.”
Capitol Hill is deeply divided over the conflict. Democrats called the move illegal, reckless and a blatant violation of Trump’s campaign promise as a “peace candidate.” Republicans largely support the president, but some privately express reservations.
Polls showed that most Americans opposed the war. According to a Quinnipiac University survey released on March 9, 53% of voters oppose military action against Iran. Only a quarter of Americans support military action against Iran, according to an earlier Ipsos poll.
