Israel claims F-35 shot down Iranian fighter in historic aerial engagement

2026-03-04 - 09:32

The Israeli military claimed Wednesday that one of its F-35 fighter jets shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 aircraft over the skies of Tehran, marking what it described as a historic milestone in aerial combat. The army stated that the incident represents the "first shootdown in history" of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 stealth jet, highlighting the advanced capabilities deployed in the ongoing campaign against Iran. Broad scale strikes continue The aerial engagement occurred shortly after the Israeli army launched what it called "broad scale" airstrikes targeting Iranian sites in Tehran. The military also announced that it had struck dozens of facilities belonging to Iran's internal security forces and the paramilitary Basij force, expanding the scope of targets beyond military and leadership objectives. The strikes continue a campaign that began Saturday with joint US-Israeli attacks that have killed hundreds of Iranians. Escalating conflict Since Saturday's initial strikes, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of top military commanders, the conflict has expanded dramatically. Iran has responded with missile and drone barrages targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US assets, while the UAE reports having faced over 1,000 Iranian attacks. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed to maritime traffic, crippling oil exports from Gulf producers including Iraq, which announced production cuts Tuesday. Military significance The claimed F-35 shootdown, if confirmed, would represent a significant propaganda victory for Israel and demonstrate the operational effectiveness of its stealth fighter fleet against Iran's aging air force. The YAK-130 is a Russian-designed advanced trainer and light attack aircraft, not a front-line fighter, but its downing by an F-35 in a historic first nonetheless carries symbolic weight as the conflict shows no signs of de-escalating.