Tehran: The Public Relations wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its forces successfully thwarted what it described as a US attempt to rescue the pilot of a downed fighter jet inside Iranian territory.
According to the IRGC statement, a joint operation involving the Aerospace Force, Ground Forces, Basij units, popular forces, and FARAJA (Law Enforcement Command) was launched after alleged entry of US aircraft into central Iran. The statement asserted that the enemy aircraft were destroyed during the operation.
The IRGC further claimed that the incident marks another “humiliating defeat” for the United States, drawing parallels with the failed Tabas operation of 1980.
In a sharp response to former US President Donald Trump, the statement accused him of attempting to “cover up” the situation through social media claims about a rescue mission. Referring to him as “Trump the Gambler,” the IRGC added that “the God of the sands of Tabas is still there,” invoking symbolic language tied to the historical event.
There has been no immediate confirmation or response from US officials regarding the claims made by Iran.
The situation remains unclear, with independent verification of the incident not yet available.
