USA F-35 Fighter Jet Shot By Iranian Missile – CNN

A United States F-35 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East after coming under suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission.

NaijaChoice News reports that the fifth-generation stealth aircraft was flying over Iran when the incident happened. The pilot diverted safely and is now in stable condition.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed the jet touched down without further damage. He said the matter is under full investigation.

This marks the first confirmed hit on a US aircraft by Iranian forces since the conflict erupted in late February. Both the US and Israel have deployed F-35s in the campaign, with each jet costing more than $100 million.

US officials have recorded other aircraft losses in the war so far. Three F-15 jets were accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defences, while a KC-135 refuelling plane crashed in western Iraq last week, killing all six crew members.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted on Thursday that American forces are “winning decisively” and that Iran’s air defences have been “flattened.” Senior officials continue to claim major successes even as questions grow about the war’s timeline.

A Marine Expeditionary Unit from Okinawa is already moving toward the region aboard the USS Tripoli to bolster US presence.

For Nigeria, the ongoing conflict is hitting home hard. Petrol prices have climbed above N1,200 per litre in many parts of the country as global crude oil costs surge past $100 per barrel.

The Federal Government has repeatedly called for restraint and dialogue to end the fighting before it triggers deeper economic pain at home.