KHUZESTAN PROVINCE, IRAN – U.S. combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) teams faced intense hostility today, Friday, April 3, 2026, as they braved Iranian ground fire to locate the crew of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle.
Reports from the region confirm that an HC-130J Combat King II and a pair of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters were targeted by small arms fire while conducting low-altitude sweeps over southwestern Iran.
A Mission Under Siege
The rescue operation, part of the broader Operation Epic Fury, was launched immediately after the Strike Eagle was shot down in the rugged terrain of Khuzestan.
- Low-Level Danger: Social media footage geolocated near the city of Choram showed Iranian civilians and members of the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) firing rifles and handguns at U.S. helicopters flying just above the treeline.
- Aircraft Damaged: According to The Washington Post and NBC News, two of the HH-60G Pave Hawks were struck by ground fire. While the aircraft remained airworthy and eventually returned to base, the fire reportedly injured U.S. personnel on board.
- Bounty Hunters: The mission is complicated by a state-sponsored hunt; Iranian media has offered a $60,000 reward (roughly 10 billion tomans) to any civilian who captures the American airmen alive (19FortyFive).
Status of the Crew
The F-15E carries a crew of two: a pilot and a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO).
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- The Pilot: Successfully rescued. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a CSAR team extracted the pilot, who is currently receiving medical treatment (SOFREP).
- The WSO: Remains missing. U.S. forces, supported by overhead MQ-9 Reaper drones and F-35 stealth fighters, are continuing the search despite the increasing threat from both Iranian military units and armed nomadic tribesmen.
The “Sandy” Overwatch
The rescue effort saw a second aircraft loss today when an A-10 Thunderbolt II, acting in the traditional “Sandy” escort role to protect the rescue helicopters, was also downed near the Strait of Hormuz. The A-10 pilot was safely recovered after ejecting into the Persian Gulf, but the incident highlights the extreme risks faced by the rescue fleet in Iranian airspace (The War Zone).
Despite the small arms fire and the loss of two airframes in 24 hours, the Pentagon has signaled that the search for the remaining WSO will continue through the night.
