BREAKING: U.S. F-35 Makes Emergency Landing After Iranian Strike 

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter was forced to make an emergency landing at a base in the Middle East after being struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The incident marks the first time a U.S. aircraft has been successfully hit by Iran since the war began in late February 2026.

The Combat Mission

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), confirmed that the $100 million fifth-generation jet was "flying a combat mission over Iran" when the incident occurred.

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

A Blow to Stealth Dominance?

The F-35, lauded for its advanced stealth capabilities and sensor fusion, has been a cornerstone of the allied air campaign. Until now, the U.S. and Israel, both of which operate the aircraft in this conflict, had managed to avoid any combat losses or significant damage to the fleet.

The successful strike by Iranian forces raises questions about the current state of Tehran's remaining air defense capabilities, despite recent Pentagon assessments.

Contradicting "Flattened" Defenses

The news of the emergency landing comes just hours after senior U.S. officials claimed "widespread success" in the campaign to dismantle Iran's military infrastructure. Earlier on Thursday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. was "winning decisively" and asserted that Iran’s air defenses had been "flattened."

While Hegseth claimed that Iranian production lines and naval assets have been largely neutralized, this hit on a high-value stealth asset suggests that pockets of effective anti-air resistance remain operational within the Islamic Republic.