Iran media claims forces destroyed US aircraft during rescue mission
Iran's semi-official, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News Agency on Sunday claimed that Iranian forces destroyed "several" U.S. aircraft which were involved in the operation to rescue the second F-15 crew member downed over Iran on Friday.
Other state-run and semi-official news agencies, among them the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting television station, also published the claim, which was attributed to a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
The spokesperson claimed that Iranian forces destroyed two C-130 aircraft, as well as two Black Hawk helicopters, Tasnim reported.
The Iranian military has previously made unconfirmed claims alleging damage to U.S. military assets. U.S. officials told ABC News that American forces destroyed two stuck C-130s during the rescue operation to avoid them falling into Iranian hands.
U.S. officials have also said that two Black Hawk helicopters were hit by incoming fire during the operation to retrieve the first of the downed F-15 airmen on Friday.
-ABC News’ Rashid Haddou





