Washington: US special operations forces successfully rescued the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet that was shot down above Iran. This operation concluded a tense and coordinated 36-hour mission involving both US forces and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who were reportedly attempting to reach the missing American officer.

According to Anadolu Agency, the rescue mission was executed by an elite commando team with extensive air support, and all American personnel involved have now exited Iran safely. The pilot and the weapons systems officer, the two crew members of the downed aircraft, were able to communicate after ejecting. The pilot was rescued within hours, while the second crew member was located and extracted more than a day later.

US special forces made multiple deployments into Iran, both on Friday and Saturday, as part of the search-and-rescue effort. The mission faced significant challenges, including intervention attempts by IRGC units. US Air Force aircraft reportedly engaged Iranian forces to prevent them from obstructing the rescue.

The operation's complexity increased when two transport planes intended for evacuating the commandos and airmen became stranded at a remote base in Iran. In response, three replacement aircraft were dispatched for extraction, and the stranded planes were subsequently destroyed to prevent them from being captured by Iranian forces.

US President Donald Trump, along with senior administration officials, monitored the mission from the White House Situation Room. During the initial rescue operation on Friday, an Iranian strike hit a US Black Hawk helicopter, injuring several personnel on board, though the helicopter was able to continue its mission.