Last Friday, Iran knocked down a American F-15 fighter within its territory, in the first incident of this type since the beginning of the conflict in Middle East after the February 28 offensive led by USA and Israel.
The aircraft had two crew members. One of them was rescued hours after the demolition, while the second—the co-pilot— remained missing in a mountainous areawhich activated a specialized search operation.
Co-pilot rescue: second crew member recovered
President Donald Trump confirmed this Sunday the rescue of the co-pilotbecoming the second crew member recovered after the incident.
The president indicated that the soldier, identified as a colonel, remained in enemy territory for nearly seven hours and was located alive, although “seriously wounded.” He added that the mission was one of the “most daring search and rescue operations in history.”
We have rescued the crew member/officer F-15seriously injured and truly brave, from deep in the mountains of Iran. The Iranian military was searching for him intensely, in large numbers, and was getting closer. He is a highly respected colonel. This type of raid is rarely attempted due to the danger to “personnel and equipment.” It just doesn’t happen!
The second raid occurred after the first, in which we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, something also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran. An AMAZING display of bravery and talent by everyone!
I will have a press conference, with the military, in the Oval Office, on Monday at 1:00 pm
God bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS!
President DONALD J. TRUMP.
Military operation in enemy territory
The rescue was carried out through a combat search and rescue (CSAR) operation, carried out in broad daylight, a rare condition for this type of mission. However, the Pentagon has not disclosed operational details.
According to information cited by Washington Post, The co-pilot managed to hide in a crevice in the mountain to avoid being captured. by Iranian forces who were already searching for him.
The chain BBC reported that, despite his injuries, the soldier was able to mobilize on his own, which facilitated his survival.
Race against time and confrontations
The location of the co-pilot generated a race between US and Iranian forces. means of Iran They reported that rewards were even offered to find the soldier.
According to Trump, Iranian troops were approaching “dangerously,” which raised the risk of capture. During the operation, clashes between US helicopters and ground forces occurred.
The Pentagon deployed C-130 planes and multiple aircraft that flew at low altitude to evade radars. For its part, Iran claimed to have shot down four US aircraft, a version not confirmed by Washington.
Intelligence and military strategy role
An official cited by The Washington Post noted that the CIA located the co-pilot and spread false information inside Iran to divert attention from his location.
Likewise, Iranian media broadcast images of charred aircraft remains, which could indicate that USA He destroyed his own equipment to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
According to international media, the possible capture of the co-pilot would have represented a strategic advantage for Iranespecially in a context of high tension due to the ultimatum of USA on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.