U.S. special forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down by Iran, according to three U.S. officials. This ended a multi-day rescue mission where the missing officer managed to avoid capture in the mountains of southwest Iran for over 24 hours, as both U.S. forces and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) raced to find him.
The F-15 was shot down over a remote area of Iran on Friday, marking the first time in over 20 years that a U.S. fighter jet had been brought down in combat. Iranian media released photos of the wreckage, which experts confirmed matched an American F-15.
The Rescue Mission and Initial Contact
Both crew members of the F-15 made contact after ejecting from the jet. The pilot was rescued within hours, although Iran attacked a U.S. Blackhawk helicopter during the rescue, injuring some crew members.
Despite the attack, the helicopter was able to fly and safely transport the pilot. President Trump later explained that the U.S. did not immediately confirm the pilot’s rescue to protect the ongoing mission to locate the second crew member.
CIA’s Deception Campaign and Rescue Efforts
The second crew member, a colonel who served as the weapons system officer, was injured after ejecting but was still able to move. He evaded capture for more than a day as he hid in the mountains. Trump later described the officer as being “behind enemy lines,” hunted by enemies who were getting closer by the hour.
To protect the officer, the CIA ran a deception campaign inside Iran. They spread false information that U.S. forces had already found the officer and were attempting to exit the area. U.S. officials described the operation as the “ultimate needle in a haystack,” but credited CIA capabilities for tracking the officer’s exact location.
Once the officer’s position was confirmed, the CIA immediately shared the information with the Pentagon, the U.S. military, and the White House. President Trump quickly ordered the rescue operation and stayed in the Oval Office, receiving updates throughout the day from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The Rescue Operation
The rescue mission was carried out by a specialized U.S. commando unit with heavy air support. U.S. Air Force jets launched strikes against Iranian forces to prevent them from reaching the officer’s location. U.S. forces unleashed a “hail of heavy fire” to clear the way for the rescue team.
After the mission, all U.S. forces safely left Iran. Trump later described the operation as “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history.”
Confirmation and Update from President Trump
President Trump confirmed the rescue of the officer on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, “WE GOT HIM!” He stated that the officer was “SAFE and SOUND,” though he had sustained injuries. Trump also mentioned that at his direction, the U.S. military deployed “dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him.”
Loss of Other Aircraft and Iran’s Capability
The F-15 was not the only aircraft lost that day. Iran also shot down an A-10 attack aircraft, though its pilot safely ejected and was rescued after flying to friendly territory over the Persian Gulf.
The loss of multiple U.S. aircraft in a single day raised questions about U.S. claims of air superiority over Iran. Trump had previously stated that the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s military capacity, making these losses significant.
Diplomatic Stalemate and Rising Tensions
On the diplomatic front, progress in indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran has stalled. On Saturday, Trump warned that “hell will reign down” on Iran if they do not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
This strait is a key maritime route, handling around 20% of global oil traffic, and its closure due to the conflict has caused a significant rise in global fuel prices. Reports also revealed that the damage to the U.S. embassy in Iran was far worse than initially reported.
