Overview
- A U.S. F-15E was shot down over Iran on Friday, and both airmen were recovered in under 48 hours after two combat search-and-rescue missions deep inside hostile territory.
- At a White House briefing on Monday, President Trump said the second extraction used about 155 aircraft and hundreds of personnel in a deception-heavy plan that probed seven sites to mislead Iranian forces.
- Officials said aircraft came under heavy fire during the rescues, with one A-10 hit before its pilot ejected over friendly territory and was recovered without fatal injuries.
- Leaders confirmed that some transport planes used to stage the extraction were destroyed on site to protect sensitive communications and counter-missile gear from capture.
- Competing narratives continue, with Iranian state media posting unverified ID images, AFP debunking a viral “rescue” video as old training footage, and a TASS-cited expert claiming at least $500 million in U.S. losses without independent confirmation.