Iran has reported the shooting down of a US stealth aircraft over central Iran, leading to the initiation of a search and rescue operation by the US military for the pilot. According to the semi-official Iranian Mehr news agency, an F-35 fighter jet was downed with the pilot’s survival chances deemed slim. Additionally, images released by the government-affiliated Iranian news network Press TV purportedly show the wreckage of the US F-35 fighter that was brought down over Iranian territory.
Furthermore, the Iranian semi-official Tasnim News Agency shared a video on its Telegram channel showcasing a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft allegedly involved in a US search and rescue endeavor related to the downed plane. Tasnim News Agency claimed that the US attempt to recover the downed fighter pilot was unsuccessful, despite deploying Black Hawk helicopters and a Hercules 130 for the mission.
The US military has refrained from commenting on the reports emerging from Iranian media. Previously, CENTCOM, the US military command in the region, refuted an Iranian assertion that a fighter had been downed over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, labeling it as “false”. Nearly two weeks ago, a US F-35 fighter jet executed an emergency landing following suspected enemy fire.
Amidst the ongoing silence from the Pentagon regarding Iran’s recent claims, speculations have arisen about a potential rescue operation being orchestrated to retrieve the pilot. Sky News military analyst Sean Bell highlighted the intricate nature of combat and survival rescue missions in such circumstances, involving helicopters, gunships, and personnel. He also mentioned the possibility of Iran exploiting the situation for propaganda purposes by showcasing any captured pilot on television, although the veracity of the Iranian media reports remains unconfirmed.
