A US military rescue mission in Isfahan province, Iran, resulted in the deaths of four Iranian army officers, including a brigadier general, during efforts to recover crew members from a downed F-15 fighter jet. The mission was initiated after the F-15 was shot down by a shoulder-fired missile, marking the first loss of a crewed American warplane in over five weeks of conflict. The operation involved more than 170 US aircraft and approximately 200 troops, showcasing the scale of the military engagement. During the extraction, US helicopters encountered heavy small-arms fire, with one helicopter being hit but sustaining only minor injuries to its crew. Iranian military officials reported that their forces engaged US aircraft during the operation, leading to the deaths of the officers involved. This incident underscores the escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with both sides exchanging threats and military actions.