In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Iranian state media, including the Tehran Times, have reported claims from the Iranian Army that it successfully downed multiple Israeli F-35 fighter jets over Iranian territory. Specifically, reports from Iran on June 14, 2025, indicate the downing of a “third F-35 fighter jet,” with two Israeli pilots now allegedly in Iranian custody. Some Iranian outlets have even released images purportedly showing wreckage and suggested the capture of a female pilot. These claims follow a series of Israeli “preemptive strikes” on Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites on June 13.
According to Iranian military sources, their air defense systems intercepted the advanced stealth aircraft that had breached Iranian airspace. They assert that one pilot was captured after ejecting over western Iran, adding to an earlier claim of another pilot being taken into custody. These reports present a significant military achievement for Iran, as the F-35 is considered one of the most sophisticated and expensive combat aircraft in the world, renowned for its stealth capabilities.
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However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have categorically denied these Iranian claims. Spokesmen for the IDF have publicly dismissed the reports as “completely baseless,” “fabricated,” and part of a “disinformation campaign” by Iran. As of now, there has been no independent verification from neutral international monitoring bodies or major Western news agencies to corroborate Iran’s assertions. Military analysts and independent bloggers have also raised skepticism regarding the authenticity of images and videos circulated by Iranian media, pointing out inconsistencies that suggest they might be fabricated or AI-generated.
This conflicting information emerges amidst heightened tensions, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing “severe punishment” for Israel’s recent aggression. The alleged downing of F-35s, if independently confirmed, would mark an unprecedented event in modern aerial warfare and would profoundly alter the strategic balance in the Middle East. However, without external verification, the claims remain contested, highlighting the ongoing information warfare accompanying the military actions between the two long-standing adversaries.
