The United States successfully rescued an airman after Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet, marking a significant event in the ongoing conflict. President Donald Trump announced that the rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft and hundreds of special operations personnel, including US Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos. The airman, identified as a weapons system officer, was injured but is expected to recover. Following the crash, a high-pressure search and rescue effort commenced, with the CIA implementing a deception strategy to mislead Iranian forces about the airman's whereabouts. The airman was eventually located in a mountain crevice, where he had taken cover. Despite attempts by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to block the rescue, US Air Force jets conducted strikes to ensure the safety of the operation. All personnel involved in the extraction returned safely, and the injured airman was transported to Kuwait for medical treatment.