In a high-risk operation, the United States successfully rescued an Air Force colonel who had been hiding in a remote mountain crevice in Iran for nearly two days. After his aircraft went down, the injured aviator managed to evade Iranian forces and militias who were scanning the area with drones and helicopters. The rescue mission was launched into enemy territory under intense pressure as Iranian search parties closed in on his position.
The operation faced a moment of uncertainty when the colonel radioed the message “God is good” upon reaching a ridge. Officials in Washington initially feared the message could be an Iranian trap, leading to a tense scramble to verify his identity. Once his safety was confirmed, the U.S. military executed the daring extraction to bring him home.
American F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian forces on April 3. While one pilot was rescued immediately, the Weapons Systems Officer, a colonel, became stranded alone in the rugged mountains of Iran. It was his rigorous SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training provided by the US military that ultimately helped him survive this ordeal.
Not only the Iranian military but also local residents were deployed to locate the missing airman. Iran exerted significant pressure by announcing a large reward for anyone providing information regarding the soldier. Throughout the ordeal, the colonel navigated nearly 7,000 feet of treacherous mountain terrain, hiding in crevices to evade enemy detection.
A radio message sent by the colonel stating “Power be to God” (initially reported as “God is good”) initially caused suspicion in Washington. Officials feared it might be an Iranian trap, but it was later confirmed to be a reflection of the airman’s faith and survival. His exact location was eventually pinpointed using advanced and classified technology from the CIA.
On Saturday night, a US Special Forces team landed secretly on Iranian soil and successfully rescued the colonel. During the operation, the military had to destroy two of its own MC-130J aircraft that were rendered unusable to prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands.
(With inputs from WSJ & TNIE)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com