CIA played key role in rescue of American F-15 crewman behind enemy lines in Iran

Both the aircraft’s pilot and weapons systems officer ejected Friday following the incident. The pilot was rescued within hours, despite complications during the operation. A US Black Hawk helicopter was struck by Iranian forces, and crew members were wounded. However, the aircraft remained operational.

The weapons systems officer was not immediately located and remained missing for more than a day. According to a report by Axios, the officer was injured during the ejection but was able to move on foot and evade capture in the mountains.

US officials said that the CIA launched a deception campaign inside Iran, spreading information that American forces had already located the officer and were preparing a ground extraction. Meanwhile, the agency used “unique capabilities” to determine his location.

"This was the ultimate needle in a haystack but in this case it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, invisible but for CIA's capabilities," a US official said.

The official added that the CIA provided the officer’s precise location to the Pentagon, military leaders, and the White House. President Donald Trump then ordered an immediate rescue mission.

As Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps moved forces to prevent a recovery, the US Air Force carried out strikes targeting Iranian units to keep them from reaching the area.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised the mission as "one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history." he noted that the officer “sustained injuries but will be just fine.”

"This brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour," the president added.