World Signal

A U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet became the center of a major international incident after it was reportedly hit or damaged during a combat mission over Iran, with Iran claiming it successfully targeted the aircraft using its air-defence systems while the United States says the jet managed to land safely.   The incident took place in the early hours of March 19, 2026, at around 2:50 AM local time, which corresponds to approximately 23:20 GMT on March 18. The aircraft was operating in the airspace over central Iran at the time, in what has been described as an active and highly tense combat environment.   According to Iranian officials, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, their air-defence systems engaged the U.S. aircraft during its mission and inflicted serious damage. Iranian sources suggested that there is a strong possibility the jet may have crashed, although they did not provide conclusive evidence about its final fate. The claim has been presented...