Iranian Media Falsely Claim Downing of US Jet While Israel Confirms First F-35 Air-to-Air Kill

Confusion and misinformation surrounded aerial combat over Tehran on Wednesday when Iranian state media initially claimed their air defenses had shot down a US F-15 fighter jet. The claim, which spread rapidly across official channels and Telegram accounts affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was accompanied by video footage of an aircraft being shot down over the Iranian capital.

Within hours, however, the Israeli military issued a statement refuting Iran’s claim, stating that an Israeli F-35 Adir had actually shot down a Russian-made Yak-130 aircraft belonging to Iran during strikes on military targets in Tehran. This marked a historic milestone as the world’s first confirmed downing of a manned aircraft by an F-35 fighter jet.

Following Israel’s statement, Iranian state news outlets quietly deleted their posts claiming victory, though some IRGC-linked Telegram channels were slower to remove the content, likely due to communication disruptions caused by ongoing airstrikes on Tehran. Some channels affiliated with the IRGC have yet to retract their false claims.

The incident highlights a pattern of misleading information disseminated by Iranian state media during the current conflict. Over five days of fighting, Iranian officials have made several unsubstantiated claims about casualties inflicted on US forces. The spokesperson for the regime’s wartime command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, claimed Iran’s missile and drone attacks had killed or wounded approximately 700 US troops.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made similar assertions on social media, stating that 500 US troops had been killed. These figures stand in stark contrast to official US statements. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine acknowledged at a Monday press conference that six US service members had died in the conflict, publicly naming four of them.

Military analysts suggest these inflated claims serve primarily as propaganda intended to boost morale among Iranian forces facing significant challenges in the air war.

The Yak-130, the aircraft confirmed shot down by Israel, represents a relatively modest capability in Iran’s aging air fleet. This light combat aircraft was among several delivered from Russia in recent years to help modernize Iran’s air force. However, the Yak-130 is primarily designed for training and routine patrol missions rather than advanced air combat, placing it at a severe disadvantage against Israel’s cutting-edge F-35s.

Iran’s air power capabilities have been significantly constrained throughout the conflict. During last June’s 12-day war, Israeli forces struck numerous Iranian aircraft hangars and effectively controlled Iranian airspace, preventing Iranian jets from mounting any meaningful defense.

The Islamic Republic’s air force consists largely of aging platforms. Its most advanced fighter is the Russian MiG-29, with international estimates suggesting Iran operates approximately 18 of these aircraft. While the IRGC has reportedly sought more advanced Su-35 fighters from Russia, no official announcements regarding deliveries have been made.

Iran still maintains some F-14 fighters acquired before the 1979 revolution, with estimates suggesting 41 may remain operational from the original 79 delivered. The country also operates several other decades-old US-made fighters with questionable operational readiness, along with 23 Mirage jets that Iran seized from Iraq during the final days of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

This incident represents another chapter in the ongoing information war between Iran and Israel, with each side attempting to control the narrative surrounding military engagements. As the conflict continues, distinguishing fact from propaganda remains challenging for observers trying to assess the true state of military operations in the region.