Iranian state media released images and video on Sunday that it claims show the remains of several American aircraft destroyed by U.S. forces during the operation to extract a downed airman, saying the equipment was intentionally eliminated to keep it out of Iranian hands.

The footage, circulated by Iran’s Fars News agency, appears to depict the burned wreckage of two MC-130J transport planes—each valued at around $100 million—as well as four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters believed to have been used in the mission.

According to reports, the U.S. Air Force established a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) at an abandoned airstrip south of Isfahan, operating deep inside Iranian territory while searching for the stranded crew member whose aircraft was brought down on Friday.

Iranian officials have sought to portray the mission as unsuccessful, drawing comparisons to the failed Operation Eagle Claw during the 1979 hostage crisis, despite U.S. confirmation that the rescue concluded without American casualties.

“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.

Tehran has also asserted that the aircraft seen in the released images were shot down by Iranian missile systems.

U.S. officials said the F-15E pilot, a colonel, successfully ejected from the aircraft on Friday and landed in a wooded section of the Zagros Mountains.

After reaching the ground, he moved deeper into the mountainous terrain on foot, activated his emergency locator beacon, and managed to avoid capture for roughly 36 hours before being recovered early Sunday.

Reports indicate that at least nine Iranian personnel were killed during a prolonged firefight lasting several hours as U.S. forces carried out the extraction, after which the officer was transported to a base in Kuwait to receive medical care.

{Matzav.com}