Iran claims downing of US C-130 aircraft during rescue mission
Tehran reports destruction of transport plane amid clashes during US operation, with no confirmation from Washington
ISTANBUL, Turkey (MNTV) — Iran has claimed it shot down a U.S. C-130 military transport aircraft in the southern Isfahan region during a rescue operation, according to Iranian state-linked media, though Washington has not confirmed the incident.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing Iranian police, said the aircraft was destroyed by heavy fire from a special forces unit. The reported incident allegedly took place amid a U.S. mission to extract personnel following the downing of an American fighter jet over Iran.
There has been no official response from the United States regarding the claim, and the details remain unverified.
However, reporting from outlets, including Reuters, indicates that Iranian forces said they destroyed several “enemy aircraft” during the same rescue operation, which involved intense clashes between U.S. forces and Iranian units.
The incident is believed to be linked to a high-risk U.S. search-and-rescue mission launched after an F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran.
During that operation, multiple aircraft — including helicopters and transport planes — were deployed in contested airspace, highlighting the growing vulnerability of U.S. forces operating deep inside Iranian territory.
Some unverified reports circulating on social media have suggested that U.S. Unverified reports circulating on social media suggest that U.S. forces may have destroyed one of their own aircraft to prevent it from falling into Iranian hands, although no credible confirmation has been provided.
The escalation comes amid the ongoing war triggered by the joint military strikes of the United States and Israel on Iran, which began on Feb. 28 and has since caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and significant loss of life inside the country.
Tehran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli-linked positions and countries hosting U.S. military assets, including Jordan and Iraq.
Analysts warn that the reported downing of a transport aircraft — if confirmed — would mark a serious escalation, exposing the risks of U.S. military operations conducted far from secure bases and under increasingly contested conditions.
The lack of transparency from Washington has also raised questions about the true scale of losses being sustained during the campaign.
As the conflict intensifies, competing claims and limited independent verification continue to obscure the full picture of battlefield developments, while the risk of a broader regional war grows.
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