Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it destroyed three U.S. F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets at Al Azraq air base in Jordan [1].

This contradiction between Tehran and Washington underscores the volatile security environment in the Middle East, where conflicting reports of military strikes can escalate regional tensions.

The IRGC said that a ballistic missile strike destroyed three jets and severely damaged three more [1]. The group said the operation was retaliation for U.S. attacks on residential houses on Iran's Qeshm Island that were launched from Jordanian bases [1].

U.S. Central Command, known as CENTCOM, denied the reports. The military said on X that no U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian strikes [2].

Financial estimates provided in reports of the IRGC claim suggest a high cost for the alleged losses. Some reports cited an estimated monetary value of $300 million [1] per F-35 jet.

An IRGC spokesperson said, "We have destroyed three US F‑35 jets and severely damaged three more" [1]. This statement was issued on Thursday, May 24, 2026 [1].

The U.S. military maintains that the claims are false. CENTCOM said, "No US aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian..." [2].

Al Azraq air base serves as a critical hub for U.S. operations in the region. The IRGC's assertion that it could successfully target stealth aircraft at a secured facility represents a significant claim of capability, one that the U.S. military continues to refute [2].

“"We have destroyed three US F‑35 jets and severely damaged three more."”

The starkly different accounts from the IRGC and CENTCOM highlight the role of information warfare in modern regional conflicts. While the IRGC seeks to project power and capability by claiming the destruction of high-value stealth assets, the U.S. denial suggests the strike either failed or never occurred. The focus on the F-35, a cornerstone of U.S. air superiority, indicates that Iran is targeting the perceived prestige and technical dominance of the U.S. military in its public narratives.