Iran allegedly used Chinese missile to shoot down US fighter jet, sources say

The downing of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle in southwest Iran last month is now linked by NBC News to a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile, underscoring the widening role of foreign-supplied weapons in the conflict. Three sources described the hit as carried out by a Chinese-manufactured Man-Portable Air Defense System, while others say China may have supplied Iran with a long-range radar capable of spotting stealth aircraft in the conflict’s early days, according to a U.S. official. U.S. authorities are still examining how the incident happened and the rescue operation that followed, including the crew’s ejections and the seven-hour search for the weapons system officer. The event marked the first combat downing of a U.S. fighter in decades and has intensified scrutiny of cross-border arms flows. Although it remains unclear when Iran acquired the weaponry, officials note the 7-foot-long, 40-pound Manpads unit and potential Chinese involvement in broader military support. The White House referenced President Trump’s discussions with President Xi and Xi’s alleged pledge not to supply arms to Iran, while China’s embassy defended export controls and prudent behavior, emphasizing compliance with international obligations. The evolving narrative highlights fragile U.S.-China dynamics amid ongoing hostilities and renewed negotiations, with no definitive confirmation of any shipment timing.