이 포스팅은 쿠팡 파트너스 활동의 일환으로, 이에 따른 일정액의 수수료를 제공받습니다.
U.S. military and intelligence agencies completed a dramatic two-stage rescue operation on April 5, 2026, recovering both crew members of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down over Iranian territory, the Pentagon confirmed. The operation involved hundreds of special operations troops, dozens of warplanes and helicopters, and marked a significant moment in the ongoing Middle East conflict now entering its sixth week.
The Shootdown
The F-15E Strike Eagle was downed by enemy fire over Iran on approximately April 3, 2026. Both crew members — the pilot and a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) described by President Trump as a “highly respected Colonel” — successfully ejected and landed in hostile territory in a mountainous region of Iran.
Stage One: The Pilot’s Rescue
U.S. forces located and extracted the pilot within hours of the crash. The swift recovery was attributed to rapid coordination between military units and pre-positioned rescue assets in the region.
Stage Two: The Colonel’s 36-Hour Ordeal
The WSO spent more than 24 hours evading Iranian forces in rugged mountain terrain before U.S. forces could reach him. During that time, the officer relied on mandatory Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training to avoid capture. The CIA deployed what officials described as “unique capabilities” to track his location, ultimately finding him sheltering inside a mountain crevice.
The rescue operation drew on elite units including Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL Team Six, alongside hundreds of additional U.S. special operations and military intelligence personnel. Dozens of American warplanes and helicopters provided air support and cover throughout the mission.
Outcome
The WSO was successfully recovered on April 5, 2026, alive but injured. U.S. officials reported no American service members were killed during either rescue operation. President Trump praised the mission on Truth Social, calling it a successful example of American resolve in a high-risk environment.
Context: Six Weeks of Conflict
The rescue comes on Day 37 of the broader U.S.-led military campaign in the Middle East. The loss of the F-15E and the subsequent rescue operation heightened political tensions and drew significant domestic attention, with the missing Colonel’s fate closely tracked by American media for over a day before his extraction was confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Were both F-15E crew members successfully rescued?
A: Yes. The pilot was recovered within hours of the April 3 shootdown. The WSO (a Colonel) was rescued on April 5 after spending more than 24 hours evading capture in Iranian mountain terrain. Both survived; the WSO was injured but alive.
Q: Which U.S. units carried out the rescue?
A: The operation involved Army Delta Force, Navy SEAL Team Six, hundreds of additional special operations personnel, dozens of warplanes and helicopters, and CIA intelligence support, according to U.S. officials.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available information.
