Iran claimed on Wednesday that it had “successfully targeted” a US F-18 fighter jet over the Chabahar region — prompting a ‘fact check’ from American authorities. The assertion came soon after Tehran claimed its air defenses had targeted a hostile F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet and an Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon over the weekend.
The IRGC said via its official media outlet Sepah News that the aircraft was brought down by an “advanced air defense system” operated by the Navy under the command of the paramilitary Basij force. Iranian authorities have dubbed it their ‘fourth successful interception’ of US and Israeli jets since the war began. An official statement said the aircraft had crashed into the Indian Ocean after being struck by “fully indigenous, modern air defence systems” from Iran.
“No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran,” came the rebuttal from US CENTCOM via X.
The video shared online by Iranian authorities has not been independently verified.
US hits over 10,000 targets in Iran war
The US Central Command said early on Thursday that its forces have hit more than 10,000 targets so far in the Iran war. US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper added in a video message that American forces had destroyed 92% of “the Iranian navy’s largest vessels”.
“If you combine what we’ve accomplished with the success of our Israeli ally, together, we have struck thousands more. Our precision strikes have overwhelmed Iranian air defences and our combat flights are having tangible effects…They’ve now lost the ability to meaningfully project naval power and influence around the region and around the world,” Cooper said.
He also claimed that the US had “damaged or destroyed” over two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone and naval production facilities and shipyards.
“And we’re not done yet. We are on a path to completely eliminate Iran’s wider military manufacturing apparatus,” he added.
Sources told Reuters that the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf amid growing buzz about a ground assault. Two contingents of Marines are already on their way. The first Marine unit, aboard a huge amphibious assault ship, could arrive around the end of the month.