Rescue Operation Details

The second US crew member. Who was missing after an American F-15 fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran, has been successfully rescued. President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue on social media, stating that the rescued weapons-systems officer had ‘sustained injuries’ but would be ‘just fine.’ He described the operation as ‘one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history.’

The incident occurred after the F-15 was shot down on Friday. Both the pilot and the crew member ejected from the aircraft. The pilot was recovered shortly after his ejection, but the crew member remained missing, prompting an intense search by both the US and Iran in a mountainous region of southwestern Iran.

Iran’s Search Efforts

Iran’s Islamic Major Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly launched its own search for the missing American, using troops and locals, and offering a reward of about $66,000 (£50,000) to capture him alive. Videos on social media showed hundreds of people heading to a mountainous area in southwest Iran to search for the missing airman.

The rescue operation was confirmed by Trump on Truth Social, where he wrote, ‘WE GOT HIM!’ He added that the crew member was a ‘respected colonel.’ Details of the second airman’s rescue emerged in US media late on Saturday night, following the initial recovery of the pilot.

A person familiar with the operation described the US rescue as ‘huge.’ The BBC understands that the pilot may have been injured during his initial ejection from the aircraft. Meanwhile, Tasnim, the semi-official news agency associated with the IRGC, reported that five Iranians were killed during the operation.

CIA’s Role in the Rescue

Officials told US media that the missing crew member spent more than 24 hours on his own, hiding in the mountains with a handgun. A senior official stated that the CIA played a major role in the rescue mission by tracking the airman in a mountain crevice and passing his exact location to the Pentagon.

The agency reportedly engaged in a deception campaign inside Iran. While the rescue attempt was taking place, it spread word that the airman had already been found and was being extracted. This helped prevent Iran from locating him before the rescue could be completed.

The rescue operation reportedly included an A-10 Warthog aircraft, which was hit over the Gulf. Its pilot ejected before being rescued. The recovery of the F-15 crew member comes as strikes continue in the region, with reports of damage to petrochemical facilities in the Gulf and a missile strike in Israel.

Trump told Fox News he thought there was a ‘good chance’ of reaching a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s US-imposed deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The interview followed an expletive-ridden post on social media in which he repeated threats to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges.

The rescue of the airman highlights the complexity of combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions, which are often conducted by helicopters flying low over enemy territory alongside other military aircraft. The US military reportedly sent dozens of aircraft into Iran for the operation, claiming it was carried out without any Americans being killed or wounded.