US airman rescued in Iran after F-15 downing and daring special forces operation

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

• An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down by Iranian forces on April 5, 2026, marking the first US aircraft lost in Iran since the war began on February 28, 2026.
• Two crew members ejected from the F-15E: the pilot was rescued within hours, while the weapons systems officer (a colonel) evaded capture for over 24 hours before being rescued on April 6, 2026.
• The rescue involved hundreds of US special forces troops, including Navy SEAL Team 6, and took place in the mountainous region of southwestern Iran (Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province).
• The weapons systems officer hid in a mountain crevice at approximately 2,100 meters elevation after hiking up a ridgeline to evade Iranian forces.
• Two C-130 transport planes became stuck at a remote airstrip in Iran during the extraction, forcing US forces to destroy them to prevent capture by Iranians.
• US President Donald Trump announced the rescue on social media, calling it one of the 'most daring' operations in US military history, and stating the airman sustained injuries but would recover.
• Iranian forces claimed to have shot down a US aircraft during the rescue operation, with state media showing images of wreckage and debris, including what they described as an American soldier's skull.
• The war has resulted in 13 US service members killed and over 300 wounded, with Iran reporting over 1,900 deaths since the conflict began.
• Iranian authorities offered rewards for the capture of the downed US airmen and urged locals to assist in finding them.
• The rescue operation included a CIA deception campaign to mislead Iranian forces about the airman's location and status.
• The Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control, disrupting global oil supplies, with Trump threatening to target Iran's power plants and bridges if the strait is not reopened.