The United States has successfully rescued the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday, even as Iranian forces claim to have downed another American aircraft involved in the rescue operation.
The extracted airman, holding the rank of colonel, had evaded Iranian forces for approximately two days in mountainous terrain before US special operations forces reached him during a daylight firefight. Trump described the mission as resolving a crisis for the White House as the war with Iran enters its sixth week.
This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps countered by claiming its forces shot down a C-130-class aircraft searching for the missing officer in Isfahan province. Fars news agency published images showing thick smoke rising from a field, describing the incident as evidence of American military failure.
The rescue operation involved dozens of military aircraft in what Trump characterized as one of the most daring search and rescue missions in US military history. The president had delayed confirming the first crew member's rescue to avoid jeopardizing the second operation.
Al Jazeera frames the story as a developing military crisis, emphasizing the high-stakes nature of the rescue while noting Iranian claims without taking sides. Their coverage focuses on operational details and quotes both American and Iranian sources equally, reflecting Qatar's position as a regional mediator that maintains relations with both Washington and Tehran.