Iran Claims Downing of Israeli F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets

Iran has claimed that its air defense systems successfully shot down two Israeli F-35lI Adir stealth fighter jets during a retaliatory exchange following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Iranian state media also reported that one of the pilots, a woman, was captured after ejecting from her aircraft.

The reported shoot-down occurred amid heightened tensions following Israel's

Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iran's nuclear enrichment sites, ballistic missile installations, and key military leaders. Iran's military asserts that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed the F-35s, marking what it describes as a significant military achievement.

Iranian media circulated images allegedly showing wreckage from the jets, claiming that UAVs were also destroyed during the confrontation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have strongly denied Iran's claims, dismissing them as "fabricated propaganda". Israeli officials argue that Iran's assertion is part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at masking its losses during Israel's operation.