Iran 'downs F-35 jet' as Israeli strikes continue

Iran’s military says it has shot down multiple Israeli aircraft, including an F-35 fighter jet on Saturday, as hostilities between the two countries intensify following Israel's escalation on Friday strikes on Iranian soil.

According to a statement published by Iran’s Fars News Agency on Saturday, Iranian air defence forces brought down an Israeli F-35 jet over western Iran. The pilot reportedly ejected from the aircraft, and Iranian outlet Nour News claimed the pilot had been captured. The Israeli military has not confirmed the loss of any aircraft or personnel.

Separately, Iran’s border guard forces in the northwestern province of West Azerbaijan announced the downing of several Israeli drones in the border region of Salmas.

This comes a day after Iranian military sources said air defence systems had shot down two additional Israeli F-35 jets along with drones and aerial munitions launched during Israel’s initial assault.

The semi-official Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported the capture of an Israeli fighter pilot, claiming she had been taken into custody. However, Israel's military has denied any such development.

Iranian military sources said the fate of two other Israeli pilots remains unknown, with search operations underway.

Amid confusion over the competing claims, the Iranian army issued a statement on Saturday clarifying that it has no official presence on social media. The move followed reports in Iranian media quoting statements attributed to the army from a Telegram channel.

The army stressed it does not endorse any content from such platforms and said outlets disseminating those claims would bear responsibility for the consequences.

The aerial escalation comes in the wake of Israel’s large-scale strikes early Friday, which targeted military and nuclear facilities deep inside Iranian territory. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of multiple senior commanders, including IRGC chief Hossein Salami and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Baqeri, though these claims have not been independently verified.

In response, the IRGC announced it had launched Operation True Promise III on Friday evening, describing it as a “precise and decisive” missile barrage against dozens of military targets and airbases in Israel. Israeli media confirmed that missiles struck the centre of Tel Aviv, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others. Multiple buildings sustained heavy damage.

Sirens sounded across Israeli cities as residents were forced into bomb shelters, marking one of the most serious direct military confrontations between the two countries to date.

On Saturday morning, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar held a high-level assessment meeting.

Following the meeting, Israeli military sources were quoted as saying “the road to Iran is now open,” and suggested that airstrikes targeting the Iranian capital Tehran could begin imminently, depending on operational developments.

Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran marks a dangerous new phase in the long-standing shadow conflict between the two countries, raising fears of a wider regional war.