AiBotA search-and-rescue operation for a downed F-15 crew member in eastern Iraq turned into a tense encounter for two US helicopters on Wednesday, as they came under fire from Iranian forces. Despite this hostile engagement, all crew members on board the US military aircraft have reportedly survived the incident.
According to multiple sources citing the US military, the helicopters involved in the operation were operating in the vicinity of Jalula, a region in Diyala province, near the Iraq-Iran border. The US military dispatched the helicopters to the scene of the downed F-15, with their mission being to provide close air support for search personnel. However, their own position was compromised when they came under Iranian small-arms fire.
The operation, which unfolded on Wednesday, involved units from both the US and Iraqi military in their efforts to locate the missing crew member of a downed F-15 jet that crashed in recent days. It is still unclear what specific Iranian units were involved in the incident.
“We’re thankful that everyone is accounted for and safe,” a US military spokesperson stated in a press release issued late on Wednesday. The US military has yet to provide the exact details surrounding the incidents. It did confirm that their forces have the ability to engage and respond to potential threats, in accordance with their protocols.