U.S. Forces Rescue Second Crew Member from Downed F‑15E Over Iran

Timeline – On Friday, an F‑15E Strike Eagle was hit by Iranian fire and both crew ejected. The pilot was recovered by helicopters within hours, an operation President Trump described as occurring “in broad daylight” after the airman spent about seven hours on the ground.

Sunday rescue – Early Sunday morning, U.S. special‑operations teams located the missing weapons‑systems officer, an Air Force colonel, deep in the remote Kohgiluyeh‑Boyer‑Ahmad province near Dehdasht. He was extracted by combat‑search‑and‑rescue helicopters. Trump said the officer was “seriously wounded but will be just fine” and praised the rescuers as “brave”.

Strategic context – The downed jet is the first U.S. aircraft lost to enemy fire in the month‑long U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran. The rescue underscores Washington’s commitment to recover personnel behind enemy lines while the broader war continues, with strikes planned against Iranian power infrastructure.

Implications – Successful recovery of both crew members may limit immediate political pressure on the White House, but the incident highlights the heightened risk of U.S. air operations over Iranian territory.