Korean Media: 36-Hour Life-or-Death Struggle… America Rescues Another "Captain Ryan"

¬ F-15 Crash, Hundreds of Special Forces Deploy to Iran to Rescue Trapped Comrade, Trump Monitors Developments at White House… "The Boldest Rescue Operation in History"

"We Got Him (WE GOT HIM)!"

At 0:08 a.m. on the 5th (local time), Easter Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via social media that a 36-hour intensive mission to rescue an American officer trapped deep within Iranian territory had successfully concluded. Trump described the operation as one of the "bravest search-and-rescue missions in U.S. history."

Since early March, when U.S.-Israeli forces launched their offensive, the United States had claimed Iran's air defense network had been destroyed. However, Iran proved otherwise by downing both an F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft over the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad on the 3rd—marking the first time U.S. aircraft had been shot down over Iranian soil. The A-10 pilot managed to fly the damaged aircraft into Kuwaiti airspace before safely ejecting and being rescued. The primary pilot of the F-15E was also quickly rescued after parachuting to safety.

The problem lay with the weapons systems officer (WSO) colonel seated in the rear cockpit of the F-15E. After emergency ejection, he was left alone in rugged mountainous terrain in Iran. When the ejection seat deployed, an automatic "survival kit" detached and descended with him, containing a location beacon and secure communication equipment capable of encrypted contact with U.S. command. But his only weapon was a personal sidearm.

To rescue a single soldier, hundreds of America’s most elite special operations forces—including SEAL Team Six—were mobilized, along with dozens of military aircraft and space and cyber intelligence assets, launching a large-scale operation. Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions behind enemy lines are considered among the most dangerous operations, due to the need to directly penetrate enemy air defenses and areas held by ground forces. U.S. Air Force Personnel Recovery teams and special rescue helicopter crews remained on 24/7 standby, prepared for any potential crash at a moment’s notice.

Wounded officer holds out with just a pistol… Rescue helicopters risk life flying at ultra-low altitude and speed

Despite extreme conditions, the missing officer remained calm, locating a hiding spot and reporting his position using communication equipment. U.S. officers must undergo intense Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training—simulating worst-case scenarios such as being stranded in enemy territory or captured. Dragging his injured body, he evaded Iranian military patrols, concealing himself in mountain crevices and even scaling a ridge nearly 7,000 feet (about 2,134 meters) high.

If he had been captured by Iran or if the rescue operation resulted in greater U.S. casualties, the humiliation of the 1979 Tehran embassy hostage crisis or the nightmare of the 1993 "Black Hawk Down" incident in Somalia could have been replayed, leading to a highly tense situation. Iran’s state-run broadcaster declared it would reward anyone who captured a U.S. soldier, and the enemy encirclement tightened hour by hour.

U.S. C-130 transport planes and rescue helicopters flew at ultra-low altitudes and slow speeds along Iran’s rugged mountainous terrain to avoid enemy radar detection. Two Black Hawk helicopters suffered ground fire from local tribesmen and Iranian military forces during low-altitude flights, sustaining damage and injuring some crew members. The CIA launched a deception campaign, spreading false information that “the U.S. officer has already been rescued and is evacuating by vehicle to a foreign country” to mislead Iranian forces.

Fearing discovery by Iranian troops, the officer limited use of his location signal. After holding out for 36 hours, he finally emerged from hiding to make contact with the rescue team. U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones and fighter jets unleashed heavy ordnance on approaching Iranian military convoys near the missing officer’s location, preventing them from getting closer. Upon arrival, U.S. ground forces provided covering fire to secure retreat routes, enabling a safe extraction without large-scale combat.

Even at the final stage, the rescue operation faced a critical crisis. Two transport aircraft intended to evacuate the special forces personnel and the officer became stranded at a remote Iranian base due to mechanical failure. The U.S. immediately deployed three new transport aircraft, successfully evacuating all personnel. To prevent military secrets and aircraft from falling into Iranian hands, the two disabled transports were detonated on-site. In response, Iran claimed they had shot down two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 transport. No U.S. personnel were killed during the operation. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, five Iranians were killed.

Trump monitored the situation alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine in the White House Situation Room, receiving real-time updates. Ultimately, the report confirmed that all forces had safely exited Iranian airspace, and the injured officer had been transported to Kuwait for medical treatment.

This operation concluded dramatically less than two days before President Trump’s ultimatum deadline for Iran on the 6th. The U.S. Army’s Soldier’s Creed states, “I will never abandon a fallen comrade,” while the Airman’s Creed declares, “I will never leave an Airman behind.” Trump echoed this sentiment: “We will never leave any American service member behind enemy lines.”

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861713820798988/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.