US special forces raid in Iran rescues downed pilot after high-risk mission

Complex operation involving airstrikes, intelligence and deception saves pilot; second crew member still missing

A high-risk raid by United States special forces has successfully rescued the pilot of an F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran. The serviceman had been stranded in hostile territory, while Tehran had reportedly offered a reward for his capture, aiming to use him as leverage in negotiations.

According to reports by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, the two crew members ejected just seconds after the aircraft was hit by Iranian fire. The jet crashed violently, leaving both men isolated and armed only with sidearms.

The pilot managed to maintain communication with his unit and was later located using a tracking device, deployed cautiously to avoid detection. Injured and hiding in mountainous terrain at over 2,000 meters, he took shelter in a narrow crevice while Iranian forces launched a large-scale search operation.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon had already prepared for such a scenario. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine briefed President Donald Trump, who immediately authorized the mission: “We have to get him back.”

At the same time, the CIA launched a deception operation, spreading false information suggesting the pilot had been located and was being moved out of the country by ground convoy. The aim was to divert Iranian forces away from the actual search area.

The rescue mission involved around 100 special operations troops, including units from Seal Team 6, Delta Force, and Army Rangers. The extraction took place at night, supported by helicopters, fighter jets, and drones under heavy enemy fire.

An initial attempt had to be aborted after helicopters came under small-arms fire. A subsequent coordinated operation, backed by airstrikes, allowed commandos to reach and extract the pilot.

The plan called for evacuation aboard C-130 aircraft to Kuwait, but complications arose when the landing gear of at least one aircraft became stuck in the sand, requiring replacement planes.

After the evacuation, remaining equipment on the ground was destroyed to prevent it from falling into Iranian hands. Confirmation of the mission’s success came only after the aircraft had exited Iranian airspace.

“He survived under extreme conditions,” said Donald Trump, highlighting both the difficulty of the operation and the determination of US forces.

The second crew member, the weapons systems officer, remains missing, as search operations continue across the region.

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(Photo: © U.S. Central Command Public Affairs)