Iran said that a U.S. attempt to rescue an airman from a downed fighter jet had been โcompletely foiled,โ contradicting claims by Donald Trump that the officer was successfully recovered.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, speaking for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that the operation took place near an abandoned airport in Isfahan. He described the operation as a deceptive attempt under the pretext of retrieving a pilot, but it failed.
In contrast, Trump said earlier that U.S. forces had carried out a successful search-and-rescue mission, declaring the airman โsafe and sound.โ The conflicting accounts have added uncertainty to an already tense situation.
Meanwhile, Zolfaghari alleged that the operation destroyed two C-130 transport aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters. Iranian state media broadcast images purportedly showing charred wreckage in a desert with smoke rising from the site.
Additionally, Iranian reports indicated that at least five people were killed during strikes linked to the rescue attempt in the southwest. Authorities did not clarify whether the casualties were civilians or military personnel.
Since Friday, local media outlets have also aired footage of residents searching for the downed aviator, with some reportedly responding to government incentives for information.
Overall, the sharply differing narratives from Washington and Tehran highlight the ะธะฝัะพัะผะฐัะธะพะฝะฝัะน divide surrounding the incident. As tensions persist, independent verification of events remains limited, leaving key details unresolved.
