Daring rescue of U.S. airman

In what has been described as one of the most challenging search-and-rescue operations in modern military history, U.S. commandos recovered an injured aviator from a 7,000-foot ridge deep inside Iran.

The airman had survived for over 24 hours armed only with a handgun while evading Basij fighters and local tribesmen.

The mission required a massive 'ring of steel' consisting of dozens of aircraft, though two transport planes and two helicopters were reportedly lost or destroyed during the extraction.

While the airman is now safe, the incident has highlighted the significant risks of ground operations within Iranian borders.