Brown land
In a new development that marks a significant military achievement for the Islamic Republic in its confrontation with the US-Israeli alliance, Iranian forces thwarted an operation that the US command claimed was a rescue mission for the American pilot who had been missing for days after his fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory.
Despite public statements by US President Donald Trump claiming the operation’s success—the pilot’s rescue—without any losses from Iranian fire, the facts on the ground tell a different story. The Iranian side released images confirming the destruction of two US military aircraft and four helicopters during the operation in the Isfahan region.
Trump claimed that some of the aircraft “stuck” after the operation, forcing the US to bomb them themselves. However, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed in an official statement that the US aircraft and helicopters were first hit by Iranian forces. The Iranian statement, read by the spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, stated the following:
“Following the desperate attempts by the terrorist US military to conduct a rescue operation for the pilot of its downed fighter jet, a number of enemy aircraft entered the airspace of our beloved country, Iran, at dawn on the 16th of Farvardin, 1405 AH (solar calendar).
Thanks to divine support and victory, and with the vigilance and readiness of the Islamic fighters in the armed forces, and through the use of electronic warfare tools and modern air defense systems, and the implementation of the ‘mosaic’ ground defense plan and the tightening of the military and security cordon, a number of these aircraft were targeted, including two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters, forcing them to make emergency landings in an area south of Isfahan.”
The Iranian official added: “After the heroic fighters of Islamic Iran completed the encirclement of the enemy, the humiliated enemy, in an attempt to save face for Trump and prevent the collapse of its army’s already fragile prestige, resorted to a brutal bombardment of its abandoned aircraft, equipment, commanders, and soldiers!
The ignorant and floundering president, mired in the quagmire of war and aggression that he himself initiated against our country, and the defeated, incompetent, and cowardly generals of the terrorist American army, have realized full well that any aggression, ground operation, or infiltration at any point on the proud and defiant land of Iran will be met with a decisive and humiliating defeat, thanks to the strength of God’s soldiers, the iron fist of the fighters of the Armed Forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the valiant Basij forces, and the brave and courageous people of this land.”
He continued, saying: “The disgrace inflicted upon the beleaguered president and the defeated American army cannot be repaired by empty rhetoric, media warfare, or psychological operations. Undoubtedly, all these victories and achievements attained by proud Iran were under the special care and divine favor of God Almighty, and we are certain that the divine promise of victory for the side of truth over falsehood will inevitably be fulfilled.”
The total American losses in this operation since its inception have reached an unprecedented level in modern US history:
F-35 – 1
A-10 Thunderbolt II – 2
HC-130J Combat King II – 2
MQ-9 Reaper – 2
Hermes 900 – 1
UH-60 Black Hawk – 2
MH-6 Little Bird – 2.
Despite American statements, the fate of the pilot remains unknown, as he has not been officially presented in either the United States or Iran. Estimates suggest he may have been killed in the operation or is still missing. Some sources suggested that Iran may have set a trap for the United States, luring it deep into Iranian territory to launch an attack and inflict further losses.
HC-130J Combat King II: The Search and Rescue Beast Killed in Iran
This is not just an ordinary military transport aircraft; it’s a “flying operations room” designed for missions no other aircraft can perform. When we talk about the HC-130, part of the renowned Hercules family, we’re talking about the backbone of the US Air Force’s Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) program.
Why is this aircraft exceptional?
– Helicopter Refueling: It’s a “floating station” that allows rescue helicopters to remain airborne for extended periods by refueling day and night at low altitudes.
– Operating in Hostile Environments: Equipped with advanced defensive systems (warning radar, jammers, and heat-seeking missiles) for survival in conflict zones.
– Landing in “Nowhere”: An astonishing ability to land and take off from unprepared runways (dirt, gravel, or even ice), allowing it to reach any isolated point.
– Exceptional Vision: Equipped with electro-optical and thermal (EO/IR) sensor systems, it allows the crew to detect targets with pinpoint accuracy in complete darkness or adverse weather conditions.
In the world of tactical rescue, this aircraft is considered a sure bet. It’s the aircraft that goes where others hesitate… yet it crashed in Iranian territory.
Against this backdrop, Iranians recalled another failed American operation: Operation Tabas. For reference, Operation Tabas is the name given in Iran to the failed US military operation known as “Eagle Claw” in 1980, which aimed to rescue American hostages held at the embassy in Tehran but ended in disaster in the Tabas desert, where planes and helicopters crashed, killing eight American soldiers.
Background of the operation:
Date: April 24–25, 1980.
Location: Tabas Desert, northeastern Iran.
Objective: To free 52 American diplomats held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran after it was stormed by Iranian students in November 1979.
Reasons for failure:
– A sudden sandstorm in the Tabas Desert reduced visibility and caused mechanical failures.
– A helicopter collided with a transport plane during a refueling operation, resulting in an explosion that killed 8 American soldiers and injured 4 others. Two aircraft were destroyed, and 5 helicopters were left stranded in the desert.
– The forces withdrew after losing equipment and the ability to complete the mission.
The operation was a major embarrassment for U.S. President Jimmy Carter and contributed to his loss in the election to Ronald Reagan. In Iran, however, it was considered a “divine miracle” and became a symbol of the Islamic Revolution’s victory over the United States.
