1. Incident Trigger

• A U.S. F‑15 Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran during active combat operations.
• Two crew members ejected into hostile Iranian territory.
• Iranian forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, launched a manhunt and reportedly placed a bounty on the pilots.

2. Phase One: Rapid Recovery

• One pilot was located quickly via emergency locator beacons and ISR assets.
• U.S. helicopters conducted a rescue under active enemy fire.
• Despite wounded crew members and incoming small-arms fire, the extraction succeeded.
• The pilot was recovered within approximately seven hours and evacuated for medical care.

3. Phase Two: Extended Manhunt

• The second crew member (a Weapons Systems Officer) evaded capture for 36–48 hours in mountainous terrain.
• He survived with minimal equipment, reportedly only a sidearm.
• Iranian forces, local militias, and tribal groups intensified the search.

4. Full-Scale Rescue Operation

• The U.S. launched a large, multi-agency rescue effort described as one of the most complex in modern history.
• Assets reportedly involved:
  • SEAL Team Six
  • Hundreds of Special Operations personnel
  • Dozens of aircraft and drones
  • MQ‑9 Reaper drones for surveillance and precision strikes
  • Special operations aircraft and helicopters

5. Intelligence and Deception

• The CIA allegedly conducted a deception campaign, spreading false intelligence that the pilot had already been rescued.
• This redirected Iranian forces and likely prevented capture.

6. Combat Extraction

• U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on approaching Iranian convoys.
• Drones carried out precision strikes to keep enemy units at bay.
• During extraction, at least one U.S. aircraft malfunctioned and was destroyed on the ground to prevent capture.
• Replacement aircraft arrived, and the pilot was successfully extracted despite heavy pressure.

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