How the High-Stakes Rescue Mission in Iran Unfolded

An injured aviator, decoy rescue operations, and the ‘no man left behind’ credo were all part of the daring extraction.|April 08, 2026Updated:April 08, 2026Illustration by The Epoch Times, Public Domain, Shutterstock, MapTilerPresident Donald Trump was assured by the Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency that the assembled array of special forces, precise intelligence, high-tech electronics, and battle-tested aircraft could extract a wounded U.S. airman being hunted deep inside Iran, but was cautioned that it would be risky and could go sideways in a hurry.