Iranian Military Declares US Rescue Operation 'Completely Foiled'
Iran's military has claimed that a United States rescue operation, which successfully extracted two trapped American airmen from hostile territory, was 'completely foiled'. This statement directly contradicts assertions from US President Donald Trump, who hailed the mission as a triumph.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
In a video statement broadcast by Iranian state television, military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari of the Khatam Al-Anbiya central command denounced the US effort. 'The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled,' Zolfaghari stated.
He further alleged that two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the two-day operation. The United States has not officially confirmed these Iranian claims regarding aircraft losses.
The Daring US Rescue Mission
The operation was launched after an F-15 fighter jet was shot down over a remote area of Iran on Friday. While one pilot was rescued shortly after ejecting, a second crew member, identified by President Trump as a highly respected Colonel, remained missing for nearly 36 hours.
According to US reports, the complex rescue involved:
- Hundreds of special forces personnel.
- Several dozen warplanes and helicopters.
- Reaper drones providing overhead protection for the stranded Colonel.
The injured Colonel, armed only with a handgun, evaded Iranian forces in harsh mountainous terrain, at times reaching elevations of around 7,000 feet. A ground firefight erupted as Iranian troops closed in on his position during the extraction.
US Confirms Destruction of Own Aircraft
US sources confirm that during the extraction, two of the five rescue planes became immobilized at a remote airfield inside Iran. To prevent their capture by enemy forces, US special forces were compelled to destroy the aircraft themselves. Iranian state media released images of the completely destroyed planes on the airfield.
President Trump celebrated the mission's success on his Truth Social platform, calling it 'one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History'. He emphasized that no American personnel were killed or wounded and defiantly stated that no US warfighter would be left behind.
Escalating Tensions and Regional Fallout
The rescue mission occurred amidst heightened regional tensions. Following the downing of the US aircraft, Iran had reportedly placed a $60,000 bounty on the airmen. Concurrently, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and Kuwait early Sunday.
President Trump referenced an earlier ultimatum, warning Iran had 48 hours to 'make a deal or open up the Hormuz Strait' or face severe consequences. Iranian General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi dismissed the threat as a 'helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action', warning that 'the gates of hell will open for you'.
While Pakistan has offered to mediate, there was no immediate de-escalation. Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain all reported responding to Iranian attacks over the weekend.
