On Sunday, a US F-35 Lightning II fighter jet declared an emergency while flying over the Gulf of Oman, transmitting squawk code 7700, indicating a distress situation. The aircraft was tracked heading towards UAE airspace before its transponder went dark, a common occurrence during military operations. Iranian state media reported that the jet was either shot down or hit by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but no independent verification or wreckage has been presented. This incident adds to the rising tensions in the region, particularly following recent clashes involving US and Iranian forces. The IRGC warned that any attack on Iranian tankers would provoke a significant response against US interests in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas shipments, has seen increased Iranian control as tensions escalate.