The Iranian military says it has shot down an Israeli F-35 fighter jet in western Iran, in what could mark a major escalation in regional tensions.
According to state-affiliated Taslim news , Iran’s air defence forces intercepted and destroyed what they described as a “hostile Zionist regime aircraft” late Friday night. The jet was reportedly detected in Iranian airspace before being targeted by surface-to-air missile systems.
The pilot, initially listed as missing, was said to have ejected from the aircraft. On Saturday afternoon, Iranian sources claimed that the pilot — reportedly a woman — had been captured by army ground force commandos and taken into custody.
There has been no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.
The circumstances of the reported incursion, the exact location, and the status of the pilot remain unclear. Independent verification has not been possible.
This incident, if confirmed, would mark the first known downing of a fifth-generation Israeli warplane over Iranian territory.
