IRGC shoots down 2nd US F-35 fighter jet in Ramadan War
Iran warns of expanding scope of war if threats against infrastructure persist
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday the downing of the second American F-35 fighter jet in the sky over central Iran.
“The second American F-35 fighter jet was destroyed in the central sky of Iran by the IRGC's new advanced air defense system," the IRGC's Public Relations Department said.
"This fighter jet was completely destroyed and crashed. In the past twelve hours, this is the second fighter jet that has been destroyed by the IRGC's air defense. There is no further information about the fate of the pilot because the fighter jet totally destroyed."
Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson also warned on Friday that further threats targeting Iran's infrastructure could widen the scope of response to include key assets linked to the United States, Israel, and allied host countries.
The spokesperson warned in a statement that any implementation of repeated US threats against Iran’s bridges, power plants, and energy infrastructure would trigger a broader response by Iran’s Armed Forces, extending beyond Israeli and American assets to include wider targets linked to host countries in the region.
According to the statement, if such threats are carried out, Iran’s Armed Forces would, in addition to targeting all assets linked to the Israeli regime and the United States in the fields of fuel, energy, economic centers, and power plants across the region and the occupied territories, strike broader and more significant assets belonging to them as well as to host countries and allied states with greater intensity.
The spokesperson also stated that countries hosting US military bases in the region must compel American forces to leave their territory if they seek to avoid damage.
War to continue until US, Israel ‘regret’ aggression
The senior spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces said the country will continue the war as long as it makes the United States and the Israeli regime “regret” their illegal act of aggression.
“Our strategy is not limited to eye-for-an-eye or reciprocal actions. Our strategy is to punish the aggressor so that it fully regrets [its move] and to guarantee the permanent removal of the threat posed to the nation,” Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said.
“The goal is not to announce a ceasefire today and see the resumption of the aggression tomorrow under various pretexts, with people feeling worried and remaining in anxiety.”
Shekarchi also noted that the world has realized the invincibility of the Islamic Republic, which stems from its large capacity.
Many countries in the world condemn the imposed war on Iran while many of Washington’s allies are not willing to join it as they see the catastrophe caused by the US’s presence in the region, he added.
The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.
The Iranian Armed Forces have responded by launching daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.
They have also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the strategic waterway.
The US has sought to form a coalition to open the strait, asking NATO countries to contribute naval and air assets. However, most of Washington’s allies have declined to commit forces.