Iran’s military announced on Sunday that the United States’ operation to rescue an F-15E airman from a downed fighter jet had been entirely thwarted. However, the statement did not confirm whether the pilot had been captured. This declaration followed US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the officer had been successfully rescued during a search and rescue mission and was “SAFE and SOUND.”
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s central military command Khatam Al-Anbiya, described the US operation as a deceptive escape attempt staged at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan. He emphasized that the mission had been “completely foiled.” In a video broadcast on state television, Zolfaghari claimed that two C-130 military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the operation.
He further criticized President Trump for continuing with “empty rhetoric and diversion,” despite what he described as the clear demonstration of Iran’s military superiority on the ground. State media released images showing burnt wreckage scattered across a desert site, with smoke still rising from the debris.
In a significant development, Iranian media reported that strikes linked to the rescue attempt resulted in five fatalities in the southwest region, though it remains unclear whether those killed were civilians or military personnel. Since Friday, footage has circulated showing local residents armed with flags and rifles searching for the aviator after authorities announced a bounty for information leading to his whereabouts.
