US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a US service member who had been missing after an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran has been rescued. The airman, reported by US officials to be a weapons systems officer with the rank of colonel, sustained injuries but “will be just fine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. A second crew member from the same jet had been rescued earlier.
The recovery followed an intensive, large-scale search-and-rescue operation that US media say involved dozens of special forces personnel, including Navy SEAL Team 6, and scores of warplanes and helicopters. US reports said attack aircraft provided support, commandos engaged in firefights with Iranian forces, and the rescued airman had evaded capture for more than a day after ejecting. He reportedly carried a beacon, a secure communications device, and a pistol to coordinate with rescuers.
US outlets reported that two transport aircraft intended for the extraction were unable to take off from a remote Iranian base and were destroyed by US forces to prevent capture, and three other transport planes were then used. Some US officials said the rescued airman had been flown to Kuwait for treatment.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and other Iranian authorities disputed parts of the US account, saying their forces had destroyed US and Israeli aircraft involved in the operation. Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted the Guards as saying a joint operation by air, ground, paramilitary and police units had destroyed “enemy aircraft.” Iranian officials specifically claimed a US C-130 transport and two Black Hawk helicopters were downed in southern Isfahan province; Iran’s police command also reported shooting down an Israeli drone. Iran’s central military command said the US operation had been “foiled.”
US and Iranian statements also diverge over casualties and losses. Trump said the rescues were conducted without US casualties and used the operation to emphasize US air power. Iranian media released images purportedly showing fragments from the downed F-15E. Independent verification of competing claims remained limited.
Background and wider context
The F-15E and an A-10 Warthog were shot down on Friday, marking the first US aircraft losses since the wider US-Israeli campaign against Iran intensified in recent weeks. The conflict began to escalate after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack earlier; Iran and Iran-backed groups have since struck targets across the Gulf and beyond in retaliation for sustained US and Israeli strikes.
The downing of US aircraft and the rescue operation have heightened regional tensions. US President Trump also issued a warning to Iran in the run-up to the events, demanding Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face “devastating consequences.” Tehran closed much of the strait to most shipping in response to US-Israeli strikes, driving energy price concerns and prompting diplomatic efforts.
Regional incidents and diplomacy
– Oman and Iran held talks aimed at ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Oman’s foreign ministry said deputy foreign ministers and experts met to consider proposals for “smooth transit.” Oman has previously acted as a mediator between the US and Iran.
– Kuwait reported “severe” damage after Iranian drones struck energy facilities and a Finance Ministry building. Kuwaiti authorities said air defences were responding; there were no immediate reports of injuries. Attacks on Gulf states hosting US forces have increased amid Iran’s retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.
– The United Arab Emirates suspended operations at the Borouge petrochemical plant after fires broke out, attributed to falling debris from intercepted missiles or drones. The UAE Defense Ministry said it was responding to missile and drone threats.
– Lebanon experienced renewed violence: Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed civilians, including six members of a single family in Kfar Hatta, while Hezbollah claimed rocket attacks on northern Israel and said it had fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship off the Lebanese coast. Israel said its strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and operations.
– Egypt held calls with US and regional counterparts, including Iran’s foreign minister and mediators from Turkey and Pakistan, to discuss de-escalation proposals, warning of an “unprecedented explosion” in the Middle East if tensions continue.
– Iran said it would allow Iraqi shipping to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions.
Operational and intelligence details
News outlets reported additional operational details: US forces allegedly used deception efforts inside Iran intended to mislead Iranian authorities about the airman’s location, and the rescued airman reportedly had been wounded after ejecting but managed to evade capture. Iranian authorities offered a bounty for anyone who could locate the missing service member.
Claims and counterclaims over aircraft losses during the rescue remain unresolved. The US insists the rescue succeeded without US casualties, while Iran claims to have shot down multiple US aircraft involved in the mission. Both sides released statements and images supporting their versions.
Humanitarian and geopolitical concerns
The downstream effects of the strikes and counterstrikes have included damage to civilian infrastructure and petrochemical facilities, the suspension of industrial operations, displacement and civilian casualties in Lebanon, and disruptions to shipping through a key global chokepoint. International and regional officials, including mediators from Oman, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, are engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation as deadlines and ultimatums—such as the US demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—add pressure.
The situation remains fluid, with competing narratives from the US and Iran and ongoing military and diplomatic developments across the Gulf and Levant.