US F-35 fighter jet makes emergency landing after coming under Iranian fire: Report

A US F-35 stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a military base in the Middle East after coming under suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the fifth-generation aircraft encountered the incident mid-mission, prompting an unscheduled landing as a precautionary measure.

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Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the development, saying the jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing.

He added that the aircraft landed safely and that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

The report did not specify the extent of damage to the aircraft or whether the suspected fire made direct contact, but the episode underscores the heightened risks facing US military operations amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Is US putting troops in Iran? Trump answers

The development comes as Donald Trump on Thursday laid out Washington’s stance on the conflict, emphasising that the United States would avoid deploying ground troops even as air operations continue.

Speaking during a meeting in Washington with Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi, Trump said the US was “not putting troops” in Iran, signalling a deliberate effort to steer clear of a ground invasion.

Also read: US arms Gulf allies with $16.46B arsenal as Iran conflict heats up

He paired that with an upbeat assessment of the conflict’s trajectory, saying, “Thought impact of Iran would be worse, will be over with soon,” suggesting he expects hostilities to wind down in the near term.

Trump also made sweeping claims about the condition of Iran’s leadership amid the ongoing strikes, stating, “Iran leadership is gone,” without providing details. He further pointed to what he described as internal churn in Tehran, adding, “They are looking for new leaders again.”

The remarks reflect a mix of restraint and confidence from Washington -- ruling out boots on the ground while projecting that sustained military pressure has weakened Iran’s leadership and could bring the conflict to a swift conclusion.