Iran claims to have shot down a U.S. F-15; Pentagon reports an "aerial accident" in Hormuz and is investigating

N. Prabhakaran

Dubai: The Iranian military has claimed that it shot down a U.S. F-15 fighter jet near the Strait of Hormuz. This follows claims that Iran had downed an F-35—the pride of America—just days ago.

Iran asserts that the aircraft was brought down using a missile fired from its southern coast. Iran’s Joint Air Defense Command announced that its surface-to-air missile system intercepted and destroyed the plane. Official Iranian media released a 29-second video allegedly showing their air defense systems targeting and shooting down the aircraft.

While U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon have not yet officially confirmed the loss of an F-15, a Pentagon spokesperson indicated that an "aerial accident" occurred over the Strait of Hormuz and is currently under investigation. U.S. intelligence sources argue that the video footage released by the IRGC is either old or possibly shows the destruction of a drone.

Reports suggest that the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have launched search and rescue operations in the area where the plane reportedly crashed. Although local Iranian media are circulating footage of a parachute falling into the sea, it remains unclear whether the pilot is in Iranian custody or missing at sea. If the pilot has been captured by Iranian forces, it would be a decisive event that could change the course of the war.

This incident occurs in the fourth week of the "2026 Iran War," which began on February 28. Tensions reached a fever pitch today following a 48-hour ultimatum issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump warned that if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within 48 hours, Iran’s power plants and infrastructure will be destroyed.

A few days ago, a U.S. F-35 was damaged in an Iranian attack but managed an emergency landing. Additionally, there were reports earlier this month that three F-15s were destroyed due to an error by the Kuwaiti Air Defense Forces.

Yesterday, Iran launched long-range ballistic missiles at the joint U.S.-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. However, one missile missed its target mid-way, and the other was intercepted by air defense systems.