The United States has successfully rescued the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday, even as Iranian forces claim to have downed another American aircraft involved in the rescue operation.
The extracted airman, holding the rank of colonel, had evaded Iranian forces for approximately two days in mountainous terrain before US special operations forces reached him during a daylight firefight. Trump described the mission as resolving a crisis for the White House as the war with Iran enters its sixth week.
This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps countered by claiming its forces shot down a C-130-class aircraft searching for the missing officer in Isfahan province. Fars news agency published images showing thick smoke rising from a field, describing the incident as evidence of American military failure.
The rescue operation involved dozens of military aircraft in what Trump characterized as one of the most daring search and rescue missions in US military history. The president had delayed confirming the first crew member's rescue to avoid jeopardizing the second operation.
Al Jazeera frames the story as a developing military crisis, emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the rescue while noting Iranian claims without taking sides. Their coverage focuses on operational details and quotes both American and Iranian sources equally, reflecting Qatar's position as a regional mediator that maintains relations with both Washington and Tehran.
Times of India presents competing narratives side-by-side, giving equal weight to Trump's claims of military success and Iran's assertions of American defeat. This balanced approach reflects India's strategic autonomy policy, maintaining defense partnerships with the US while preserving energy relationships with Iran, avoiding taking sides in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Trump tries to justify the bitter defeat of his feeble army by creating confusion for public opinion.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson — Press TV
Iranian officials framed the downing of the original F-15 as exposing what they called the hollow nature of American military capabilities. Zolfaghari described Iranian forces' actions as a decisive victory demonstrating their readiness to crush any invaders.
The high-stakes extraction unfolded amid continuous airstrikes on the crash site location over the past 24 hours. US forces had encircled the downed airman's position before the firefight erupted, deviating from typical nighttime special operations protocols.
Trump claimed the mission proved American air dominance over Iranian skies, noting it marked the first time in military memory that two US pilots were rescued separately in enemy territory. The operation deployed what he described as the most lethal weapons available after Iranian forces targeted two Black Hawk helicopters.
The incident escalates tensions in a conflict that began with joint US-Israel strikes on February 28. Iranian forces had initially shot down the F-15 on Friday using air defense systems, triggering the multi-day search that became a test of American military capabilities in hostile territory.