Türkiye rejects claim Turkish defense system in Iran struck U.S. aircraft

Monday April 6, 2026

Türkiye is pushing back hard against an online attempt to tie it to the downing of a U.S. F-15 fighter jet over Iran, with the country’s official anti-disinformation body saying the claims are part of a broader campaign to draw Ankara into the war.

The Directorate of Communication’s Center for Combating Disinformation dismissed allegations that Turkish air-defense systems shot down a U.S. F-15 and that Ankara is arming Iran with advanced anti-aircraft and UAV missiles.

In a statement on Saturday, the center said posts circulating on some social media accounts — alleging that Türkiye supplied Iran with sophisticated anti-aircraft and UAV missiles and that a reportedly downed U.S. F-15 was hit by a Turkish-made shoulder-fired air defense system — have no basis in fact.

“Such baseless allegations, whose origin can be inferred, constitute deliberate psychological warfare and black propaganda aimed at undermining Türkiye’s constructive role in regional crises, as well as its diplomacy and peace-oriented efforts.

Türkiye maintains a principled stance focused on preserving peace and stability across all processes in the region. These perception management operations, targeting Türkiye’s globally recognized diplomatic achievements, seek to mislead international public opinion. No credence should be given to such malicious disinformation campaigns intended to manipulate the public and disrupt the delicate balance in the region. It is of utmost importance to exercise caution against speculative claims originating from non-official sources,” the Center said in a statement.

As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war continues, Türkiye has also found itself battling a parallel front: disinformation. The center last week rejected claims that Türkiye would side with Iran in the war and move into Lebanon in that context.

Despite close ties with both the U.S. and Iran, Türkiye has stayed neutral in the U.S.-Israel-Iran war and has instead cast itself as a mediator seeking to stop a conflict that threatens to deepen instability across the region. On March 29, Pakistan hosted talks with Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the conflict in Iran, with early discussions focused on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has also been engaged in intensive phone diplomacy in recent weeks to help end the conflict. According to Foreign Ministry sources, he spoke with a broad range of regional and international officials to assess cease-fire efforts.

Straddling Europe and Asia and sitting at the center of a volatile Middle East, Türkiye faces real pressure in maintaining that neutrality. Even so, the government says it is pursuing a “peace diplomacy” strategy, one designed to keep channels open with all sides and encourage de-escalation without being pulled directly into the fighting.

Iran’s military said on Sunday that it destroyed three U.S. aircraft involved in a search operation for a crew member of a downed American fighter jet.

Iran and the U.S. had been racing since Friday to locate a second crew member of an F-15E before U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the officer had been recovered in a search and rescue operation.

“The enemy’s intruding aircraft in southern Isfahan, including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport aircraft, were struck and are now burning,” the military’s central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said.

It added that the rescue operation had “failed.”

State media shared images of charred wreckage scattered across a desert area, with smoke still emanating from the site.

Iranian media reported that strikes during the rescue operation killed five people in southwestern Iran, though it was not immediately clear whether they were civilians or military personnel.

Since Friday, Iranian media have also shared footage showing local residents, some carrying flags and rifles, searching for the pilot after authorities announced bounties for information.

Early on Sunday, Trump said the second crew member was “SAFE and SOUND” following the operation.

Türkiye itself faces the spillover of the conflict. A ballistic missile was intercepted by NATO defense system in Türkiye on March 30, the fourth since the war broke out on Feb. 28. Iran has denied firing the missiles while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with Fidan last Tuesday and warned of “repeated false-flag operations aimed at undermining regional ties.”