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Possible Pilot Recovery Mission

BREAKING: U.S. Pilots Missing in Iran After F-15E Shootdown, Massive Rescue Forces Deployed | WATCH

Iranian media and local videos show U.S. HC-130J Combat King II tanker and HH-60G / MH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters operating at low altitude over southern Iran (mainly Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province and parts of Khuzestan).

BREAKING: U.S. Pilots Missing in Iran After F-15E Shootdown, Massive Rescue Forces Deployed | WATCH
Rescue planes fly over Iran
Rescue planes fly over Iran
Video: Open Source Intel
Video: Open Source Intel on X

Multiple videos circulating on Iranian state-linked media and OSINT accounts show U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II (CSAR tanker) and HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters operating at low altitude over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in southern Iran.

The footage appears to show the HC-130J refueling the HH-60G helicopters in flight — the classic setup for a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission.

In addition, Iranian state-linked media and IRGC-affiliated accounts have just published new images claiming to show the ACES II ejection seat from a downed U.S. fighter jet.

Pilot's ejection seat, as shown by Iranian state media
Pilot's ejection seat, as shown by Iranian state media

This comes hours after fresh reports of a possible U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle crash in southwestern Iran (which Iran initially claimed was an F-35!) Iranian sources are claiming the jet was shot down by air defenses, with the crew possibly ejecting.

U.S. Central Command has not commented on today’s aircraft sightings or any new F-15E loss. In previous similar claims this month, CENTCOM called reports of F-15E losses over Iran “baseless and NOT TRUE.”

These rescue aircraft are part of the U.S. Air Force’s dedicated personnel recovery units and have been forward-deployed to the region as part of Operation Epic Fury.

In an extremely concerning update, Iranian police are calling on residents to help capture the "American pilot(s)" of the crashed jet, according to State-run Mehr News Agency.

An F-15E is piloted by 2 pilots, both of whom are still missing in enemy territory.

Iran also claims to have captured the pilots, making them the first POWs of this war (if true).
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