US special forces executed a daring rescue mission to retrieve an airman stranded 200 miles inside Iran after an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Friday. The weapons-system officer, whose pilot had been rescued earlier under fire, was hiding in treacherous mountains as Iranian forces closed in.
President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on Sunday, describing how dozens of military aircraft and hundreds of personnel were involved. The commandos scaled a 2,100-metre ridge under cover of darkness to reach the injured airman, moving him to a secret rendezvous point before dawn.
The rescue faced fierce resistance, with Iran claiming to have downed several US warplanes. The CIA conducted a targeted deception campaign to distract Iranian forces. No US casualties were reported, marking the first time in US military history that two pilots were rescued separately deep in enemy territory.
The airman, who had only a handgun for defence, radioed “God is good” upon reaching the ridge, but the message was initially met with suspicion in Washington. He later authenticated himself to ensure the rescue team was not walking into a trap. Israel also provided intelligence support and halted attacks to clear the way.
Trump repeated threats to strike Iranian infrastructure, warning of attacks on civilian targets if his deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz is not met. The F-15E was downed by a new Iranian air-defence system, according to Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya command.
