U.S. forces faced increased danger on Friday while attempting to recover the crew of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle over southwestern Iran, after additional American aircraft involved in the operation were targeted, officials confirmed.
Two sources told CBS News that an A-10 Warthog, deployed as part of the combat search and rescue mission, was struck during the operation. The pilot was forced to eject over the Persian Gulf but was later safely recovered.
In a separate incident, one of the helicopters retrieving crew members came under small arms fire. The attack caused injuries to personnel on board, though the aircraft was able to land safely. The wounded crew members are receiving medical attention.
The F-15E had been shot down earlier at around 06:45 ET (11:45 BST) in or near Khuzestan Province. So far, U.S. forces have successfully rescued one of the two crew members, with helicopters continuing efforts to extract the second.
These events underscore the extreme risks involved in rescue operations within contested airspace amid the ongoing conflict.
