Iranian air defense units have downed a fifth Israeli F-35 fighter jet over the city of Varamin in Tehran province, local officials told state media on Wednesday. The Israeli warplane was intercepted as it attempted to carry out further aggression against Iranian territory.
The escalation follows a wave of Israeli attacks launched last Friday, which targeted not only military and nuclear facilities but also struck civilian areas across Iran. Among the sites hit were critical infrastructure locations in Natanz, Fordow, and Tehran. Iranian sources report the death of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, the Chief of the General Staff, and a number of nuclear scientists.
In response to Israeli attacks, Iran launched Operation True Promise 3, unleashing more than 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones on military targets deep inside Israel. While the Israeli Government Press Office claims 24 Israeli fatalities and 800 injuries, Iranian media highlight the extensive panic and displacement within Israel, with nearly 3,800 civilians evacuated and over 18,000 damage claims reported.Since the beginning of the Israeli onslaught, Iran has reported at least 585 civilian and military casualties and more than 1,300 injured. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli actions as war crimes and warned that Tel Aviv faces a “bitter and terrible fate” as a result of its aggression.
As the Israeli regime continues its attacks, regional instability is growing, and calls for international accountability are mounting.
