Daring rescue of U.S. airman in Iran

The downed airman survived for nearly 48 hours in a remote mountain crevice while Iranian forces and local militias closed in on his position.

U.S. Central Command utilized Reaper drones and elite SEAL Team 6 commandos to establish a 'ring of steel' during the extraction.

To prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands, U.S. forces reportedly destroyed their own downed aircraft during the mission.

Retired military officials have described the operation as one of the most daring and complex rescues in modern military history.