OREANDA-NEWS A Pentagon spokesman confirmed to RIA Novosti the fact of an emergency landing of an American F-35 fighter jet at a Middle Eastern airbase after completing a combat mission over Iran, noting that the pilot is in stable condition, and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

"We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft made an emergency landing at a US regional airbase after completing a combat mission over Iran. The plane landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. An investigation is underway into this incident," the Pentagon said in an official response to a request from RIA Novosti.

Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it shot down an American F-35 fighter jet on Thursday, and the plane was seriously damaged. The Guardian Corps claimed that the plane was shot down in the central part of Iran, noting that the fate of the plane is unknown, and the probability of a crash is high.