Iran claims to shoot down US F-35 fighter jet

Iran claims to have shot down a US F-35 fighter jet, an event the United States has reportedly admitted. Iran is stated to be the first nation to have targeted an F-35 fighter. Following the incident, Iran has claimed a major success and a breakthrough. Reports suggest Iran’s electronic warfare trapped Pentagon jets after decoding US flight patterns. Iran also claims that US war jets were destroyed.

The US Congress has admitted that billions of dollars in aircraft have been destroyed in the war. US military losses reportedly reached $7 billion in May 2026 during an operation named “Epic Fury.” A separate report states that a total of 42 US aircraft, helicopters, and drones have been damaged or destroyed.

Iranian official Abbas Araghchi has made a statement and a major claim regarding the downing of the jet. He has also reacted to the US Congress’s admission of aircraft losses.