Downed US airman said to have directed strikes on Iranian positions from hiding place

Key Points:

• A US weapons officer whose fighter jet was downed over Iran hid in a mountain ridge and used emergency communications to direct airstrikes against advancing Iranian forces while awaiting rescue, according to The New York Times.
• Israeli intelligence collaborated with the US to confirm the officer was alone and conducted strikes alongside US forces to cover the rescue operation, which involved a challenging extraction complicated by aircraft malfunctions.
• The rescue mission faced setbacks when the nose gear of C-130 planes became stuck in sand on a makeshift airstrip, necessitating smaller turboprop aircraft for extraction; original planes and helicopters were destroyed afterward to prevent Iranian capture.
• The officer was unconscious initially and took about 14 hours before contact was made, aided by unique CIA technology to verify his location; US Central Command withheld information until the rescue was complete.
• President Trump announced the successful rescue nearly two days after the incident, marking the first time two US pilots were rescued separately deep in enemy territory during the ongoing conflict with Iran.