A US F-35 stealth fighter made an emergency landing at a Middle East airbase last week after reportedly being struck by Iranian forces, according to sources familiar with the incident and Iranian state media.

The pilot landed safely and was in stable condition, though he suffered shrapnel injuries, US military officials said.

The incident is under investigation.

If confirmed, this would be the first time an F-35, a cornerstone of US aerial capabilities, has been damaged in combat.

The aircraft is designed with advanced stealth technology, sensors, and high-speed computing to detect and evade threats, making it one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.

Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency released footage claiming to show its air defence systems hitting the F-35.

US officials have not confirmed the strike, with President Donald Trump stating, “We’re flying wherever we want. Nobody is even shooting at us.”

Since the start of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, US forces have lost 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones, and five KC-135 refuelling aircraft were reportedly damaged in Iranian missile strikes.

Previous claims of US fighter jet losses, including F-15s, have been denied by CENTCOM.

Experts say the reported strike, if true, would highlight that even advanced stealth aircraft are not invulnerable in dense air-defence environments, though it does not suggest stealth technology is obsolete.

Since the conflict began, at least 13 US service members have been killed, with around 200 wounded, while Iranian authorities report over 1,400 deaths and more than 18,500 injuries.