NBC: US F-15 in Iran may have been shot down by Chinese missile

A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet downed over southwestern Iran in April may have been targeted by a Chinese-made man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), NBC News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

This incident marks the first known downing of a U.S. fighter jet by hostile fire in decades. It triggered a high-risk rescue operation for the two-person crew, who were fortunately located safely. U.S. authorities are examining the extent of China's alleged support to Iran, including whether Beijing provided advanced equipment like the YLC-8B early warning radar, capable of detecting stealth aircraft.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of enabling Tehran to use Chinese satellites for targeting American forces, leading to sanctions against three Chinese satellite data companies. This revelation emerges at a sensitive time, as President Donald Trump sought China's mediation to end the ongoing conflict.

President Trump stated that his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, personally assured him that Beijing was not supplying weapons to Iran, an assurance Trump said he trusted. The Chinese embassy has refuted the accusations, calling them baseless slander and asserting China's strict adherence to international rules on military exports. Senior U.S. officials, however, acknowledge that while suspicions remain, China's assistance has not had a decisive operational impact on the front lines.

It remains unclear whether the missile that struck the F-15 was recently supplied or from older stockpiles. Historically, China was a major arms supplier to Iran in the 1980s and 1990s. Following a UN embargo in 2006, China's role shifted to providing dual-use components, prompting Tehran to develop its domestic defense industry.