Chinese Media Push Competing Claims Following US Rescue Mission in Iran

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ official website shows wreckage at what Iran’s state TV claimed was the site of a downed American transport plane and two helicopters involved in a rescue operation, in Isfahan province, Iran, in April 2026. Sepahnews via APContradicting claims have spread online in recent days after a U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran amid conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Iranian regime, with Chinese state media citing Iranian reports that the U.S. rescue mission had failed.Just after midnight on April 5, U.S. President Donald Trump said the second crew member from a downed American F-15E fighter jet had been safely recovered, ending hours of uncertainty about the fate of the missing airman.