US special forces managed to rescue a second airman which had been stranded in Iran since April 3, 2026, when his F-15E was shot down over Iran.
The other crew member, reportedly the pilot, had already been rescued, just hours after the aircraft was downed, in another large Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operation. At least two HH-60 helicopters were damaged, and an A-10 ground attack aircraft was lost in that action, with all involved servicemen making it back successfully to the US lines.
A race against time them ensued, with both US and Iranian forces racing to find the other crew member, the F-15E Weapons Systems Officer (WOS). Iranian authorities had reportedly offered a cash bounty to whomever was able to locate him.
The combat search and rescue operation for the second airman unfolded during the night of April 4 to 5 April 2026, and it involved a large number of air assets operating over the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province of southwestern Iran.
The success of the rescue operation was confirmed by President Trump in a social media post in which he also referred to dozens of aircraft having been involved in the operation. He also revealed that the rescued officer holds the rank of Colonel and suffered some injuries, but he is expected to recover.
During the operation, two C-130 aircraft, presumably of the MC-130J special operations version, had to be destroyed by US forces after they got stuck on an unpaved field and were unable to take off. Two MH-6 Little Bird light helicopters may have also been destroyed in the same action.
Some reports appeared in the media suggest that three additional aircraft were then sent to extract the special forces contingent and the rescued pilot.
Interestingly, some elements of this mission deep inside Iranian territory are somewhat reminiscent of Operation Eagle Claw, which was launched by President Carter in 1979 as an attempt to liberate US hostage in Iran. The outcomes of the two operations couldn’t have been more different, though. On that occasion one C-130 aircraft and several helicopters had to be destroyed or abandoned on the ground at an improvised unpaved landing strip after the mission was cancelled.
Unlike on that occasion, though, and despite its high complexity, the latest operation to rescue the F-15E appears to have achieved all its goals with no US casualties having been reported.