The United States has rescued a missing airman after Iran shot down his F-15E fighter jet on Friday.
President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue on Sunday morning, adding that the airman sustained injuries but will “be just fine.”
Iran Claims It Destroyed Enemy Aircraft
However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards offered a different story. They claimed to have destroyed US and Israeli aircraft during a US rescue mission on Iranian territory.
The official Tasnim news agency reported the claim, noting that the Guards said the operation involved multiple forces including Aerospace, Ground Force, Popular Units, Basij, and Police command.
“Enemy aircraft were destroyed,” the group stated.
Conflicting Reports from Iranian Officials
Earlier, Iran’s police command claimed that a US C-130 aircraft was downed south of Isfahan province. Meanwhile, Tasnim reported that Iran’s central military command said the downed aircraft also included two Black Hawk helicopters. Furthermore, Iran’s army claimed it shot down an Israeli drone in the same province.
Trump Announces Successful Rescue
President Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, revealing that the airman was a colonel. The rescue happened in “treacherous mountainous terrain,” even though Iranian forces had been hunting him down.
Trump noted that the airman was “never truly alone,” since he and senior military leaders monitored the situation around the clock.
Dozens of Aircraft Used in Rescue
Trump revealed that he directed a massive operation, so the “US military sent dozens of aircraft” carrying “the most lethal weapons in the world” to retrieve the downed airman. Another crew member from the same F-15E had been rescued earlier.
Trump confirmed both rescues happened without any US casualties, adding that this proved America’s “overwhelming air dominance” over Iran.
Iran Contradicts Trump’s Claims
Nevertheless, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards contradicted Trump’s statement. They claimed a US aircraft was destroyed during the search in southern Isfahan. The Tasnim news agency published their claims.
Background of the Incident
The downed F-15E was one of two US aircraft hit on Friday, while the other was an A-10 “Warthog.” The A-10’s lone pilot was also rescued.
The F-15E had two crew members on board, so one was rescued earlier while the other remained missing for nearly two days. Iran also searched for the missing airman, and they even offered a bounty to whoever found him first. The search continued throughout Saturday until officials confirmed the rescue on Sunday morning.
Trump’s Previous Comments on Iran
Interestingly, Trump had made bold claims just two days before the planes were shot down. During an address to the American people on Wednesday, he said Iran had been “completely decimated.” He added,
“Their navy is gone, their air force is in ruins.” However, those claims now stand in stark contrast to the recent downing of US aircraft.
