US F-35 comes under fire in Iran: What we know so far
Photo: a US F-35 modern aircraft was hit for the first time in Iran (Getty Images)
A US F-35 stealth fighter jet worth over $100 million was damaged during a combat mission over Iran, stated US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins, according to CNN.
What happened
The F-35 was carrying out a combat mission over Iranian territory when, according to preliminary data, it came under fire from Iranian forces. The pilot then made an emergency landing.
"The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition," Hawkins said. The incident is under investigation.
Two sources familiar with the situation confirmed that the damage to the F-35 was caused by fire from the Iranian side.
First such case in the war
If confirmed, this would be the first time Iran has shot down or seriously damaged a US aircraft since the start of the conflict, which began in late February.
F-35 jets are being used in combat operations by both the United States and Israel.
Earlier, during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump said he could resolve the issue with Iran "in two seconds." However, according to him, the US is acting very cautiously.
At the same time, he has openly expressed dissatisfaction with allies. Trump said US membership in NATO is "certainly something that we should think about" and criticized allies for refusing to join the operation against Iran.
