 "This US Navy handout photo released on March 18, 2026 by US Central Command public affairs, shows a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, flies over Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), during Operation Epic Fury, on March 16, 2026. (AFP)")
Amid the intensifying war in West Asia, Iran has claimed it successfully targeted a US F-18 fighter jet. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had “successfully targeted” an American F-18 fighter jet, with state media releasing a purported video of the strike. Although, the claim has been categorically denied by the US Central Command.
The footage, widely circulated online, was presented as evidence of Iran’s air defence capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.
Note: Firstpost could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The claim comes at a time when Tehran has repeatedly asserted it is inflicting damage on US military assets in the region, even as fighting escalates across multiple fronts.
US issues firm denial
The US military was quick to push back. Centcom categorically rejected Iran’s claim, calling it false.
“FALSE: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a US F/A-18 fighter was struck… TRUE: No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran,” the command said in a statement.
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View AllOfficials also suggested that such claims may be part of a broader disinformation effort, noting similar instances during the conflict where unverified or misleading visuals have circulated online.
The controversy was fuelled by a viral video that appeared to show an aircraft being hit mid-air, with some claiming it was a US jet.
However, US authorities have not confirmed any such incident. “No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran,” Centcom reiterated, directly countering the narrative gaining traction on social media.
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Information war mirrors ground conflict
The conflict is playing out not just militarily but also in the information domain.
Both sides have issued competing narratives, with Iran projecting offensive success while the US maintains that its assets remain intact.
The broader conflict continues to escalate, with ongoing strikes, troop deployments, and heightened tensions across the region.