Iran Claims to Down Israeli F-35I Stealth Jets, Israel Denies

Iran has claimed it shot down two Israeli F-35I Adir stealth jets during a retaliatory exchange following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, triggering a wave of disputed evidence and rising tensions between the two regional powers.

The Israeli Air Force had launched a high-intensity operation codenamed Rising Lion on June 13, striking sites across Iran, including the Natanz nuclear facility and military compounds near Tehran. Israel described the action as necessary to counter what it called an “existential threat” posed by Iran’s advancing nuclear program.

Iran’s military claimed its air defenses intercepted and downed two of the IAF’s fifth-generation F-35I Adir fighters—aircraft specifically modified for Israeli use. Iranian media circulated images alleged to show wreckage from the jets and claimed that UAVs were also destroyed during the confrontation.

Iran’s state-run Press TV declared: “Iran has earned the distinction of being the first country in the world to successfully shoot down fifth-generation fighter jets.”

However, the claim quickly drew skepticism. Military analysts and online users highlighted major issues with the images released by Iranian media, casting doubt on their authenticity.

One noted inconsistency is the positioning of the vertical stabilizer, which appears to be mounted directly on top of the engine—an arrangement not seen in any known twin vertical stabilizer aircraft, whether single- or dual-engine.

Observers also noted the absence of visible structural damage where they should be, and pointed out that the engine appears to be intact and possibly still operational. The surrounding terrain shows no burn marks, debris field, or impact scars, raising further doubts about whether a crash actually occurred at the location shown.

Another anomaly involves the aircraft’s markings. The location of Star of David insignia does not match the standard paint scheme used on Israeli F-35Is.

These discrepancies have led to widespread speculation that the images may be digitally manipulated or entirely fabricated. The image was later removed from Iranian news platforms.

The Israeli military has categorically denied the claims. “Fake Iranian media,” said Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson. “This news being spread by Iranian media is completely baseless.”