ALBAWABA- Donald Trump announced the successful rescue of a US Air Force colonel whose F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran, describing the nearly three-day mission as among the most complex in US special operations history.
The aircraft was downed on Friday by Iranian air defences, marking the second confirmed loss of a US manned jet inside Iran since the outbreak of the six-week conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Both crew members ejected; one was recovered quickly, while the second, a weapons systems officer, remained missing, triggering an intensive combat search-and-rescue effort deep inside Iranian territory.
US officials said the operation involved elite special forces supported by dozens of aircraft. Trump declared on Truth Social, “WE GOT HIM!”, confirming the officer, though injured, is expected to recover and is now “safe and sound.”
The mission incurred losses. An A-10 Warthog providing air cover was hit by Iranian fire; its pilot ejected and was recovered safely. Two Black Hawk helicopters were also struck, injuring personnel onboard, though both aircraft exited Iranian airspace.
📷واقعۀ طبس تکرار شد
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) April 5, 2026
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In the final phase, two special operations C-130 transport aircraft landed at a remote site to extract the airman and rescue teams, but became immobilized on rough terrain. US forces allegedly destroyed the aircraft to prevent capture before replacement planes completed the evacuation.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Fars News Agency released footage it said showed the wreckage of the downed jet and claimed multiple US aircraft were hit during the operation. Tehran has not independently verified these claims.
The rescue comes amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington pressing Tehran to reopen the strategic waterway. The episode underscores the growing risks of the conflict, which has disrupted global energy markets and caused significant casualties, while both sides frame the operation in sharply contrasting terms.
