US Airman Rescued After F-15 Downing in Iran
A second US crew member who was missing in Iran following the downing of an American F-15 fighter jet has been successfully rescued.
US President Donald Trump announced the rescue on social media, stating the weapons-systems officer had "sustained injuries" but would be "just fine." He described the mission as "one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history."
The aircraft was shot down on Friday, with both the pilot and the crew member ejecting. The pilot was recovered shortly after the incident.
Subsequently, both US and Iranian forces conducted extensive searches to locate the missing crew member in a mountainous area in southwestern Iran.
Search and Rescue Operations
The search posed a significant challenge for the US, raising concerns about a potential prisoner of war situation if Iran captured the airman. Such a scenario could have led to the airman being used for propaganda purposes.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly initiated its own search efforts, deploying troops and local volunteers. Reports indicated that the IRGC offered a reward of approximately $66,000 (£50,000) for capturing the airman alive.
Social media videos showed hundreds of individuals heading toward the mountainous region in southwestern Iran to assist in the search.
Details about the second airman's rescue surfaced late Saturday night through US media outlets.
President Trump confirmed the successful operation on Truth Social, posting:
"WE GOT HIM!"
He added that the rescued crew member was a "respected colonel."
One individual familiar with the mission described the US rescue operation to the BBC as "huge."
The BBC also reported that the pilot may have sustained injuries during his initial ejection from the aircraft.
Tasnim, a semi-official news agency linked to the IRGC, reported that five Iranians were killed during the operation.
President Trump noted that dozens of aircraft participated in the rescue mission. The White House withheld updates after the pilot's recovery on Friday to safeguard the ongoing rescue effort.
Location and Conditions of the Missing Airman
Initial reports suggested the missing crew member was located in the mountainous Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwestern Iran.
US officials informed media that the airman had spent over 24 hours alone, hiding in the mountains armed with a handgun.
A senior official revealed that the CIA played a pivotal role in the rescue by tracking the airman's position in a mountain crevice and relaying the exact location to the Pentagon.
During the rescue, the CIA reportedly conducted a deception campaign within Iran, spreading false information that the airman had already been found and was being extracted from the country.
The operation also involved an A-10 Warthog aircraft, which was struck over the Gulf. Its pilot ejected and was subsequently rescued.
Regional Strikes and Ongoing Tensions
The recovery of the F-15 crew member occurred amid continuing strikes in the region.
On Sunday morning, Abu Dhabi authorities reported battling fires at a Borouge petrochemical facility caused by debris from an Iranian missile.
Kuwaiti officials stated that Iranian drone strikes inflicted severe damage on oil and petrochemical facilities. Bahrain also experienced attacks targeting industrial and fuel plants.
Later that day, Israeli media reported a ballistic missile directly hit a residential building in Haifa, injuring at least four people.
Diplomatic Developments
President Trump told Fox News there was a "good chance" of reaching a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of the US-imposed Tuesday deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
This interview followed a social media post from Trump containing explicit language and reiterating threats to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges.
