How US fooled Iran to rescue downed F-15 airman stranded in a mountain crevice [View all]

The United States successfully rescued a downed US Air Force service member, whose F-15 was shot down by Iranian forces in the south east of the country over the weekend, US President Donald Trump said in a Sunday post to Truth Social.

US officials had earlier confirmed the mission to FOX News, explaining that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had conducted an extensive deception campaign as part of the rescue effort.

The Airman, who hasn't yet been publicly named, was one of two aircrew flying the F-15 when it was shot down. A US military team rescued the aircraft's pilot later that day, but the second airman was stranded for 36 hours in mountainous terrain before being rescued by US forces.