Iran-US-Israel War Latest Update: Questions are growing over whether the United States secretly used an abandoned airport in Iran's Isfahan province during a daring mission to rescue a stranded pilot.
Iranian military officials claim the US staged the operation from a remote airstrip inside the country, while Washington has highlighted the successful rescue but has not confirmed the exact location used during the mission.
The conflicting narratives have added fresh uncertainty to one of the most dramatic rescue operations of the ongoing war.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: Did US Forces Use an Abandoned Airport in Isfahan?
Iranian military officials said the US rescue mission relied on an abandoned airport located in southern Isfahan province. According to Tehran, the location served as a temporary base where American forces attempted to extract a crew member from a downed F-15E fighter jet.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's central military command, described the alleged operation as a deceptive attempt.
He said, "The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled."
Iran also released images that it claimed showed wreckage from aircraft allegedly destroyed during the operation.
Iranian officials further claimed that the mission faced strong resistance from local forces. However, these claims have not been independently verified by US officials.
Reports indicate that Iran alleged several aircraft were lost during the mission, including transport planes and helicopters.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: US Confirms Rescue but Not Location
While Iran continues to assert that the mission failed, US authorities have maintained that the operation succeeded in rescuing the stranded crew member.
The rescue followed the downing of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet over Iranian territory earlier in the week. The aircraft carried two crew members, one of whom remained trapped behind enemy lines after the crash.
US President Donald Trump later confirmed the pilot's rescue and described the mission as a major success. He said the airman was "SAFE and SOUND" after what he called "the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History."
US media reports suggest that hundreds of special operations forces took part in the mission. The rescue reportedly involved helicopters, warplanes, intelligence systems, and heavy air support to ensure the pilot's safe extraction.
Some reports also indicated that US forces destroyed damaged aircraft left behind at the site to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: Iran Claims Aircraft Were Destroyed
Iranian officials claimed that their forces successfully intercepted several aircraft during the rescue attempt. According to Iranian statements, two transport aircraft and multiple helicopters were destroyed during intense fighting near the suspected rescue location.
These claims remain disputed, and Washington has not confirmed any such losses. Iran's military also reported that several "enemy flying objects" were destroyed during the operation, including aircraft allegedly involved in locating the stranded pilot.
Meanwhile, US reports indicated that some aircraft were intentionally destroyed by American forces after they became unusable during the operation.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: Why the Rescue Mission Was High Risk?
Military experts describe the rescue mission as one of the most dangerous operations carried out during the conflict so far. The pilot was stranded inside hostile territory, forcing US forces to conduct a deep-entry rescue mission.
Reports suggest that US commandos moved quickly to reach the downed crew member before Iranian forces could capture him. The mission involved heavy firefighting and complex coordination between air and ground units.
Such operations often rely on temporary landing zones or remote airstrips, which could explain reports about an abandoned airport being used during the rescue attempt.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: Conflicting Claims Keep Tensions High
The question of whether US forces used an airport in Isfahan remains unanswered. Iran insists that the mission failed and caused losses, while the US continues to describe the rescue as a success without revealing operational details.
The conflicting accounts highlight the information battle that often follows major military operations. As tensions remain high between the United States and Iran, analysts expect more details to emerge in the coming days.