Iranian media has posted images of what it claims is a downed American F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. The Iranian military says it forced the aircraft to crash, marking what it calls a second hit.
However, aviation experts examining the photos suggest the wreckage may actually belong to an F-15E Strike Eagle. They point to markings on the plane, including a US Air Force in Europe badge and a red tail flash of the 494th Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, UK.
The F-15E, unlike the single-seater F-35, carries two crew members. Experts note that the aircraft matches the type involved in an earlier incident when Kuwait’s air force accidentally shot down three planes at the start of the conflict.
Aviationist, a specialist website, highlighted concerns about the images’ authenticity.
“Considering the amount of fake and AI-generated imagery Iranian sources have circulated online since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, it is legitimate to question the authenticity of these photos,” the report stated.
Iranian outlets also shared video footage showing what they claimed was an enemy F-15 being shot down over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim dismissed by the US military.
The developments come amid intensified Iranian attacks on Gulf energy sites. In Kuwait, authorities reported damage to a power and desalination plant, while the Habshan gas complex in Abu Dhabi temporarily suspended operations after falling debris struck the facility.
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