# Inside the massive rescue mission deep inside Iran

> The U.S. military released dramatic footage of one of its largest combat search-and-rescue operations in history.
- Title: Inside the massive rescue mission deep inside Iran · Fox News
- Summary: The U.S. military released dramatic footage of one of its largest combat search-and-rescue operations in history. The U.S. successfully rescued two F-15E…
- Keywords: iran, us military, f-15e strike eagle, combat search and rescue, dude 44, air force pararescue, iranian revolutionary guard, us central command, brad cooper, dan caine, april 2025, news
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/us/us-military-releases-footage-massive-operation-rescue-injured-airman-stranded-inside-iran
- Author: Michael Sinkewicz
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iran, us military, f-15e strike eagle, combat search and rescue, dude 44, air force pararescue, iranian revolutionary guard, us central command, brad cooper, dan caine, april 2025, news
## F-15 shot down over Iran
An Iranian shoulder-fired missile downed an F-15E Strike Eagle in April. The two-man crew ejected and landed miles apart inside Iran.
## One airman badly injured
Dude44 Alpha was rescued after six hours. Dude44 Bravo suffered a broken back, arm and shoulder from a hard landing and remained stranded for nearly two days.
## Climbing toward a ridgeline
Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and climbed toward a 7,000-foot ridgeline as helicopters searched for him.
## Striking Iranian forces nearby
American bombers and drones struck Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in proximity to Bravo as they closed in on his position.

> There was clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys.
## Pararescue operators reach him
Two elite Air Force PJs reached Bravo on the mountain ridgeline on April 5. He called seeing his rescuers "one of the greatest moments of my life."

> Let's go.
## Trapped in desert sand
The rescue aircraft's landing gear became stuck in sand, stranding 92 U.S. service members inside Iran. A clandestine unit extracted them after 50 hours total.
## Key takeaway

The U.S. successfully rescued two F-15E crew members from deep inside Iran in a massive 50-hour operation involving thousands of service members.