Iran claims to have hit an Israeli F-16 fighter jet, while the Israeli military states that the aircraft was not damaged.

People’s Financial News, March 21 — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced on the 21st that an Israeli F-16 fighter jet was shot down in central Iranian airspace. Multiple media outlets, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, cited a statement from the IRGC saying that Iran’s air defense system successfully shot down an Israeli F-16 early that morning. This is the third enemy aircraft shot down since the start of the US-Israel-Iran conflict. The statement said that since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran, Iran has successfully intercepted and destroyed more than 200 aircraft, including drones, cruise missiles, refueling aircraft, and fighters. On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces stated that an Israeli Air Force aircraft was attacked by a surface-to-air missile while on a mission in Iranian airspace. The crew followed operational procedures and took response measures; the aircraft was not damaged, and the mission was “completed as planned.” The IDF also said that since the start of large-scale military actions against Iran, Israeli aircraft have been repeatedly attacked in Iranian airspace, but the crews have “successfully responded to these threats.” The Israeli Air Force will continue to carry out operational and strike missions inside Iran. (Xinhua)