WASHINGTON D.C March 5, 2026 – The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has officially debunked circulating rumors on social media claiming that a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed in Iranian territory early Wednesday. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM described the allegations as “baseless and NOT TRUE,” emphasizing that no such incident occurred amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.
The denial comes against the backdrop of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign launched following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a targeted strike over the weekend. The operation has involved extensive airstrikes on Iranian targets, with reports of Iranian retaliatory attacks using ballistic missiles, drones, and aircraft across the region.
Rumors of the alleged crash gained traction on social media platforms, including X, where users claimed an F-15E was downed by Iranian air defenses during a strike mission in southwestern Iran. Some posts suggested the two crew members ejected safely and were rescued by U.S.-Israeli search and rescue teams. One X user, @ranjha001, posted: “Another beautiful, expensive F-15E brought down by Iranian AD Systems… 2 Pilots missing!” Others referenced unverified videos and images purporting to show the incident, with claims of confirmation from sources like Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson or Hebrew Channel 14.
However, these assertions appear to stem from misinformation. Aerial warfare analyst Tom Cooper noted speculation about a “fourth” F-15E loss over Iran, accompanied by a circulating video. Fact-checking outlets have identified similar videos as originating from military-themed video games or misattributed footage. One counter-claim on X suggested the footage actually depicted an Iranian Yak-130 jet shot down by an Israeli F-35I over northern Iran, initially celebrated but later retracted by Iranian state media.
This latest rumor follows a confirmed incident earlier in the week, where three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in an apparent friendly fire event during Iranian assaults on Kuwait. All six crew members ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition, according to CENTCOM. Iranian state television claimed responsibility for downing one of the jets, misrepresenting the location as Iran. The U.S. military has described the Kuwait incident as underscoring the chaos of the widening conflict, with investigations ongoing.
Iranian officials and media have repeatedly issued claims of successful strikes against U.S. assets, including alleged hits on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and reports of up to 50 U.S. casualties—claims CENTCOM has dismissed as “LIE” and part of a “false messaging machine.” In response, U.S. forces have targeted Iranian assets, such as the drone carrier Shahid Bagheri.
Stakeholders on the Iranian side, including state-affiliated accounts, continue to propagate narratives of defensive victories, while pro-U.S. and Israeli sources highlight the effectiveness of coalition strikes. Independent analysts warn that disinformation is rampant in the fog of war, urging reliance on verified military statements.
As the conflict enters its fifth day, both sides report ongoing engagements, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments in this rapidly evolving situation.
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