Failed US rescue operation ends in self-targeting strike: IRGC

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters says US forces bombed their own aircraft in Isfahan after a failed attempt to rescue a downed pilot.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Military Headquarters revealed that US forces bombed their own aircraft, equipment, and personnel after a failed rescue operation in Isfahan province.

According to the statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson, several US military aircraft entered Iranian airspace at dawn in an attempt to recover the crew of a fighter jet that had been shot down days earlier.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said that enemy aircraft violating Iranian airspace in southern Isfahan, including two Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 military transport aircraft, were struck and are reportedly burning.

"President Trump has suffered a clear failure as of day 38," Khatam al-Anbiya stated, adding that his claims of a special operation that had allegedly rescued the downed pilot are but an attempt to "cover up his heavy defeat."

More aircraft lost

Additionally, the IRGC's Public Relations office issued a statement early on Sunday, revealing that an advanced MQ-9 drone was also shot down over the province, bringing the total toll to four drones destroyed in the area over the past five days alone.

The Iranian army also confirmed that its air defenses shot down a Hermes 900 drone belonging to US-Israeli forces over Isfahan, bringing the total number of enemy drones downed since the start of the aggression to 162, "reflecting a rapid decline in the aerial capabilities of the aggressors."

Following the failed operation, Iranian officials said US forces bombed the stranded aircraft, along with accompanying personnel and equipment, in what was described as an attempt to prevent further losses or exposure.

The statement described the operation as a “desperate attempt” by what it referred to as the “terrorist US military” to rescue the downed pilot.

US leadership trapped in ‘war of its own making’: Iran

The statement sharply criticized US leadership, asserting that President Donald Trump is “stuck in the quagmire of war and aggression that he started,” while accusing American military commanders of failure. It added that any future US ground operations or infiltration attempts inside Iran would be met with “decisive failure,” emphasizing the readiness of Iranian forces and public mobilization.

Iranian forces successfully struck two US warplanes over Iranian territory on Friday, dealing a sharp blow to Washington’s aggression and exposing the true cost of the American escalation.

US officials confirmed that one crew member has been found, while the other remains missing. The incident underscores the vulnerability of US forces despite claims of “overwhelming military superiority."

“Disgrace cannot be covered by media warfare”

Khatam al-Anbiya stressed that the outcome of the operation represents a significant setback for Washington, stating that “the disgrace that befell the American army will not be repaired by empty speeches, media warfare, or psychological operations.”

The statement further framed the developments as part of a broader confrontation, asserting that Iran’s actions reflect “divine favor” and reaffirming what it described as the eventual victory of the “front of truth over falsehood.”

Civilian casualties reported

The Governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province confirmed that US missile strikes in the region led to the martyrdom of three civilians and injuries to two others. According to the source, this will turn into a "new scandal of cover-up and lies for the United States."

Since the start of Operation True Promise 4, Washington has attempted to portray the campaign as a decisive strike against Iran. Yet the repeated losses of high-value aircraft and ongoing Iranian resistance reveal the fragility of American claims of success. Iranian forces continue to defend their airspace, demonstrating the resilience of the country’s missile and defense capabilities against US and Israeli aggression.

According to Analyst Matthew Chance, the shootdown of a US F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran marks a significant shift in the trajectory of the war on Iran. Chance notes that it exposes the growing vulnerability of American forces and the limits of Washington’s claims of air superiority.

CNN’s analysis describes the incident as the first confirmed case of a US warplane being brought down over Iranian territory since the start of the war, a development widely seen as a turning point in the war.

The episode unfolded alongside a broader pattern of operational setbacks. Around the same time, a US A-10 Thunderbolt II went down near the Strait of Hormuz, with US officials providing limited details on the circumstances, while Iranian authorities said the aircraft had been tracked and targeted by their integrated air defense systems.