Tehran: Latest high-resolution satellite images from Iran have revealed the chaos that prevailed during the US mission to rescue and airman who went missing after Tehran downed an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet earlier this month.
The images, released by Soar Atlas, show wreckage of multiple US aircraft at an abandoned dirt airstrip near Shahreza in the Isfahan province, which houses Iran’s key nuclear complex.
As the images got circulated, fresh questions have been raised on Washington’s real objective during that mission in which 155 aircraft were deployed, as reported by India Today.
US president Donald Trump called it “one of the most daring rescue operations”, but officials provided scant details of its losses during the mission.
The remote airstrip is located around 40 km from the Isfahan nuclear complex, which apparently holds Iran’s primary stockpile of highly enriched uranium, key to making nuclear weapons.
Iran has been alleging that it was a “failed” US operation to seize Uranium. Tehran maintains that the area where the American airman was downed in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province was far from where the US troops landed to rescue him.
Even if the US is to be believed, the rescue mission for the weapons systems officer (WSO) ran into major challenges beyond enemy lines.
The satellite images now show wreckage of at least two US C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and possibly two MH-6 “Little Bird” helicopters on the right side of the airfield.
Trump had admitted that the two C-130 aircraft, which ferried around 100 elite US forces, had to be blown up after they got stuck in the sandy desert terrain. This was done to prevent sensitive technology or equipment from falling into Iranian hands – a standard practice in combat.
No details were provided about the MH-6 helicopters that were possibly deployed to provide close air support to the landing force. Considering that the US troops landed deep inside Iran, the helicopters were likely transported by the C-130 aircraft.
Iran has, however, claimed it struck the two US helicopters during the operation.
The helicopters could have been destroyed by the US troops, as there might not have been enough time or room load them onto the replacement aircraft.
These helicopters have a maximum flight range of 420 km. The nearest US military base is around 400 km away near the Iraq border. Considering the risks, the US might have decided to destroy the helicopters at the site.
The images also reveal that in the days following the operation, Iran appears to have moved quickly to secure the airstrip. The images show a dirt security perimeter around the destroyed aircraft.
Additionally, piles of dirt have been placed throughout the runway, rendering it unusable for any future aircraft landings or operations.
