Iran claims downing of U.S. aircraft
Tehran says A-10 shot down over Persian Gulf waters
Iranian state media said the country’s air defense forces engaged and downed an A-10 aircraft over southern waters near the Strait of Hormuz, reporting the plane crashed into the Persian Gulf. The army statement said the aircraft was tracked and engaged by integrated air defence systems; the New York Times earlier reported a second U.S. Air Force combat plane had crashed in the Persian Gulf and its sole pilot was rescued.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also claimed to have shot down additional advanced U.S. warplanes, including a second F-35, attributing the successes to recently developed air-defence capabilities and describing further strikes near Qeshm and Hengam islands. Tehran framed the actions as part of “Operation True Promise 4,” a retaliatory campaign it says was launched after recent strikes by the United States and Israel.
The announcements allege significant damage to U.S. and Israeli regional positions and assets, and reference a March incident in which the IRGC said it hit an F-35 over central Iran. U.S. official confirmation and independent verification of the Iranian claims were not included in the Iranian reports.
