Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Deputy Commander Ali Fadavi has issued a series of massive military claims, asserting Iran has shot down an American F-15 fighter jet near Tehran, captured US soldiers, and prepared advanced underwater missiles for imminent use.
Top Iranian military official Sardar Ali Fadavi has issued a series of sweeping and highly escalatory claims regarding direct military engagement with the United States. Broadcast heavily across Iranian breaking news networks on March 11, 2026, the IRGC commander asserted significant tactical victories and the impending deployment of advanced naval weaponry against US forces.
According to the conflict-focused and highly sensationalist Telegram channel اخبارفوری خبرفوری جنگ امریکا فوری, Fadavi proclaimed that Iranian air defenses successfully targeted US aircraft deep within Iranian territory. "Besides the three of Kuwait, we also shot down an American F-15 fighter jet in the south of Tehran," he stated. This claim was prominently echoed by the similarly aligned breaking news channel خبرفوری ࡆ اخبارفوری مذاکره ࡆ جنگ فوری, which amplified Fadavi's warning that the military is reinforcing its air defenses "in such a way that no other fighter jet will approach our borders."
Adding to the severe escalation in rhetoric, the primary conflict news channel also reported Fadavi addressing rumors of captured US military personnel. According to their dispatch, the IRGC commander confidently declared: "It is highly likely that the news of capturing American soldiers is true, and we will announce it soon."
Furthermore, Fadavi boasted about Iran's exclusive naval strike capabilities, threatening their imminent use. A statement posted by both the primary channel and the overtly regime-aligned کانال اخبار سپاه پاسداران 🏴 detailed the existence of high-speed underwater projectiles. Fadavi warned, "We have missiles that are fired from underwater and their speed is a hundred meters per second, and we may use them in the coming days." He further asserted that "in the world, only Iran and Russia have the technology of these missiles in their possession."
The Farsi source material reflects a highly militarized, boastful, and escalatory tone typical of Iranian state-aligned and sensationalist military news networks. The claims—including the downing of an F-15 south of Tehran and the capture of US troops—are presented as absolute facts or highly likely realities without evidence, serving to project strength and military dominance to domestic audiences.