CIA Director Ratcliffe Reveals Daring Deception Operation That Rescued Downed US Airman from Deep Inside Iran

CIA Director John Ratcliffe detailed a daring deception campaign that enabled the United States to rescue a downed airman deep inside Iran. According to Nextgov, the operation unfolded after an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down roughly 200 miles into Iranian territory on Friday. The pilot was recovered quickly, but the injured weapons systems officer ejected farther away and hid in a remote mountain crevice, evading Iranian forces, militias, and drones for nearly two days. Nextgov reports that Ratcliffe, speaking at a White House news conference on Monday alongside President Donald Trump, credited the CIA with deploying human assets and exquisite technologies to locate the airman. The agency launched a deception effort to mislead Iranian hunters, buying crucial time for the rescue. KATV describes how U.S. intelligence verified the airman was alive, with the CIA pinpointing his position in what Trump called like finding a needle in a haystack. The extraction involved about 100 special operations forces, dozens of aircraft, B-1 bombers dropping nearly 100 precision-guided munitions, and MQ-9 Reaper drones targeting threats. SEAL Team Six commandos in small aircraft succeeded on the third attempt, pulling the airman out under fire Saturday night. U.S. forces destroyed aircraft left behind to protect sensitive technology. Ratcliffe noted that intelligence showed Iranian forces were embarrassed and humiliated by the audacious success. The Times of Israel confirms human intelligence and subterfuge played key roles at the president's direction. ABC30 echoes that Iran was humiliated, with the CIA using both human assets and advanced tools. Trump praised the CIA's genius for spotting movement up the mountain. The airman, who treated his own heavy wounds, is expected to recover fully. This high-stakes mission highlights Ratcliffe's leadership in blending spy craft with military precision amid escalating tensions. Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.