US F15 Shot Down | Iran Army Claims Four US Aircraft Were Destroyed During The Rescue Of An Aviator

Iran’s joint command on Sunday claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during Washington's complex rescue of an aviator who was missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet last week. Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari spoke on Iran’s state TV, claiming that two Black Hawk helicopters and two C-130 military transport aircraft had been shot down in Isfahan province. He called the US operation to rescue the missing pilot a “complete failure”. Earlier Sunday, Iran’s state TV aired a video showing what it claims are parts of American aircrafts that they had shot down and a photo of thick black smoke rising into the air. The pilot had been missing since Friday when Iran downed a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle. A second crew member had been rescued earlier. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to questions about the aircraft. A regional intelligence official briefed on the mission said the U.S. military blew up two transport planes due to a technical malfunction that forced them to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the covert mission.