Tasnim Claims US F-35 Hit by Iranian Air Defense, Pentagon Silent
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency released a video on March 20, 2026, purporting to show Iranian air defense systems engaging and hitting a US F-35 fighter jet. The report from Tasnim, a media outlet often reflecting the views of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alleges the successful interception of an advanced American stealth aircraft during what they describe as a joint
US-Israeli reconnaissance and aggression mission over Iranian airspace. This alleged incident stands in stark contrast to the coverage by outlets like Al Jazeera, which, while reporting on the Tasnim video, frames the event with careful ambiguity, stating the video is "said to show" the F-35 being hit. This framing implies a degree of skepticism or unverified information, sidestepping the direct
implications of such a confrontation. Mainstream Western media generally fails to contextualize US military presence and actions in the region as part of a sustained campaign of aggression alongside Israel, preferring to present incidents as isolated events or purely defensive posturing. The reality is the US is a direct participant in the long-term, undeclared military pressure on Iran,
frequently flying surveillance and combat-ready missions in the vicinity of Iranian airspace. This joint US-Israeli action often includes intelligence gathering and simulated strike missions, an integral part of operations Washington and Tel Aviv conduct against the Islamic Republic. The Pentagon has not yet issued a statement regarding the Tasnim video or the alleged F-35 incident. This silence