The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran announced on Sunday, April 5, that that Iranian military forces have destroyed several US aircraft in southern Isfahan, thwarting an attempted mission to rescue a downed American fighter pilot.
He said the incident followed desperate efforts by US forces to infiltrate central Iran and extract the pilot.
The spokesman stated that a joint operation involving the aerospace and ground forces, volunteer Basij units, and law enforcement servicemen successfully intercepted and neutralized the incoming aircraft.
He said the operation resulted in the destruction of multiple hostile aircraft and described the outcome as another humiliating defeat for the United States, drawing parallels with the failed Operation Eagle Claw in April 1980.
He further noted that US President Donald Trump has attempted to downplay the incident by claiming in a social media post that a special operation has been carried out to rescue the downed pilot.
Emphasizing the scale of the confrontation, the spokesperson stated that the enemy’s futile efforts had ultimately failed due to divine support and the timely, coordinated actions of Iranian forces, including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the Army, Basij units, and police forces.
He added that the downed aircraft included two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport plane, all of which were struck and left burning in southern Isfahan.