US Service Member Rescued After Iran Fighter Jet Incident: What Happened?

Rescue Operation Successful

Washington: A US military personnel, who had been unaccounted for following the downing of a fighter jet by Iran, has been successfully rescued, as announced by President Donald Trump in a social media update early Sunday.

The service member went missing on Friday after Iran shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle. Another crew member had been rescued earlier.

According to Trump, the aviator sustained injuries but is expected to recover, having taken shelter in the 'treacherous mountains of Iran.'

The President noted that the rescue operation involved 'dozens of aircraft' and that the US had been tracking the serviceman's location 'around the clock' while meticulously planning the rescue.

The conflict, which escalated with coordinated US-Israel strikes on February 28, has resulted in significant casualties, disrupted global markets, obstructed vital shipping routes, and caused fuel prices to soar. Both parties have targeted civilian areas, raising concerns about potential war crimes.

This incident marks the first time a US aircraft has crashed in Iranian territory since the onset of hostilities in late February.

Last week, Trump claimed that the US had 'decimated' Iran and would conclude the conflict 'very quickly.'

Just two days later, Iran downed two US military aircraft, highlighting the ongoing risks associated with the bombing campaign and the resilience of Iran's military forces.

The other aircraft that went down was a US A-10 attack jet, with the status of its crew and the exact crash site remaining unclear.

Following the F-15E crash, a vigorous US search-and-rescue mission was launched, concentrating on a mountainous area in Iran's southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.

Iran has also offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the 'enemy pilot.' Additionally, Iran's joint military command claimed to have targeted two US Black Hawk helicopters on Friday, although this information has not been independently verified.