Iran Claims Downing US F/A-18, US Denies Loss

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on March 25, 2026, that it had shot down a U.S. F/A-18 fighter jet near the coastal city of Chabahar along the Gulf of Oman, releasing video footage that quickly spread online. The U.S. Central Command swiftly denied the assertion, stating that no American fighter aircraft had been lost to Iranian forces.

The IRGC announced the alleged strike through state-linked media outlets, including Press TV, asserting that advanced air defense systems under its naval forces had targeted the jet during operations in the region. Iranian officials described the action as a precise hit that caused the aircraft to crash into the Indian Ocean, though they provided no immediate details on the pilot's fate or recovery efforts. The video, shared widely on social media platforms and by Iranian consulates, depicted an F/A-18 in flight, followed by a bright flash near the aircraft, a trail of smoke, and what appeared to be an ejection seat deploying with a parachute. Experts noted that the footage lacked clear identifiers, such as timestamps, precise coordinates, or confirmation of the aircraft's nationality, raising questions about its authenticity.