Iran Claims to Have Shot Down Another US F-16 Fighter Jet, See Full Video Here

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency has reported that a fighter jet allegedly linked to the United States or Israel may have been shot down. The agency cited images of aircraft debris obtained by its reporter.

According to the report, a military correspondent assessed that the visible wreckage includes a single engine exhaust, suggesting the aircraft could be an F-16 or possibly an F-35, with the F-16 considered more likely. Tasnim also stated that several fighter jets were observed flying over cities, including Tehran, where Iranian air defense units reportedly engaged them. Some of the aircraft were said to have deployed flares while attempting to evade fire.

The claim has not been independently verified, and there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities or other sources.

A Second US Military Aircraft Incident

According to a report by The New York Times, an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft has crashed in the region. The incident took place near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical and volatile maritime chokepoints. US officials told The New York Times that the aircraft went down on Friday, around the same time as another major incident.

Meanwhile, an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran, marking a serious escalation in the ongoing conflict. Reports say one crew member has been rescued so far, while search operations continue for the second. In contrast, the A-10 crash involved a single pilot who was successfully rescued.

However, key questions remain unanswered. US officials have provided limited details on what caused the crash and the exact location of the incident. The A-10 Warthog, known for its close air support role, is designed to operate in high-risk combat zones, often flying low and directly over battlefields.

With two US aircraft incidents unfolding almost simultaneously, concerns are mounting over the risks facing American air operations in an increasingly volatile region.

Major Development: Iran Downs US Fighter Jet

A major development is now emerging from the Iran war, marking a significant escalation in direct confrontation between the United States and Iran. According to American media, it is now confirmed that a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday. US special forces have located one of the crew members.

Multiple reports quoting sources say the aircraft involved was an F-15E Strike Eagle, a twin-seat fighter jet used for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The jet was carrying two crew members — a pilot and a weapons systems officer. Reportedly, both crew members successfully ejected after the aircraft was hit by Iranian fire. While one person was rescued alive from inside Iranian territory, search operations are still ongoing for the second crew member.

In a significant operational decision, Israel reportedly cancelled planned strikes inside Iran to avoid interfering with the ongoing rescue mission.

Iranian state media was the first to report that the US jet had been shot down, though it claimed the aircraft was an F-35. State television in Iran also broadcast a message saying that anyone who locates the US personnel would be rewarded by the government.

This marks the first confirmed instance since the start of the war that a US fighter jet has been downed by Iranian fire. The White House has acknowledged the development. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told Axios that the president has been briefed on the situation.

The F-15E Strike Eagle, manufactured by Boeing, is a key component of US air power. It is designed to carry out deep strike missions as well as engage in aerial combat.

This incident comes amid mounting losses in the conflict. Earlier in the war, three F-15E aircraft were reportedly lost due to friendly fire. The human cost is also rising. At least 13 American personnel have been killed since the start of the campaign.

This comes after Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both repeatedly suggested that the US has effectively won this war. Hegseth and military commanders have spoken of air superiority and how degraded Iran’s air defenses are. This incident shows that Iran still retains capacity to defend its skies.

As the search continues for the missing crew member and tensions remain at a peak, this latest incident underscores the growing risks facing US forces in an increasingly dangerous and expanding conflict.

Iranian Claims

• Iran downs US fighter jet, captures its pilot amid war.
• US military's frantic search for captured pilot fails. Choppers deployed to trace missing F-35 fighter pilot.
• After Iran shot down a US F-35 fighter jet on Friday, a video circulated on social media showing American helicopters and planes searching for the missing pilot in southern Iran’s Histan.
• Iranian media urged residents to capture the pilot dead or alive for a promising reward.

Given that the American F-35 fighter jet of the Zionist regime... the provincial police force issued an urgent statement announcing that an American-Zionist enemy F-35 fighter jet had been targeted and subsequently shot down within the nation's airspace in the central region of the country. They requested full cooperation from the public, including nomadic communities, to apprehend any enemy pilot.

Further Claims

Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency claimed that Iranian forces foiled the US military’s bid to rescue the downed fighter jet pilot. Iran’s Fars news agency shared video showing a purported missile attack on an F-15 air base in Israel’s Haifa. The Iranian air defense systems also claimed to have successfully downed an American UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in Iraqi airspace, but the reports remain unverified.

Later, Iran’s Tasnim news agency claimed that the US military was trying to extract the fighter jet pilot, whose condition remained unclear. The operation involved Blackhawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft. However, their efforts have so far been futile, the agency said.

Washington has not commented on any of the claims regarding the alleged downing of a jet or the rescue mission.

In March, an American F-35 had to execute an emergency landing after being struck by Iranian fire. Iran has been carrying out retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli military installations in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday vowed to crush Iran. “Together with our American friends, we are continuing to dismantle the terror regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, we are bombing bridges, and we are striking their infrastructure. In recent days, our air force has successfully destroyed 70% of Iran’s steel production capacity... In full coordination between me and President Trump, between the Israel Defense Forces and the United States Army, we will continue to crush Iran. This regime is weaker than ever. Israel is stronger than ever.”

Iranian Claims of Downing Multiple Jets

Iran has claimed a big strike on United States Air Force capabilities, having downed nine fighter jets:

• F-15: three in Kuwait, one in Tehran
• F-16: one in central region, one in south
• F-18: one in south
• F-35: one in south, one in central region

The US Central Command rejected the IRGC’s claims, stating: “All US fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times.”