TEHRAN: Iran’s military said on Sunday that the US operation to rescue a missing airman from a downed American fighter jet used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province. “The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled,” said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military’s central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya.

Axios reported that US forces are actively seeking to recover the two pilots of the downed aircraft

The U.S. forces rescued at least one crew member after Iran shot down a U.S. F-15E fighter jet Friday.