United States special forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of a downed F-15 fighter jet from inside Iran, according to reports published on Sunday.
The aircraft was reportedly shot down on Friday by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), triggering an urgent search-and-rescue operation. The rescued individual has been identified as the jet’s weapons systems officer, who managed to eject safely but sustained injuries during the incident. Despite being wounded, he remained mobile and was able to maintain communication.
Earlier, the pilot of the same aircraft had already been rescued within hours of the crash. However, the second crew member remained stranded inside hostile territory for nearly a full day, raising fears that Iranian forces might capture him.
A senior US official said the rescue mission was carried out on Saturday by an elite special operations unit. The operation involved multiple military aircraft providing air cover. As IRGC forces reportedly moved closer to the location, US forces conducted heavy bombardment to secure the extraction.
Following the successful rescue, all US personnel involved in the mission exited Iranian territory safely. Sources added that both crew members had maintained contact using communication devices after ejecting from the aircraft, which played a crucial role in their recovery.
The incident marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, with the high-stakes rescue mission being described as one of the most dangerous operations in recent military history.
