A U.S. F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the Middle East after being struck by suspected Iranian fire, according to sources cited by CNN.
Officials indicate this could mark the first successful Iranian strike on a U.S. aircraft since the start of the war, signaling a significant escalation in the conflict.
CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the fifth-generation stealth jet was conducting a combat mission over Iran when the incident occurred. The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is reported to be in stable condition.
An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
