Tehran
- Iranian authorities say they have captured the pilot of a United States F-35 fighter jet that was allegedly shot down by the country's air defence systems inside Iranian territory, according to reports carried by Tasnim News Agency.
The agency reported that Iranian armed forces intercepted and destroyed the aircraft before taking the pilot into custody. It further claimed that an attempted US operation to recover the pilot was unsuccessful.
Iranian government sources have also stated that the pilot is now in detention. However, there has been no confirmation from US officials, and the claims have not been independently verified.
State broadcaster IRIB reported that civilians in southwestern Iran traveled to the reported crash site in private vehicles, apparently attempting to locate or capture the pilot. Iranian authorities have urged the public not to mistreat the individual.
Tasnim published images it described as wreckage from the downed aircraft, though the authenticity of the visuals remains unverified.
Iranian officials said two F-35 jets were shot down within the past 24 hours, and three since the start of the conflict on February 28, citing additional incidents on April 2 and March 23.
These claims remain unconfirmed by independent sources, and there has been no immediate response from US officials.
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