Iran releases footage claiming downing of Black Hawk choppers, C-130 Hercules aircraft

The US forces on Sunday were able to rescue the second crew member of the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that crashed in southwest Iran on Friday, but according to Tehran, the operation cost the American military several aircraft, including two Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The rescue operation also resulted in the death of five people, but the Iranians didn't reveal whether they were civilians or military personnel.

Iran's Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) also released a footage of the downed American jets in Isfahan, though its authenticity cannot be independently verified. Additionally, the US is yet to verify the Iranian claims.

“The US



Army’s so-called rescue operation, which was planned in the form of a deceive and immediate escape operation under the pretext of rescuing the pilot of its downed aircraft in an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan, was brought to a complete failure by the timely presence of the Iranian armed forces,” Lieutenant-Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said. 

“After the proud and triumphant operation, the defeated US president is precipitately seeking to escape a failure through lies and psychological warfare. Like in the past, he continues his false claims and blame game while the reality of the field demonstrates Iran’s upper hand,” he added.