US F-35 fighter jet likely struck by Iran, forced to land at Middle East air base

US F-35 fighter jet emergency landing damage

A US F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by Iran on Thursday, according to new reports.

The fifth-generation stealth fighter was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it suddenly had to make an emergency landing, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took credit for the incident, claiming it had “seriously damaged” the F-35 in an overnight strike.