(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
The United States carried out a risky rescue mission to bring back two of its pilots who were trapped in Iran after an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian troops. However, this operation resulted in the US losing at least one, and possibly two, advanced aircraft. According to news sources, during the challenging recovery, the US military used several special transport planes at an emergency airfield in Iran to save the second American pilot, a colonel. The situation quickly became difficult when one or possibly two of these planes became unusable after they landed, either because they broke down or got stuck in the soft desert ground. As Iranian forces were closing in, the US military had to call in more aircraft to finish the rescue. A regional intelligence source told the Associated Press that American troops destroyed two transport planes they had to leave behind due to this incident.
The aircraft were destroyed to prevent sensitive equipment from being captured by Iranian forces, which is a standard procedure during high-risk missions in enemy areas. The US military did something similar during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. These planes carry secret technology, such as advanced communication, navigation, and special operations systems, and keeping that safe is more important than the cost of the aircraft. On Sunday, Iranian state media also released photos and videos showing the burned remains of what seems to be a transport plane spread across a flat desert area in Isfahan province. The aircraft appear to be Lockheed Martin C-130 models, probably the MC-130J Commando II, which is worth over $100 million and is often used for sending in and bringing out troops in enemy territories for special missions.
Debris from some kind of helicopter, likely the Boeing MH-6 Little Birds, was also seen in the wreckage. According to a Flight Global report, this helicopter can be launched from the MC-130J to support special operations beyond its own flight range. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps stated, "The enemy's flying machines were destroyed, and the US faced another significant defeat. " Iran's military command later noted that the US bombed its own aircraft to "prevent shame for President Trump. " On Sunday, American forces rescued an injured pilot whose plane was shot down in Iran. US President Donald Trump announced that this service member was "seriously hurt and very brave" and was rescued from "far within the mountains" in a mission involving many armed aircraft. He mentioned that a second crew member was rescued in "broad daylight" just hours after the crash.
A high-ranking official from the US administration stated that before finding the second pilot, the CIA spread rumors in Iran that US forces had located him and were extracting him, causing confusion among Iranian troops. The official spoke anonymously to share details that have not yet been made public.
