US F-35 Hit in Suspected Iranian Strike, Pilot Safe

News Desk 

Washington: A US F-35 stealth fighter jet reportedly sustained damage from suspected Iranian fire, forcing it to make an emergency landing at an American air base in the Middle East, according to US media reports on Thursday.

US Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed the aircraft landed safely and said the pilot is in stable condition, adding that the incident is under investigation. No official confirmation was provided regarding the source of the attack.

The development comes amid a sustained US-Israel air campaign against Iran following a major buildup of American forces in the region, including F-35s. So far, the conflict has claimed over 2,000 lives, with 13 US service members killed and around 200 wounded across seven countries in the Middle East.

While reports indicated that former President Donald Trump considered deploying thousands more US troops to the region, he publicly stated on Thursday that no ground forces would be sent.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed ongoing operations, stating that Israel conducted the bombing of Iran’s South Pars gas field independently, despite prior US requests to delay such attacks. 

Netanyahu said the Iranian regime’s ability to enrich uranium and develop ballistic missiles has been severely reduced, but emphasized that any regime change would require a “ground component.”

As tensions escalated, Iran reportedly launched a new wave of missile strikes toward Israel, underscoring the continued volatility in the region and the high-risk nature of ongoing air operations.

This incident marks the first reported case of a US F-35 being struck during the current Middle East conflict, highlighting the growing dangers faced by advanced aircraft operating in contested airspace.