Donald Trump detailed on Sunday, “This brave soldier was behind enemy lines in the rugged mountains of Iran, hunted by our enemies who were closing in by the hour.” “WE GOT HIM,” Donald Trump exulted on Truth Social. The Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) of the F-15E, shot down in Iran on Friday, was rescued by a special forces raid on Saturday night into Sunday. Iranian authorities claimed to have destroyed the aircraft in the province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, just east of Khuzestan, near Kuwait. Since then, the Revolutionary Guards had sent reinforcements to the region to find him. “Dozens of aircraft” were deployed during this rescue operation, according to the US president. “This brave soldier was behind enemy lines in the rugged mountains of Iran, hunted by our enemies who were approaching hour by hour,” he added, praising the “courage” of this “remarkable officer,” a “colonel.”
The pilot – the F-15E being a two-seater – was rescued on Friday by a previous special forces operation, shortly after the aircraft was destroyed, and both men had ejected before the crash. During this first operation, an American BlackHawk helicopter was hit, injuring crew members, as revealed by Axios. However, they were able to continue their mission. Apparently, the two soldiers were separated after ejecting from the aircraft. They had made contact through their communication systems, but it took over a day to locate the WSO.
According to Axios, the CIA – the American external intelligence agency – launched a disinformation campaign in Iran, making it seem like they had already located the weapons systems officer and were attempting a ground operation. In reality, he was “holed up in a crevice, invisible without the CIA’s capabilities,” according to a high-ranking official interviewed by the American media. He “climbed a ridge over 2100 meters high,” adds the New York Times. As his only defense, he had a pistol.
The CIA then provided his position to political and military authorities – the Pentagon, White House, and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Then, the US president gave his approval. “He was never really alone because his commander-in-chief, the secretary of War, the chief of staff of the armed forces, and his fellow soldiers were monitoring his position 24 hours a day and actively preparing for his rescue,” explained the US president. However, he limited the use of his distress beacon to avoid detection by the Iranians, according to the New York Times.
US special forces – the Navy’s Seal Team 6 – conducted “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history” according to Donald Trump. “The US military dispatched dozens of aircraft, armed with the world’s most formidable weapons, to recover him,” he continued, specifying that the officer was injured but “will recover.” “Hundreds of special forces members,” as well as “helicopters,” “cyber intelligence capabilities, space, and others were used,” according to the New York Times.
During the operation, American aircraft reportedly opened fire on Iranian convoys to keep them away. As special forces approached the WSO, a firefight took place, but combat did not ensue.
Additionally, two transport planes – likely MC-130Js, per the Wall Street Journal – were reportedly blocked at a refueling point (FARP in NATO language). Essentially, this was an advanced base on Iranian territory used for deployment. These two planes were reportedly destroyed by special forces, and three others were sent to evacuate them, along with the rescued officer. The latter was transported to Kuwait to receive medical treatment.
“This is the first time, in military memory, that two American pilots have been rescued separately in enemy territory,” he praised. Iran, on the other hand, claims to have shot down a new American aircraft during the rescue operations, as well as two Blackhawk assault helicopters. “Five people were martyred in the attack last night in the Kouh-e Siah area,” in the province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, according to the Tasnim news agency, citing a provincial official.
