The US mission to rescue a stranded airman in Iran came at a high cost, with American forces reportedly destroying at least two of their own aircraft during the operation.
Two US Special Operations aircraft, identified as MC-130J, were blown up on the ground, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The aircraft were used for covert infiltration and the extraction of troops from hostile territory, but officials did not clarify how they became stranded or malfunctioned.
Reports in the New York Times and CBS News said the American forces had to destroy two transport aircraft to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.
Iran's unified armed forces command claimed that two C-130 planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were downed south of Isfahan, but it's unclear whether both sides were referring to the same aircraft losses.
