An Iranian news outlet on Sunday reported that multiple U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the mission to rescue a stranded American service member in Iran.
The Iranian Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that two C-130 aircraft and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the mission.
Multiple outlets, including CNN, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, also shared images of destroyed aircraft that Iranian state media released. CNN geolocated the footage to the southern Isfahan province in Iran.
The Hill has reached out to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), which oversees the military’s operations in the region, for comment.
At just past midnight EDT on Sunday, President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that U.S. forces rescued a missing service member from Iran, after his F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over the Middle Eastern country.
“My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” the president said.
“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue,” Trump added.
Iranian forces shot down the fighter jet earlier this week, with one crew member rescued by U.S. forces before the weekend. The incident marked the first known instance of a U.S. plane being downed inside Iranian airspace since the conflict began on Feb. 28.
A Black Hawk helicopter and a second search-and-rescue helicopter were struck by Iranian fire on Friday while carrying out a rescue mission for the crew, a source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to share operational details, told The Hill.
Centcom confirmed on social media that U.S. forces rescued the second service member on Saturday.
“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment,’” the president wrote Sunday in a separate Truth Social post, noting that the service member was seriously wounded. “It just doesn’t happen! The second raid came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran. An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all!”
