U.S. forces carried out a high-risk and highly coordinated operation deep inside Iran to recover a downed F-15E airman, deploying elite units, intelligence deception tactics, and improvised infrastructure in hostile territory to bring the injured officer to safety.

The complex mission, which unfolded over two days, came after a race between American and Iranian forces to locate the “seriously injured” weapons systems officer near Isfahan. According to a report in The New York Times, the rescue was ultimately executed by top-tier U.S. commandos, who engaged in combat with local militias searching for the airman.

The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot down on Good Friday in southwestern Iran and took refuge in the Zagros Mountains. Despite his injuries, he managed to evade capture for roughly 36 hours, climbing to a 7,000-foot ridge and surviving with only a handgun for protection. During that time, U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones targeted Iranian forces that approached his location.

“He evaded up a 7k ridge. They’ve been schwackin’ dudes chasing him all day. Was nuts,” a source told Toby Harnden, the veteran war correspondent and author.

To mislead Iranian forces, who had placed a $60,000 bounty on the airman, the CIA reportedly launched a deception effort on Saturday by circulating false intelligence suggesting he had already been rescued and was being transported out of the country.

As part of the rescue, multiple U.S. aircraft landed inside Iran, south of Isfahan—approximately 200 miles from the border. A temporary airstrip was quickly established near the city, which is home to key Iranian military and nuclear assets.

During the operation, two transport planes—believed to be MC-130J Commando II aircraft—became immobilized at the makeshift airfield. Additional aircraft were dispatched to retrieve stranded personnel, and the disabled planes, each valued at around $100 million, were destroyed on site to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.

Images circulating from Iran appear to show the charred remains of several aircraft, believed to be linked to the mission. Reports also indicate that wreckage may include two MH-6/AH-6 Little Bird helicopters used in special operations.

It is believed that U.S. forces provided aerial cover throughout the mission, striking Iranian units that attempted to approach the landing zone.

Around midnight Sunday local time, U.S. intelligence, using the officer’s emergency beacon and additional CIA resources, narrowed his location to a specific mountain crevice, according to CBS News.

A large-scale daytime rescue effort was then launched, involving dozens of aircraft. MQ-9 drones established a protective perimeter and targeted hostile forces that came within two miles of the airman, according to The Jerusalem Post.

A senior U.S. military official told The Times that all personnel involved in the mission, including the rescued officer, returned safely without any American fatalities.

“The US Air Force had to use multiple bombs to blow up all the aircraft they abandoned at that airstrip. And the Iranians shot down 2 MQ-9s Reaper drones,” a US military official familiar with the operation told experienced Middle East journalist Michael Weiss.

“Luckily the U.S. suffered no casualties and we had to use multiple bombs and missiles to blow up IRGC vehicles that tried to drive up the mountain and also those that tried to drive to the airstrip,” the official added.

During the search, U.S. special operations forces also clashed with local tribal fighters in the area.

The wounded airman was transported to Kuwait for medical care, arriving roughly seven hours after the rescue operation began.

The recovery came one day after a separate mission successfully extracted another crew member from the same downed aircraft. In that earlier operation, a U.S. helicopter came under small arms fire but was able to land safely, despite several crew members sustaining injuries.

“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 subsequent message, Trump added that “this type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment.’”

The president said he plans to address the operation publicly alongside military officials at a White House briefing scheduled for Monday afternoon.

{Matzav.com}