PNN – Iran’s targeting of an F-35 fighter jet belonging to the hostile US military received widespread coverage in the international media.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, yesterday, the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced in a statement that the F-35 strategic fighter jet of the hostile US army was hit and seriously damaged in the central sky of Iran by the IRGC’s modern, advanced aerospace defense system.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced that an F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing after conducting a mission over Iran.
Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, told CNN that the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
Lockheed Martin Corp. shares have fallen at least 8 percent in the past five days since the news was released. The company also cut its full-year profit forecast, expecting earnings per share (EPS, a measure of a company’s profitability per share) to be between $21.70 and $22 in 2025, down from a previous forecast of $27.30.
Meanwhile, many regional and international news agencies addressed this important issue and acknowledged Iran’s defense progress.
Below is the coverage of the news of the F-35 fighter jet being targeted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in international media:
Read more:
Reuters cites source: F-35 appears to have been hit by Iran
Gen. Dan Keene, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. military was still on track to achieve its objectives, and the United States was making deeper incursions into Iranian territory every day. But Keene acknowledged that Iran had retained some of its missile capabilities. “They came into this battle with a lot of weapons,” Keene said.
This came to light when the US military said in a statement that an American F-35 fighter jet had made an emergency landing after flying over Iran. The military said the pilot was in stable condition. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appeared the plane was hit by Iran, but an investigation was underway.
Mirror: Millions of dollars lost!
Iran has claimed a major tactical success by announcing that it targeted a US F-35 stealth fighter jet during a combat mission over Iranian airspace.
The Revolutionary Guards released images that appeared to show the jet being hit and forced to make an emergency landing. While Iran said the plane was “severely damaged” and likely to crash, the United States confirmed only a safe landing, saying the pilot was in stable condition, adding that the incident was under investigation.
The Pentagon downplayed the claims, but the incident highlights growing risks to advanced U.S. air power as Iran demonstrates its improving air defense capabilities.
Newsweek: F-35 costs over $100 million
Newsweek magazine, in a report referring to the news of the targeting of the American F-35 fighter jet by Iran, wrote about why it is important: The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter that costs more than $100 million to produce. The incident is the first time Iran has shot down a US aircraft during the conflict, but US President Donald Trump said on Thursday, answering questions at the White House around noon on Thursday during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, “Nobody is even shooting at us.”
Business Insider points out the contradiction in the Pentagon’s statement about air superiority over Iran
Business Insider, referring to the news of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ targeting of an F-35 fighter jet, wrote: This is the first time that Iran has managed to target a US aircraft with surface-to-air munitions. Pentagon leadership had previously said that US forces had achieved air superiority over Iran, but that did not mean that the risks had disappeared. The emergency landing comes a week after a US KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq, killing all six of its crew.
CENTCOM said a second unidentified aircraft involved in the incident, which was not caused by friendly or enemy fire, landed safely. In addition to the loss of the tanker, three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in what the military described as an “apparent friendly fire incident” during the opening weekend of Operation Epic Fury. All six crew members involved in the incident ejected safely from their jets. At least 13 U.S. service members have been killed and nearly 200 wounded, some critically, since the start of combat operations against Iran on Feb. 28. Most of the wounded have returned to duty.
The National Interest: To date, no F-35 has been shot down in combat.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that an F-35 made an emergency landing at an undisclosed air base in the Middle East on Thursday. Multiple sources reported that the stealthy fifth-generation fighter jet was hit by Iranian ground fire, but CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins would only acknowledge that the aircraft was “flying a combat mission over Iran.”
To date, no F-35 has been shot down in combat, but about a dozen have been lost in accidents. Past crashes have been due to mechanical failure and pilot error. If confirmed, this would likely be the first time the multirole fighter has been damaged by enemy ground fire.
India Times: F-35 targeting raises new questions
India Times, referring to the video released by Iran showing the targeting of an American F-35 fighter jet, wrote: Iran has released a video claiming to have attacked an advanced American fighter jet during combat operations, raising new questions about the severity of the conflict.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has targeted an F-35 Lightning II, forcing it to make an emergency landing. The plane was hit during a mission over Iran but landed safely, with the pilot reportedly in stable condition, according to reports citing U.S. Central Command. Tehran says the jet suffered significant damage, although the extent of the damage is not yet known.