A high-risk US rescue operation inside Iran successfully retrieved a downed Air Force officer, but new details suggest the mission involved significant losses, including the destruction of American aircraft to prevent them from being captured.
According to a US official cited by The Wall Street Journal, two MC-130J transport planes—specialised aircraft used for covert infiltration and extraction—were deployed during the operation. However, both planes reportedly became immobilised during the mission under unclear circumstances. To avoid the risk of sensitive military technology falling into enemy hands, US forces destroyed the aircraft before withdrawing.
The operation was launched after an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian air defences. While one crew member had already been rescued earlier, the second—identified as a weapons systems officer—was located and extracted during a complex nighttime mission deep inside Iranian territory.
Donald Trump described the mission as unprecedented, stating that dozens of aircraft were deployed and heavily armed to ensure the success of the rescue. He emphasised that both crew members were recovered in separate operations conducted under extremely dangerous conditions. The rescued officer was reported to be injured but stable.
The mission reportedly received intelligence support from Israel, which temporarily paused its own military actions in the area to facilitate the extraction.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials reacted strongly to the developments. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shared images of the destroyed aircraft remains and criticised the US, suggesting that such “victories” came at a high cost.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed that multiple US aircraft were destroyed during the operation, including transport planes and helicopters. While these claims remain unverified, they add to growing reports of US aerial losses in the ongoing conflict.
Overall, the rescue highlights both the operational reach and the risks faced by US forces, demonstrating that even successful missions may involve significant material losses in hostile territory.
