Fierce Firefight as US Rescues F-15E Crew Member Inside Iran

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The missing airman has been located and recovered after intense clashes in Kohgiluyeh County — but the rescue team has yet to cross out of Iranian territory.

By TRH World Desk

New Delhi, April 5, 2026 — The second crew member of the downed U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle has been recovered following a fierce firefight deep inside Iranian territory, a U.S. government official has confirmed to Al Jazeera — but the airman is not yet safe, with the rescue team still needing to successfully exfiltrate across the border.

The operation centred on Dehdasht, a city in Kohgiluyeh County in southwestern Iran — the same area where the F-15E was shot down two days ago. Strikes hit the city overnight, killing at least four people and wounding one, though later reports suggested the death toll was higher. Unofficial reports of ground clashes circulated, though these had not been independently confirmed as of publication.

What is now confirmed is that the situation was intense, and it was clear a U.S. rescue operation was actively underway throughout the night.

Iranian authorities had been running their own parallel search, publicly calling on civilians in the area over the past two days to join the hunt, offering a reward to anyone who could locate the missing crew member.

A U.S. government source told Al Jazeera that the airman was located overnight and that a rescue effort was launched, during which a heavy firefight broke out. The crew member has been recovered but has not yet left Iranian territory. Given the ongoing hostilities, officials stressed that danger remains — both to the airman and to the rescue personnel involved.

The gender of the recovered crew member has not been confirmed. In U.S. military usage, “airman” is a gender-neutral term.

The rescue operation remains active. No confirmation has been issued that the crew member or the rescue team has reached safety.

This is a developing story.