A US airman has been rescued following the downing of his fighter jet in a remote area of Iran, in a daring operation involving multiple military units.
Reports indicate the mission was highly complex, with dozens of special forces, US warplanes and helicopters, and the CIA all playing key roles in the extraction from hostile terrain.
US President Donald Trump announced the successful rescue on social media on Sunday, saying, “We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran.”
The incident began on Friday when an F-15E Strike Eagle, carrying a pilot and a weapons systems officer, was shot down over southern Iran — the first time a US fighter jet has been downed by enemy fire in more than 20 years.
Both crew members ejected safely. While the pilot was recovered the same day, the second crew member remained missing until the rescue operation concluded successfully.
