Iran claims to have shot down an American F-35, experts suggest F-15

On April 3, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had shot down an American F-35 fighter jet over Iran, but analysts suggest it may have been an F-15E Strike Eagle. The fate of the crew remains uncertain, with rumors of one aviator's capture, which CENTCOM has denied. If confirmed, this would be the first American manned aircraft lost over Iran since the start of Operation Epic Fury.