{"id":13659,"date":"2026-04-05T13:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=13659"},"modified":"2026-04-05T13:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:45:59","slug":"irgc-claims-casualties-as-commandos-destroy-own-aircraft-to-prevent-capture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=13659","title":{"rendered":"IRGC Claims Casualties as Commandos Destroy Own Aircraft to Prevent Capture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_a2443beaca561e62\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">TEHRAN\/WASHINGTON (HRNW):<\/b> The ongoing U.S. rescue operation to extract downed F-15 personnel from Iranian territory has escalated into a complex military confrontation. While President Trump has hailed the mission as a historic success, conflicting reports from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and international media suggest significant American hardware losses.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">IRGC Claims: C-130 and Drones Downed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a formal statement claiming to have dealt a blow to the American rescue fleet:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"4\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Aircraft Destruction:<\/b> The IRGC claims to have targeted and destroyed a U.S. Air Force <b data-path-to-node=\"4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"86\">C-130 transport aircraft<\/b> involved in the search for the missing Weapon Systems Officer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Drone Losses:<\/b> Iranian officials further asserted that several U.S. drones accompanying the rescue mission were also neutralized.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Visual Evidence:<\/b> Russian television (RT) has released footage purportedly showing a helicopter crashing at the site of the rescue operation, though the origin of the footage remains under investigation by defense analysts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"5\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">NYT Disclosure: U.S. Commandos Forced to Destroy Own Aircraft<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\">A report by <i data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"12\">The New York Times<\/i> has shed light on a desperate &#8220;scorched earth&#8221; tactic used by U.S. special forces during the mission:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"7\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The Standoff:<\/b> Two U.S. transport planes carrying commandos and airmen reportedly became stranded at a remote Iranian outpost due to mechanical failures or tactical complications.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Denying Technology to the Enemy:<\/b> According to a U.S. official, once it became clear the aircraft could not be recovered, three additional planes were dispatched to evacuate the personnel. Before departing, U.S. commandos <b data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"221\">intentionally destroyed the two stranded aircraft<\/b> with explosives to prevent sensitive military technology and encryption from falling into Iranian hands.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"8\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">President Trump Stands by &#8220;Historic Success&#8221;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\">Despite these accounts of material loss, President Donald Trump maintained a celebratory tone in his latest briefing:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"10\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Successful Extraction:<\/b> The President confirmed that the F-15 Weapon Systems Officer is safe and his condition is stable.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Boldest Operation:<\/b> Trump reiterated that this was the &#8220;boldest rescue operation in American history,&#8221; involving dozens of stealth assets and cutting-edge weaponry.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Second Rescue:<\/b> He noted that this follows the secret extraction of another American pilot just 24 hours prior.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"11\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Strategic Analysis<\/b><\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"12\">The situation remains a high-stakes information war. While the U.S. marks the safe return of its personnel as the ultimate victory, Iran and allied media outlets are highlighting the destruction of American transport assets as a sign of vulnerability. As the 48-hour ultimatum looms, these skirmishes in the Iranian desert could serve as the final spark for a broader regional conflict.<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"13\" \/>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Support Independent Journalism:<\/b> At HRNW, we provide authoritative coverage of global conflicts and frontline defense news. Your support empowers our mission of factual and impactful reporting. Support us today at <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=http:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/%3Fpage_id%3D1083\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi4gdSh0taTAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQwAY\">www.hrnww.com\/?page_id=1083<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_13659\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"13659\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TEHRAN\/WASHINGTON (HRNW): The ongoing U.S. rescue operation to extract downed F-15 personnel from Iranian territory has escalated into a complex military confrontation. While President Trump has hailed the mission as a historic success, conflicting reports from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and international media suggest significant American hardware losses. 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