Iranian state media recently circulated images and footage that allegedly depict the wreckage of several U.S. aircraft, destroyed intentionally by the U.S. Air Force. This dramatic move was reportedly made to keep the aircraft from being captured by Iranian forces during a bold rescue operation to recover missing American airmen.
The visuals, released by Iran’s Fars News Agency, supposedly show the burnt remains of two MC-130J specialized transport planes, each valued at $100 million, alongside four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters. These aircraft were part of a covert mission conducted by the U.S. Air Force, which established a forward arming and refuelling point (FARP) at a deserted airport south of Isfahan. This strategic location allowed the U.S. military to track and attempt to rescue a crew member who had been shot down over Iranian territory.
In an effort to downplay the operation, Iran’s regime has portrayed the mission—which concluded without any American casualties—as a failure. They have likened it to the infamous Operation Eagle Claw, an unsuccessful attempt to rescue American hostages during the Iranian revolution. Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari commented on the situation, declaring the mission as a complete failure, claiming it was a deceptive operation masked as an escape mission aimed at recovering a downed pilot.
Furthermore, Iranian authorities have asserted that the images show aircraft that were allegedly brought down by Iranian missiles. This counter-narrative attempts to emphasize their military capabilities and undermine the success of the U.S. operation.
“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,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a statement Sunday.
Iran has also claimed that the pictures show aircraft that were downed by Iranian missiles.
The F-15E pilot, a colonel, was able to successfully parachute out of his aircraft on Friday and landed in a forested area in the Zagros Mountains, according to US officials.
He moved on foot into the mountains before activating his locator beacon, and successfully evading capture for 36 hours before he was evacuated Sunday morning.
At least nine Iranian soldiers were reportedly killed in the seven-hour firefight to retrieve him, before he was flown to a nearby base in Kuwait for treatment.
