US military B1 bombers (BONES) dropped 100 2,000-pound bombs during the rescue operations to keep Iranians out of the rescue area during the operation, a senior US defense official said.
RESCUE EXPERT SAYS MOST DANGEROUS MOMENT COMES AFTER ‘JACKPOT’ CALL IN RECOVERY BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Adm. Brad” Cooper, commander of Central Command, speaks during a joint press conference with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on March 5, 2026. (Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images)
CENTCOM noted in a press release that American forces had rescued two soldiers after their F-15E was shot down.
AIRPLANE RESCUE SHOWS US HOSTILE TERRITORY CAN PENETRATE ‘ANYWHERE’ IN IRAN, FORMER PENTAGON OFFICIAL WARNS
Shown is the wreckage of what Iranian authorities say is a U.S. military helicopter that crashed during a mission to rescue the missing U.S. pilot from an F-15E that, as seen in an April 5, 2026 handout, was shot down at an unspecified location in Iran. (Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance/Handout via Getty Images)
Following the rescue efforts, President Donald Trump stated in a Truth Social post: “We rescued the seriously injured and truly brave F-15 crew member/officer from deep in the mountains of Iran. The Iranian military looked closely, in large numbers, and got close. He is a highly respected colonel. These types of raids are rarely attempted because of the danger to ‘people and equipment’. It just doesn’t happen!”
RETIRED F-16 PILOT SAYS SURVIVOR OF RESCUED US AIRPLANES IN IRAN STRESSES INTENSE EVASION TRAINING
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“The second attack came after the first, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusually, spending seven hours over Iran. A GREAT display of courage and talent from everyone!” he said.
