FOX News has officially confirmed: the second crew member of the F-15 and the rescue team have safely evacuated Iran.
According to FOX News, citing two senior U.S. officials and multiple reliable local sources, the second crew member (Weapons Systems Officer, WSO) of the downed U.S. F-15E fighter jet has been rescued, and both the rescued airman and the special operations personnel conducting the rescue mission have now safely evacuated Iran.
Event reconstruction and timeline:
The F-15E "Strike Eagle" fighter jet was shot down in southwestern Iran early on April 3 local time, after which both crew members ejected.
Rescue process: After ejection, the second crew member, relying on survival training, walked 7 kilometers while injured, evading pursuit for over 24 hours in high mountainous terrain in Iran, before activating his emergency beacon. In response, U.S. forces deployed special operations units including Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) in a multi-phase, complex rescue operation. During the mission, the rescue forces encountered resistance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia forces, resulting in ground combat and casualties. Additionally, several support aircraft were also endangered—among them, an A-10 attack aircraft was hit and crashed in Kuwait. During evacuation, two transport aircraft experienced mechanical failures (became stuck in sand and unable to take off), and were deliberately destroyed by U.S. forces (to prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands).
Crew status: The second rescued crew member is a colonel who sustained serious injuries during the incident but is now out of immediate danger and has been transferred to Kuwait for medical treatment.
U.S. statement: President Trump confirmed this rescue operation on social media, calling it "one of the boldest rescue missions in American history." He also stated that no American lives were lost in either of the two rescue operations.
Iranian reaction: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that the U.S. actually suffered greater losses in aircraft during this operation and declared the mission a "failure."
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately sent condolences and congratulations to Trump:
"My dear friend, your leadership has once again brought great victory to America. I salute you. We all salute you."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861639083636748/
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