The United States has reportedly destroyed four of its own aircraft in Iranian territory after a search-and-rescue operation involving the rescue of the crew of a downed F-15E fighter jet.
According to The New York Times, two HC-130J Combat King II plane and two helicopters were blown up on the ground to prevent them from falling into the hands of Iranian forces.
According to the newspaper, the decision was made after the evacuation of the second crew member of the fighter jet. The rescue planes reportedly landed on a temporary refueling runway inside Iran, but were unable to leave the country for reasons that have not yet been officially clarified.
Due to the risk of losing the equipment, US soldiers reportedly decided to render it unusable on site. The move underscores the complexity of the mission and raises new questions about what happened during the operation on Iranian soil.
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According to the NYT, the United States also sent three additional HC-130J Combat King II aircraft to maintain the search and rescue operation, even after the planes used in the initial phase of the operation were lost. One photo mentioned in the report shows two planes parked next to each other shortly before the explosion.
The case came into new light after information published by NBC News. According to sources cited by the television channel, two American UH-60 military helicopters were hit by Iranian fire F-15E while rescuing your crew member. The information suggests that the operation was met with direct resistance on the ground, which added to the tension surrounding the mission.
The American authorities have not yet given a detailed explanation of what prevented the withdrawal of the aircraft, nor of the exact condition of the temporary runway used during the mission. Full official details on the extent of damage to the UH-60s mentioned by NBC News have not been released either.
The operation is already being referred to as one of the most delicate operations of the conflict, partly because of the high risk inherent in it, and partly because of the extreme decision to destroy their own air assets in enemy territory in order to avoid capture.
Source and images: USAF | NYT. This content is generated using artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editors.
