Iran Confirms Several American Aircraft Destroyed During US Pilot Rescue Mission

ABNA24 - Several aircraft were destroyed during ​the US mission to find a ‌stranded airman in Iran, the country's military announced on Sunday.

“The US Army’s so-called rescue operation, which was planned in the form of a deceive and immediate escape operation under the pretext of rescuing the pilot of its downed aircraft in an abandoned airport in Southern Isfahan, was brought to a complete failure by the timing presence of the Iranian armed forces,” Spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Lieutenant-Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said.He added that during the operation by the Iranian forces, two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed.“After the proud and triumphant operation, the defeated US president is precipitately seeking to escape a failure through lies and psychological warfare. Like in the past, he continues his false claims and blame game while the reality of the field demonstrates Iran’s upper hand,” the spokesperson emphasized.

In a triumphant post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump claimed the second US service member whose F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was downed over Iran had been rescued. He made no mention of aircraft losses.

However, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) dismissed Trump’s claim.“Following desperate US moves to rescue the pilot of the downed fighter jet and the entry of flying objects to the country’s Central parts, the enemy’s flying objects were destroyed and the US once again suffered a humiliating defeat during a joint operation (involving Aerospace, Ground forces as well as public, Basij and police units),” the IRGC’s Public relations Department announced.It also emphasized that the incident resembles that of April 25, 1980, when the US forces entered the city of Tabas to free American hostages held in Iran but were grounded by a major sandstorm.Additionally on Sunday, two intruding drones, including an MQ-9 and a Hermers-900, were destroyed in the skies over Isfahan Province by Iran’s air defense systems operating under the country’s air defense network.

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