US Carries Out Daring Rescue in Iran   04/06 06:20

   

   (AP) -- The United States pulled off a daring rescue of two aviators whose 
fighter jet was shot down by Iran, plucking the pilot from behind enemy lines 
before setting off a complicated extraction of the second service member who 
hid deep in the mountains as Tehran called for Iranians to help capture him.

   The CIA looked to throw off Iran's government before the crew member was 
found, launching a deception campaign to spread word inside the Islamic 
Republic that the U.S. had already located him.

   Even as President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials described an almost 
cinematic mission, rescuers faced major obstacles, including two Black Hawk 
helicopters coming under fire and problems with two transport planes that 
forced the U.S. military to blow them up.

   "This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been 
rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory," Trump wrote early Sunday on his 
Truth Social platform. "WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!"

   US officials stayed silent as the operation played out

   In a pair of social media posts, Trump said the operation over the weekend 
required the U.S. to remain completely silent to avoid jeopardizing the effort, 
even as the president and top members of his administration continuously 
monitored the airman's location.

   The White House and the Pentagon refused to publicly discuss details about 
the downed fighter jet for well over 24 hours after the initial crash, 
particularly about the first crew member rescued from the F-15E Strike Eagle -- 
an effort that Trump later said took seven hours in broad daylight over Iran.

   The United States and Iran's government then were both racing to find the 
second crew member, a weapons systems officer, whose location neither side knew.

   The CIA spread word in Iran that the U.S. had found him and were moving him 
by ground to get him out of the country, according to a senior Trump 
administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details 
not yet made public.

   The confusion allowed the CIA time to uncover the location of the service 
member, who was hiding in a mountain crevice, the official said.

   He had climbed 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) despite being injured, said Sen. 
Dave McCormick, a Pennsylvania Republican who told "Fox News Sunday" that he 
was briefed by a senior administration official involved in the operation.

   The intelligence agency sent the aviator's coordinates to the Pentagon and 
the White House, where Trump ordered a rescue operation.

   Iran urged the public to look for the 'enemy pilot'

   Meanwhile, an anchor on a channel affiliated with Iranian state television 
had been urging residents in the mountainous region of southwest Iran where the 
fighter jet went down to hand over any "enemy pilot" to police and promised a 
reward for anyone who did.

   Trump said the American aviator was being "hunted down" by enemies who were 
"getting closer and closer by the hour." The United States was monitoring his 
location continuously, he said.

   At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of 
heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is 
"seriously wounded" but will recover.

   Iranian state media reported that airstrikes in southwestern Iran on 
Saturday killed at least three people and wounded others, in the same area 
where the missing American crew member was believed to be.

   US rescuers face obstacles with aircraft during the operation

   The American rescue mission ran into major challenges behind enemy lines. 
Iran's joint military command claimed it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters 
taking part in the operation.

   A person familiar with the situation said the two helicopters were able to 
navigate to safe airspace, although it's unclear if they landed or if crew 
members were injured. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss 
the sensitive information.

   Then, the U.S. military was forced to bring in additional aircraft to 
complete the rescue of the second service member due to a technical 
malfunction, according to a regional intelligence official briefed on the 
mission. The U.S. blew up two transport planes it was forced to leave behind 
because of the mishap, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity 
to discuss the covert mission.

   Iran's state television on Sunday aired a video showing what it claimed were 
parts of a U.S. aircraft shot down by Iranian forces, along with a photo of 
thick, black smoke rising. The broadcaster said Iran had shot down a transport 
plane and two helicopters that were part of the rescue operation.

   Iran's joint military command said the destroyed aircraft included two C-130 
military transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters in the province of 
Isfahan, where the rescue took place.

   "The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a 
SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have 
achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies," 
Trump said on social media.

   A second US military jet also was downed

   Trump, however, did not mention that a second military jet also went down 
the same day as the F-15E.

   Iranian state media said Friday that a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed 
after being struck by Iran's defense forces.

   A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive 
military situation, confirmed a second Air Force combat aircraft went down in 
the Middle East on Friday.

   An additional U.S. pilot was rescued but details were not available given 
the security concerns, another person familiar with the situation said.

   Neither provided more information, including whether it was the A-10.