Washington, April 5 (ANI) — US Special Forces have rescued a second F-15 crew member alive after the jet was downed amid the West Asia conflict, three US government officials told Axios, which first reported the operation.
Al Jazeera, citing a US official, reported that the rescue was still unfolding and that the recovered airman was “not safe” as Special Forces worked to exfiltrate him from Iranian territory and return him to safety.
Both US and Iranian forces launched searches for the missing crew member. CNN reported that, during those operations, armed local tribesmen in the region fired on American helicopters.
Iranian state-linked Fars News Agency said the exchanges took place in remote highlands spanning Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces and parts of the Bakhtiari region, where local groups reportedly engaged two Black Hawk helicopters on Saturday. Following the incidents, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) publicly praised the tribal groups, calling them “courageous, valiant and victorious guardians of the borders,” according to CNN’s reporting.
Footage released on Friday and circulated by Iranian outlets showed what were described as nomadic Bakhtiari tribesmen patrolling mountainous terrain in Khuzestan province with rifles while searching for American personnel. In the video, one man is heard saying, “God willing, he will be found.” Iranian authorities also reportedly announced financial rewards for the capture of the missing individual.
Earlier, The Independent reported that US President Donald Trump declined to detail what actions the United States might take if the airman who ejected over Iran were harmed or captured. When asked in a brief telephone interview, Trump said, “Well, I can’t comment on it because we hope that’s not going to happen.”
In a related development, Iran’s Fars news agency quoted the IRGC as saying it destroyed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over central Isfahan.
This account is based on reporting from Axios, Al Jazeera, CNN, Fars, The Independent and ANI. (This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
