Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Friday that it had downed a US F-35 fighter jet in central Iran, according to Iranian media reports.

Due to the destruction of the aircraft, the fate of the pilot remains unknown, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported, citing a statement by the IRGC.

The claim is the second time that Iran says it shot down a US F-35 amid the ongoing escalation since February 28, The Caspian Post report.

The US has not responded to the report as yet.

Iran had previously announced on March 19 that it had shot down a US F-35, a claim rejected by Washington.

Tehran also claimed on Thursday to have downed an Israeli F-16 jet.

The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive on February 28, killing more than 1,340 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel along with Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.