US F-35 Hit by Suspected Iranian Fire in First Such Strike of the War

For the first time since the US-Iran war began in late February, American forces may have taken direct fire from Iran — and a $100 million stealth jet is proof of it. The incident raises urgent questions about the war's trajectory and what risks US service members are facing thousands of miles from home.

A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at an American air base in the Middle East after being struck by what officials believe was Iranian fire, according to two sources familiar with the incident. The fifth-generation stealth aircraft — which carries a price tag of more than $100 million — was on a combat mission over Iran when it was hit.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the basic details while noting an investigation is underway.

"The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition," Hawkins said. "This incident is under investigation."

Hawkins also confirmed the jet was "flying a combat mission over Iran" at the time of the incident.

A First in the Conflict

If confirmed, this would mark the first time Iran has successfully struck a US aircraft since the war began in late February — a significant milestone in a conflict that has now stretched into its third week. Both the US and Israel are operating F-35s in the fight.

The US has already suffered other aircraft losses, though none previously attributed to enemy fire. In early March, three US F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses, though all six crew members ejected safely. Then last week, a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq under circumstances that remain unclear. The US military said that crash was "not due to hostile fire or friendly fire" — but all six crew members aboard were killed.

The potential loss of an F-35 to enemy fire would represent an escalation beyond those previous incidents — both in terms of cost and in what it signals about Iran's remaining military capabilities.

War Enters Its Third Week

Senior US officials have continued to project confidence as the conflict pushes toward the end of week three. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday morning that the US is "winning decisively" and that Iran's air defenses have been "flattened." An F-35 taking a hit over Iranian airspace, however, tells a more complicated story.

Meanwhile, the US military is reinforcing its presence in the region. CNN previously reported that the USS Tripoli was spotted approaching Singapore earlier this week, part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group. A US official confirmed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based out of Okinawa, is heading to the region — a sign that military planners are preparing for a longer or more intense campaign.

For American families watching the news, each development carries real weight — in lives, in equipment that taxpayers fund, and in the broader question of how long and how deep this conflict will run.