For nearly two days, a U.S. aviator hid in a remote mountain crevice as Iranian forces closed in on him with helicopters and drones. U.S. commandos eventually reached him, 200 miles deep inside Iran, and whisked him to safety.
The rescue mission unfolded in the craggy gorges of southwestern Iran and involved some 100 special-operations forces, dozens of U.S. warplanes and helicopters, and a last-minute Central Intelligence Agency deception campaign.
U.S. officials said the aviator, who hasn't been identified, had been one of the two crew flying in an F-15E Strike Eagle when it was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday.
President Trump called the successful operation an 'Easter miracle' and said the airman would be 'just fine' despite sustaining injuries.
The rescue effort was a worst-case scenario for the Pentagon, which had long planned for this scenario but had never attempted it in Iran.
