The rescue followed a life-or-death race between U.S. and Iranian forces that stretched over two days to reach the injured airman, who was a weapons officer, the officials said. In the end, U.S. commandos extracted the officer in a massive operation that involved hundreds of special operations troops.There were no U.S. casualties among the rescue team, a senior U.S. military official said. All the commandos, and the weapons officer returned safely. Rescue planes flew to Kuwait to treat the injured weapons officer.

The two crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the first lost to enemy fire in the monthlong war, had both ejected from the cockpit on Friday after Iran’s military struck their plane. The jet’s pilot was quickly rescued, but its weapons systems officer could not be found, setting off an urgent search with major consequences for President Trump and the war the United States and Israel launched on Feb. 28.

Finding the downed airman, who had been hiding with little more than a pistol as defense, had been the U.S. military’s highest priority over the last 48 hours.

The mission to save the crew member employed hundreds of special forces troops, dozens of U.S. warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities.

U.S. attack aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys to keep them away from the area where the airman was hiding. As U.S. forces converged on the downed airman, a firefight erupted, two former senior military officials briefed on the operation said.

The airman was equipped with a beacon and a secure communication device for coordinating with forces mounting the rescue.

A senior U.S. military official described the mission to rescue the airman as one of the most challenging and complex in the history of U.S. special operations.

In a final twist after the weapons officer was rescued, two transport planes that would carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran. Commanders decided to fly in three new planes to extract all the U.S. military personnel and the airmen, and they blew up the two disabled planes rather than have them fall into Iranian hands.

The F-15E fighter jet was shot down in a region of Iran where there is significant opposition to the Iranian government As a result, the airman may have been able to rely on locals for shelter and assistance.

The crash also drew the attention of Iranian military forces, who were reported to have been scouring the area. The Iranian government asked locals for help finding the downed airman, and had offered a reward for the airman’s capture.

The C.I.A. often also plays a role in making contact with civilians willing to help vulnerable troops stay alive, a process known as “unconventional assisted recovery.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/04/world/iran-war-trump-news?smid=nytcore-ios-share

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49794789)

In a final twist after the weapons officer was rescued, two transport planes that would carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran. Commanders decided to fly in three new planes to extract all the U.S. military personnel and the airmen, and they blew up the two disabled planes rather than have them fall into Iranian hands.

In a final twist after the weapons officer was rescued, two transport planes that would carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran. Commanders decided to fly in three new planes to extract all the U.S. military personnel and the airmen, and they blew up the two disabled planes rather than have them fall into Iranian hands.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49794791)

This is fine and all but its a problem of the military's own making as well. Iran didn't come to Kuwait city and kidnap an airman

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795003)

They were inoperable. As were two helicopters that got shot down. The Commanders didn't have much choice. It was either leave your contingent of 200 special forces deep in Iran or send other planes to pick them up.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795024)

The pics gorgeous Iran released of the C-130 shows there was no mud. How cld not one but TWO C-130 get stuck, requiring special ops to blow them up? This is bullshit and not believable.

What most likely happened is the US fags got got and Iran destroy those planes, there prob were dets or injuries but US evacuated them.

I also dont believe the 2nd pilot was alive, I think they recovered the body

All of this shit is just Hollywood bullshit and lies. U have to be 55 IQ to believe this nonsense.

It's total garbage, anything from this admin shld be taken with a grain of salt, a furking Delhi furking taxi drivers has more honesty you benchod bastard bitches

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795026)

LJL thinking this is a win for the US

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795035)

WHAT A MIRACLE!!! Hegseth is the NEW JESUS he is MOSES he can PART THE RED SEA HALLALUJAH USA HAVE BEEN SAVED

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795058)

LJL it sounds what happened is the landing strip was found and attacked and the US got its ass kicked in

https://x.com/BashaReport/status/2040676655975240027/photo/4

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795061)

https://x.com/europa/status/2040747535015284885

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795064)

https://x.com/FaytuksNetwork/status/2040725378772132017?s=20

The Hollywood movie just got more boring. NY Times says it was SEAL Team 6 btw.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795339)

https://t.me/kalibrated/29940

Iran will keep the skull.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5853688&forum_id=2,5#49795649)