Daring U.S. Rescue in Iran

Following the downing of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle on Friday, a massive search-and-rescue operation was launched to recover the remaining crew member.

The airman survived for over 24 hours in hostile mountain terrain, evading capture by Iranian forces who had reportedly placed a bounty on his head.

While the pilot was safely recovered, the mission was not without cost, as the U.S. military was forced to destroy several of its own transport planes and helicopters that became disabled during the extraction.

Iran has claimed the operation as a 'bitter defeat' for the U.S., citing the destruction of American hardware.