The US rescue operation of F-15E pilots in Iran almost deviated after a series of serious incidents, although initially deployed with high accuracy.
Under the night, US special forces secretly infiltrated deep into Iranian territory, overcame treacherous terrain and successfully approached the trapped arms officer. This pilot was then taken to a secret rendezvous point before dawn.
However, a turning point occurred when two MC-130 transport aircraft carrying about 100 special forces soldiers encountered technical problems and could not take off. The incident put the entire force at risk of being trapped behind the enemy's defense lines.
Faced with this situation, the operation commander was forced to make a high-risk decision, sending more aircraft into Iran to withdraw troops in batches. The special forces had to wait in a tense state for many hours before being rescued.
According to a US official, this was the most dangerous time of the entire operation, but the quick decision helped reverse the situation. After that, US soldiers destroyed damaged aircraft and four helicopters to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy.
The crashed pilot was the second member of the F-15E flight crew shot down in Iran. This person was injured in the leg and hid in a high mountain crevice before establishing contact with the US military and verifying his identity, an important step to avoid falling into the trap.
In the process of preparation, the US Central Intelligence Agency launched a diversionary operation to distort information, causing Iran to believe that the pilot had been found before. The US military also caused electronic interference and attacked roads around the area to limit access.
Initial search efforts encountered strong resistance. Two Black Hawk helicopters were hit by Iranian fire but still escaped from airspace. An A-10 attack aircraft was also hit and crashed, the pilot had to parachute.
Experts believe that Iran's air defense capabilities are still significant, as it can continuously attack US aircraft. This increases the level of risk for the entire operation, which takes place in the context of a conflict that has lasted for weeks and caused heavy casualties.
After the mission was completed, President Donald Trump declared that this was one of the most bold search and rescue operations in US history, affirming that the rescued pilot would recover.
