At least one, and possibly two, U.S. Special Operations MC-130J aircraft were destroyed on the ground in Iran during a high-risk mission to rescue a downed F-15E pilot, U.S. officials confirmed. The planes were reportedly disabled or became stuck during the operation and were intentionally destroyed to prevent their capture.
The rescue mission took place overnight between Saturday and Sunday in Dehdasht, located in Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. It involved a large-scale deployment of U.S. forces, including helicopters and support aircraft, operating under dangerous conditions amid active hostilities.
Heavy exchanges of fire were reported throughout the night. Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing local sources, reported at least four fatalities and one injury, though unofficial sources suggest the toll could be higher.
The operation successfully located and extracted the second missing pilot or airman from the F-15E crash. The mission was complicated by Iranian authorities, who had also been searching for the pilot and had offered rewards to civilians for information.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the destruction of the MC-130Js was a precaution to ensure the aircraft did not fall into enemy hands. Social media footage showed U.S. tankers and helicopters operating under hostile conditions, highlighting the extreme risk of the mission.
This rescue marks one of the most dangerous and high-profile U.S. special operations efforts in recent memory, underscoring both the operational challenges and the strategic stakes in the region.
