By Our Correspondent

National News – The US military successfully rescued a missing airman from an F-15 fighter jet shot down over southern Iran on Friday.

President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on Sunday, calling it one of the most daring combat search and rescue missions in history.

Both crew members ejected from the plane; one was rescued earlier, while the second, a colonel, was recovered after being tracked behind enemy lines.

The rescue unfolded amid tensions as US and Iranian forces raced to locate the airman.

Reports indicate the operation involved helicopters and multiple aircraft flying low over hostile terrain, with engagement from Iranian troops.

The colonel may have been injured during ejection, but was rescued safely without American casualties.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said nomadic tribes and troops fired at Black Hawk helicopters during the mission, while one US drone was reportedly shot down in southern Isfahan province.

The F-15E Strike Eagle jet, carrying a pilot and weapons systems officer, is capable of air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.

In Iran, it was likely defending against drones and cruise missiles. The aircraft’s two-person crew system ensures operational efficiency in complex environments.

The jet’s downing is believed to be from a surface-to-air missile, though exact details remain unclear.

The provinces of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Khuzestan were cited as the possible crash site, featuring mountainous terrain and strategic oil infrastructure.

Survival training is critical for crew members of downed jets. Experts note their top priority is evading capture, concealing themselves, and using local resources to survive until rescue.

The US military continuously monitored the airman’s location, sending dozens of aircraft to support the high-stakes mission.

The successful recovery underscores the complexity of combat search and rescue operations and highlights ongoing tensions between the US and Iran.