U.S. Special Forces Races Against Time to Rescue Grounded Colonel

On April 5, 2026, US Special Forces rescued a wounded colonel stranded in Iran. The nighttime operation included a CIA deception campaign, help from Israel, multiple aircrafts and U.S. Special Forces racing to beat the Iranian government from getting to the colonel first. 

CBN says Iran shot down the pilot and the colonel on April 3 from their F-15E over harsh enemy territory. While the pilot was recovered that day, the colonel was separated from him. BBC says the colonel made his way to the mountainous region and hid in a crevice, where he sent up a signal and tended his injuries. The U.S. picked up the signal and immediately set a rescue plan in motion. The CIA monitored the colonel 24 hours a day as multiple attempts were made to rescue him. Military.com says a leak alerted the Iranians of the colonel’s presence and location, which triggered a search. According to the BBC, the Iranian government offered a bounty of over $66,000 for the capture of the colonel.

Finally, the rescue team found the colonel in the mountains of central Iran. Special Forces fired at the Iranian military closing in, but there was no return fire and the colonel was rescued without any American casualties, though the soldiers blew up two planes that were stuck in the sand. CBN says President Donald Trump called the rescue an “Easter miracle”. Fox News recorded that the colonel said, “God is good.”

After the rescue the colonel was taken to a hospital in Kuwait, where his injuries were further treated. The president says that the colonel was seriously injured but will be just fine. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has tried to argue the US’s portrayal of the event and downplay the rescue.