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‘God is good’: Inside the high-risk US mission to save a wounded airman shot down in Iran
In a scene that unfolded like a Hollywood script, hundreds of American troops descended into the rugged mountains of southwestern Iran on Saturday to rescue a wounded airman who had spent nearly two days hiding from Iranian forces.
What followed was a high-stakes combat search-and-rescue mission deep inside Iran, with U.S. forces racing to locate and extract the wounded officer before Iranian troops could reach him, deploying a large contingent of special operations forces and aircraft into hostile territory.
In total, the U.S. sent in more than 150 aircraft, sources told CBS News, and several different teams: Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Operations, Army Special Operations Aviation, search and rescue and combat medics.
One of the two crew members was flown to Landstuhl regional medical center in Germany, typically the first stop for U.S. soldiers wounded in combat zones, and the other is being flown there Monday, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News.
As the rescue unfolded Easter Sunday, the pilot radioed a brief message to help U.S. forces identify him: “God is good,” a senior U.S. defense official confirmed to Fox News.
Here’s a look at how the scene unfolded.
A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran Friday, according to U.S. officials. Both the pilot and the weapons systems officer ejected from the aircraft.
The aircraft was operating as part of ongoing U.S. combat operations over Iran when it was shot down, though officials have not publicly detailed its specific mission.
While details of the incident were not immediately clear, Iranian state media released images of an ejection seat and debris that appeared consistent with an F-15E. Iran initially claimed it had downed a more advanced F-35 stealth fighter, but U.S. officials later confirmed the aircraft was an F-15 Strike Eagle.
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seat fighter jet flown by a pilot and a weapons systems officer, who manages targeting, sensors and weapons. The aircraft is designed for both air-to-air combat and deep strike missions against ground targets, allowing it to operate far inside enemy territory.
After the crew ejected and aircraft went down, U.S. forces quickly launched a combat search-and-rescue mission, deploying rescue helicopters into Iranian territory to recover the downed pilot.
The pilot was rescued later that day, within hours of the shoot down, in what Trump described as a daylight operation.
Rescue helicopters, including HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft, came under Iranian small-arms fire as they moved in to extract the pilot, according to U.S. officials. Crew members aboard the helicopter carrying the pilot were injured, but the aircraft was able to fly safely out of Iranian territory.
An A-10 Thunderbolt II providing close air support for the rescue effort was also hit by enemy fire, according to U.S. officials. The aircraft was damaged, and the pilot later ejected over Kuwaiti airspace and was recovered.
While the Pentagon remained tight-lipped about the mission, Iranian state media blasted images from the crash and called on civilians to join in the search for the second crew member, an Air Force colonel, according to Trump.
The Pentagon has not publicly released the names of the crew members, a standard practice while operations are ongoing. Both airmen have been recovered and are receiving medical care at a U.S. military facility, according to officials.
Iranian state media urged civilians to help locate the missing crew member and offered a reward for his capture, while Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces launched a search in the region.
The weapons systems officer, a colonel with SERE training, was using his survival and evasion training to stay one step ahead of Iranian forces. He reportedly climbed 7,000 feet up a ridge and remained hidden there for nearly 48 hours, a senior defense official told Fox News.
The colonel hid in a mountain crevice while the CIA launched a deception campaign to convince the Iranian regime they had already located him and were moving him to the ground for exfiltration. While the Iranians were confused and uncertain of what was happening, the agency used its specialized capabilities to locate the American airman, a senior administration official told Fox News.
Trump said the American aviator was being “hunted down” by enemies who were “getting closer and closer by the hour.”
The U.S. used MQ9 Reaper drones to protect the area around where the U.S. believed the airman was hiding and fired on anything that came close to that area and any area where U.S. forces were operating, an administration official told Fox News.
At the same time, the U.S. launched strikes on nearby areas to keep Iranian forces away.
“We executed multiple large scale strikes in the surrounding area using every tactical jet in the U.S. inventory + B-1 Bombers to keep him safe,” a senior U.S. official said.
In between the rescue of the pilot and the rescue of the weapons officer, U.S. forces flying B2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri dropped “bunker buster” massive ordnance pentetrator bombs on an IRGC headquarters, a senior defense official told Fox News.
At the right moment, Trump said, he directed the military to send dozens of heavily armed aircraft to rescue the crew member, who the president said is “seriously wounded” but will recover.
When the colonel finally made radio contact to coordinate the pickup, he sent the message: “God is good.”
U.S. officials were not sure it was him at first. Trump told Axios they feared it was a trap. But those who knew the colonel said he was a man of deep faith.
Rescue helicopters, including HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft, came under Iranian small-arms fire during the extraction, sources told Air and Space Forces magazine.
U.S. forces established a remote airstrip inside Iran to support the rescue. Problems with two other transport planes prompted U.S. forces to blow them up rather than leave them behind in Iran, according to The Associated Press.
“The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said on social media.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for additional details on the mission.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A fatty bulge at the base of the neck — commonly known as a “buffalo hump” — isn’t always just a cosmetic concern, as experts say it can sometimes signal an underlying condition.
As more Americans grapple with poor posture, obesity and chronic conditions requiring long-term medications, experts warn that these factors can contribute to the development of “buffalo humps.”
There are a range of possible causes and treatments for the commonly misunderstood condition, Health.com recently reported.
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“A buffalo hump is a fullness at the base of the neck or upper back area,” Dr. Dahlia Rice, a Chicago-based plastic surgeon and founder of DMR Aesthetics, told Fox News Digital.
Posture can make a hump appear more pronounced, even if someone does not have much excess fat, Rice said. A forward head posture or rounding of the upper spine can contribute to this effect.
“Depending on the pattern and timing, it could also signal an underlying medical issue,” the expert said.
The condition is often linked to weight, according to Dr. Rachel Mason, a Las Vegas-based plastic surgeon and founder of La Femme Plastic Surgery, though that is not always the case.
“In some cases, it can be associated with medical conditions like Cushing’s syndrome or long-term use of steroids,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Elevated levels of cortisol — the body’s primary stress hormone — can also lead to fat deposits in the neck and upper back, experts say. Certain medications, including some HIV treatments, may also play a role, according to Health.com.
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Experts emphasize the importance of distinguishing between a true buffalo hump and other conditions. The buffalo hump is often confused with a posture-related “dowager’s hump,” which is caused by spinal curvature rather than fat buildup.
“A true buffalo hump will feel soft and fatty,” Mason said. “Structural, posture-related issues require a completely different approach than fat reduction.”
If the lump appears suddenly, continues to grow or is accompanied by other symptoms, medical evaluation is recommended, according to doctors.
“If it’s paired with fatigue, muscle weakness or changes in blood pressure, patients should seek medical evaluation,” Rice advised.
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Mason added that symptoms such as easy bruising, hormonal changes or purple stretch marks could point to an endocrine disorder rather than a cosmetic issue.
Treatment options depend largely on the underlying cause. In cases tied to posture, physical therapy and strengthening exercises may help. When medications are involved, doctors may adjust treatment.
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For patients with localized fat and no underlying condition, cosmetic procedures may be considered.
“Liposuction is often the effective option for contouring this area, as it directly removes excess fat and improves the profile of the upper back and neck,” Mason said, noting that more extensive cases may require surgical removal of dense tissue.
Lifestyle changes — such as maintaining a healthy weight, improving posture and monitoring long-term medication use — may help to manage or reduce the condition, experts say.
Although a buffalo hump itself is not usually dangerous, untreated underlying conditions can lead to more serious complications, including high blood pressure or sleep issues, according to Health.com.
“Identifying the cause early is important in ensuring the right treatment path is taken,” Mason said.
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Ex-Obama advisor says Iran could target Gulf oil facilities as Trump blockade squeezes regime
A former Obama advisor outlined a “worst-case scenario” in the Middle East, warning Iran could escalate with attacks on key energy facilities in the Gulf as President Donald Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade tightens pressure on the regime.
“The worst-case scenario… is they decide, ‘Ok, if we can’t export our oil now and can’t generate revenue, we will attack the most sensitive targets among the Gulf states. We’ll go after their oil facilities as a way of putting pressure back on the United States to ease this on us,'” Dennis Ross said Sunday.
Ross warned the U.S. must be prepared to defend against potential Iranian retaliation targeting vulnerable, high-value energy infrastructure across Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.
Such strikes, he said, could temporarily cripple oil production and risk escalating the conflict if not effectively deterred.
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“This thing can spin out of control unless we’re capable enough of preventing that,” he added.
Ross said the regime would stop short of destroying its own facilities on Kharg Island, a key energy resource that has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s campaign in the region, telling “Fox & Friends Weekend” that the oil export hub is something Iran “need[s] to be able to hold.”
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“They’ll go after everything that’s in the Gulf states…” Ross said. “Our blockading is an alternative to us seizing Kharg Island. We can seize it, but then our forces there would be quite vulnerable. This is a much smarter move than seizing Kharg Island.”
Trump announced an “all-or-nothing” blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday morning, stressing during a Fox News exclusive interview that every country would either be allowed full access through the waterway or none at all, with no exceptions for allies.
“We think that numerous countries are going to be helping us with this also, but we’re putting on a complete blockade,” he told “Sunday Morning Futures.”
The decision followed unsuccessful peace talks with Iranian regime leaders in Pakistan over the weekend.
Sophie Cunningham emerged as one of the leaders of the Indiana Fever during the 2025 season as she fiercely defended Caitlin Clark and the rest of her teammates at various points of the year.
Cunningham faced whether to return to Indiana for at least the 2026 season as she was set to be a free agent. However, on Sunday, she made the decision to return to the Fever.
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Indiana and Cunningham agreed to a one-year contract, the team announced.
“We had a really special group last year and it was an incredible first season for me in Indy; I loved everything about my teammates and the Fever organization,” she said, via the team’s website. “We fought through a ton of adversity, and it was important to me that we have a chance to see through what we started.
“I have a feeling this is going to be another special season, so I’m excited to get things started and to, of course, keep playing in front of the best fans in the WNBA. Let’s get spicy!”
CAITLIN CLARK’S FEVER MAKE SEVERAL KEY OFFSEASON SIGNINGS IN CHAMPIONSHIP PURSUIT
Cunningham played 30 games for Indiana before her season was cut short due to an MCL tear. She averaged 8.6 points per game and shot a career-high 43.2% from 3-point range.
The Fever expect her to be a key piece for the team looking to make a championship run.
“I think she’s always willing to step in and do whatever it takes to win,” Fever general manager Amber Cox said.
“… When you have a shooter like Sophie – somebody who’s consistently at the top of the league every single year in terms of her effectiveness from beyond the arc – that really helps everybody else too… Everything she brings to the table as a competitor, I think will impact us.”
Even with injuries to Cunningham and Clark, Indiana finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 24-20 record. Indiana upset the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Las Vegas Aces in five games in the semifinals.
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