US denies reports that American fighter jet was shot down over Basra, Iraq

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US defense officials dismissed reports on social media Thursday that an American fighter jet was shot down over Basra, Iraq.

"These reports are false," a Pentagon official told Anadolu.

Some local media reports suggested that Basra Police Command was searching for an American pilot who crashed within the borders of the province after the fighter jet was allegedly intercepted above Iraq by Iranian air defenses.

Later, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on the US social media company X’s platform that these are "baseless ad not true."