A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet was struck by what sources describe as Iranian fire while on a combat mission over Iran, forcing it to divert for an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the Middle East. The aircraft landed safely on Thursday, and the pilot is in stable condition, according to U.S. Central Command.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed the incident in a statement. "The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition," Hawkins said. "This incident is under investigation." The mission was part of Operation Epic Fury, ongoing U.S. strikes against Iranian targets.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility, releasing unverified footage purporting to show the jet being hit through a forward-looking infrared system. Iranian state media and aligned groups described the event as downing the stealth fighter, though U.S. officials have not confirmed the cause of the damage beyond noting the combat context.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the development amid reports, asserting that U.S. forces are "winning decisively" and that Iran's air defenses have been "flattened." Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine noted that U.S. operations have shifted eastward, penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to target drone facilities and limit Tehran's power projection.

The incident marks the first reported hit on a U.S. aircraft by Iranian defenses since the conflict erupted on February 28, 2026, between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Prior U.S. losses include three F-15E Strike Eagles downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire on March 1, with crews recovered safely, and a KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Iraq on March 12 that killed six airmen. Overall, 13 U.S. service members have died in combat actions, with about 200 wounded.

The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter costing over $100 million per unit, has seen extensive use by U.S. and allied forces in the war. Iranian air defenses, including mobile systems and man-portable missiles, continue to pose risks despite U.S. claims of air supremacy. Earlier in the conflict, an Israeli F-35 downed an Iranian Yak-130 jet over Tehran in the type's first manned air-to-air kill.

U.S. reinforcements, including the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, are en route as the war enters its third week. Investigations into the F-35 damage are ongoing, with no further details released on repairs or operational impact.