Iran Claims Downing of US F-18 Fighter Jet Amid Tensions
Iran's Allegation Against US Fighter Jet
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has asserted that its air defense systems successfully shot down a US F-18 fighter jet on Wednesday. This announcement came shortly after Tehran dismissed a peace proposal from Donald Trump, labeling it as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable." The IRGC shared a video that allegedly depicts the incident, but it did not clarify the specific location or circumstances surrounding the event. This claim has yet to be verified, and both the Pentagon and United States Central Command (CENTCOM) have not confirmed any loss of an F-18 in the area.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announces that it has successfully targeted an American F-18 fighter jet. Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/LWoNSpkc2J pic.twitter.com/E9nRJgnla3
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) March 25, 2026
Previously, CENTCOM had rejected similar claims from Iran, including allegations regarding the downing of a US F-15. In a statement on social media, they noted that US forces had conducted over 8,000 combat flights as part of Operation Epic Fury, asserting that no American aircraft had been shot down by Iranian forces. This denial followed reports from Iranian state media, which indicated that a US aircraft had been targeted near Hormuz Island, along with footage purportedly showing the jet being monitored by Iranian air defense systems.
After a separate incident involving an F-35 stealth fighter jet that made an emergency landing on Thursday, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that the pilot was in stable condition. Hawkins mentioned that "this incident is under investigation," but did not provide further details regarding the circumstances of the landing.
This is a Developing Story and will be updated soon