US F-35 fighter jet makes emergency landing after coming under Iranian fire: Report
According to the report, the fifth-generation aircraft encountered the incident mid-mission, leading to an unplanned precautionary landing.
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US Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the development, saying the jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.
He added that the plane landed safely and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The report did not specify the extent of damage to the plane or whether the suspicious fire involved direct contact, but the incident underscores the increasing risks facing U.S. military operations due to rising tensions with Iran.
Is the USA putting troops in Iran? Trump answers
The development comes after Donald Trump on Thursday laid out Washington’s stance on the conflict and stressed that the US would refrain from deploying ground troops even as air operations continue.
Speaking during a meeting with Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi in Washington, Trump said the United States was “not placing troops” in Iran, signaling a deliberate effort to steer clear of a ground invasion.
Also read: US arms Gulf allies with $16.46 billion arsenal as Iran conflict escalates
He paired this with an optimistic assessment of the course of the conflict, saying “the thought is that Iran’s influence will be worse and that it will end soon”, implying that he expected hostilities to ease in the near term.
Trump also made sweeping claims about the state of Iran’s leadership during the ongoing attacks, saying “Iran’s leadership is gone” without providing details. He pointed further to what he described as internal churn in Tehran, adding, “They are looking for new leaders again.”
These words reflect Washington’s blend of restraint and confidence; While military intervention on the ground is not allowed, it is predicted that constant military pressure weakens Iran’s leadership and could quickly end the conflict.
