Iran Conflict — 2026-04-05

US Special Forces Rescue Both F-15E Crew Members After Shootdown Over Iran

US special operations forces rescued the second crew member of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran on April 3, completing a two-day recovery operation deep inside enemy territory. The weapons systems officer evaded capture in mountainous terrain for over 24 hours after ejecting from the aircraft. During the rescue, Iranian forces struck a US Blackhawk helicopter, wounding crew members, though the aircraft remained airborne. The CIA ran a deception campaign inside Iran to misdirect search efforts while using classified capabilities to locate the airman. A separate A-10 Warthog was also downed the same day, though its pilot reached friendly airspace before ejecting safely.

Analysis
The CIA's deception campaign and use of classified capabilities to locate the WSO represent the first confirmed operational intelligence support to a CSAR mission inside Iran. The Blackhawk hit during extraction demonstrates Iranian forces are adapting to US rescue patterns. Three aircraft losses in a single day, the F-15E, A-10, and Blackhawk damage, suggest Iranian air defenses are performing above pre-war assessments.

2 sources

Second crew member from F-15 downed in Iran rescued by U.S. forces - Axios
U.S. searching for missing F-15 crew member in Iran - Washington Post