INTERNATIONAL NEWS ! cnn 1 pm tehran 4/6

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Trump has praised it as one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history. The highly complex operation, deeper inside Iran than previously thought, reportedly involved members of the US Special Forces as well as a CIA deception campaign to throw off the Iranians. And Mikey Kay, military analyst for the BBC security brief, explains how the Americans pulled it off.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Quite remarkable footage coming out overnight on open source intelligence channels and information associated with that footage. This is all about the extraction by combat search and rescue and special forces of that second airman that ejected from the F-15E striking heel that was initially based out of RAF Lakinheath that was operating inside the region. Absolutely critical after 48 hours that the US decided they were going to throw a lot more additional capability at this outside of the extraction of the first airman, which is called Combat Search and Rescue. An HC-130J Hercules transport aircraft and two HH60 Jolly Green II Blackhawks. They're part of the original package, but for this second airman, the weapon system operator who sits in the back of the F-15E, it was absolutely critical for the US to get this person back and not allow that person to fall in the hands of the enemy, the Iranians. So what the Americans did was they put two HC-130 Hercules aircraft deep inside of Iran near Isfahan. That name might be familiar because it's one of the locations of one of Iran's nuclear facilities, and they set up a forward operating base. That's about 350 to 400 kilometers inside of Iran. Now, inside of one of those or both of those transport aircraft was what's called an MH6 helicopter. It's a light helicopter and it's the capability of choice for US special forces, namely Delta. The exfiltration happened, but then the problem was that those two HC-130J Hercules aircraft that were flown into the forward operating base, they then became stuck, whether it was in sand or gravel, we don't know. So the Americans then launched three other HC-130 Juliet Hercules aircraft to go in and extract those special forces and those troops out. Once they'd exfiltrated and got out the area, the Americans then decided to put bombs, precision bombs, on all of that capability that was uh that was at the forward operating base. The reason for that is these aircraft have very sensitive equipment capability on board. And the last thing that the US would have wanted was that capability and the helicopter capability getting into the hands of the Iranians. So a remarkable operation by the US over 48 hours to extract two of their airmen and preventing them from getting into the hands of the Iranian forces, which would have been an absolute strategic failure for the Trump administration.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Congratulations, President Trump. All Israelis rejoice in the incredible rescue of a brave American pilot by America's dauntless warriors. This rescue operation reinforces a sacred principle. No one is left behind. This is a shared value demonstrated time and time again in the history of both our countries.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

Well, as we've been reporting, the US President has repeated his threats to target Iranian energy and transport infrastructure if Tehran does not unblock the Strait of Hormuz. This is what President Trump posted on social media on his Truth Social. We have blanked out a swear word. He said Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one in Iran. There'll be nothing like it. Open the that is where President Trump uses an expletive. Open the straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Just watch. Praise be to Allah.