Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf Says Era of US F-35s Being Hunted Down Has Begun

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, said in a post on X on Thursday that the era when US F-35 and F-15 fighter jets are hunted down and reported damaged has already begun. "What was once pure nightmare fuel is now the daily reality. Live with it," Ghalibaf added, according to Mehr News. His remarks came after General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged on Wednesday that American military formations face a new battlefield environment. "We have to assume from now on that our formations will be hunted by autonomous systems, jammed across the spectrum and tracked in real time," Caine said.

The statements follow months of US military aggression against Iran, as reported by Press TV. A Pentagon inspector general assessment found that Iranian strikes had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at US military bases across West Asia and contributed to shortages of key munitions. The assessment also noted that the US military had altered the way its forces operate across the region in response to the attacks.

Ghalibaf's comments and Caine's acknowledgment highlight growing strains on American forces in the region. The Pentagon report indicates significant material losses and operational adjustments, underscoring the impact of Iranian retaliatory strikes. The exchange of statements comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with both sides publicly addressing the evolving nature of military engagements.

According to Mehr News, the remarks by Ghalibaf and Caine reflect a shifting dynamic in the conflict, where advanced US aircraft are reportedly vulnerable to new threats. The Pentagon's findings suggest that Iranian actions have had a tangible effect on US military infrastructure and readiness in West Asia. The report by Mehr News added that the situation continues to develop, with no immediate signs of de-escalation.