A dramatic rescue mission by the United States successfully extracted a missing F-15E airman from deep within Iranian territory. This audacious operation, involving SEAL Team 6, a clever CIA deception, and the swift creation of an airstrip in hostile land, was complemented by aerial support that shielded the Air Force colonel.
The high-stakes mission saw a tense competition between U.S. and Iranian forces to locate the “seriously injured” weapons officer near Isfahan over a two-day period. Ultimately, elite American commandos managed to rescue the crew member, engaging in a firefight with local militias determined to capture him, as reported by the New York Times.
Faced with the threat of capture, the officer took refuge in the mountains, scaling a 7,000-foot ridge to avoid detection. During this time, American MQ-9 Reaper drones provided crucial support by launching missile strikes on nearby Iranian forces that approached his location.
“He climbed up a 7,000-foot ridge. All day, they’ve been taking out enemy forces chasing him. It was insane,” shared a source with Toby Harnden, a seasoned war correspondent and author.
To further mislead the Iranians, who had set a $60,000 bounty on the officer—a sum exceeding ten times the average household income—the CIA orchestrated a clever diversion. They disseminated false intelligence indicating the officer had already been rescued and was en route out of Iran, as detailed by the Times.
The mission also required landing multiple transport aircraft within Iranian borders, just south of Isfahan, approximately 200 miles inside the country, showcasing the operation’s complexity and daring execution.
Two of the aircraft — believed to be MC-130J Commando IIs, specialized, high-tech transport planes, became stuck at the forward airfield in Iran — and three more aircraft were dispatched to pick up the US forces left stranded there, according to the Times.
The two MC-130Js — each worth around $100 million — were demolished in place so as not to fall into enemy hands.
Photos from Iran show the burned out wreckage of multiple aircraft, believed to be the planes.
There were no US deaths among the rescue team, and all the commandos and the weapons officer involved returned safety, a senior US military official said.
The injured airman has been flown to Kuwait for medical treatment in a rescue plane.
On Friday, the first of the two pilots was rescued during another daring operation.
“WE GOT HIM!” President Trump confirmed in a Truth Social post. “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour.”
In a later post, he said, “this type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment.’”
The president said he would hold a news conference with the military at the Oval Office on Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the aftermath of the successful operation.
