Trump's Claim vs. Reality on the Ground: Iran's Resilience Just Brought Down Two US Fighter Jets

JAKARTA - The claim of "total dominance" of the United States over Iran's airspace is now facing a bitter test. After repeatedly being confirmed by the White House that Tehran's air defense has been completely paralyzed, two US fighter jets were reportedly shot down in separate incidents recently.

This also marked the first time in more than 24 years that a country managed to destroy a US fighter plane.

A retired US Army colonel, speaking to ABC News, Saturday, April 4, said Iran uses an infrared system, not a traditional radar.

According to him, American fighter planes such as the F-35 and F-15 are not designed to face this system.

"Iranian airspace is not safe for US fighter jets," he said.

While quoted from CNN International, Saturday, April 4, this event triggered public doubts about government transparency regarding the costs and risks of the war that is swelling.

The shocking news came as a US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory. Until now, the fate of one of the two crew members is still unknown, while the other is reported to have been rescued and is undergoing medical treatment.

Tensions escalated after the second fighter jet was also hit in an attack on Friday. Fortunately, the pilot managed to navigate the plane out of Iranian territory before ejecting and was eventually evacuated by rescue teams.

This incident contrasts with the narrative built by President Donald Trump's administration over the past month. Previously, Trump had absolutely stated that Iran no longer had an anti-aircraft system, calling their radar "one hundred percent destroyed," and claiming that the US military was unstoppable.

However, the reality on the ground shows the other side of the asymmetric war. The fall of these two planes breaks the claim that Iran's airspace is "a no-resistance area."

This data discrepancy is not the first. CNN also reported that claims of the total destruction of Iran's nuclear program and missile launchers were overstated. On the other hand, the American public is now at a saturation point. The lack of explanation regarding the ultimate goal of the war, coupled with the soaring fuel prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has led to domestic support to continue to decline.