Two US UH-60 Black Hawks hit by Iranian ground fire during F-15E SAR — crews injured, all returned safely

Two US Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were hit by Iranian ground fire during the search and rescue operation for the crew of the downed F-15E Strike Eagle, US officials confirmed to the Washington Post and Guardian. Both helicopters sustained hits but remained airworthy and returned safely to their base. Minor injuries were sustained by service members aboard the aircraft; all were confirmed safe. The New York Times verified video posted on social media showing Iranians firing at low-flying helicopters in southwestern Iran — in the same area where the F-15E went down. The Washington Post reported that an F-15 and an A-10 were both 'lost to hostile fire,' and that the two rescue helicopters were also hit with crews injured before safely returning. The incident is the most intense direct combat between US and Iranian forces inside Iranian territory since the war began. Two aircraft lost (F-15E, A-10) and two SAR helicopters hit in a single day represents the highest daily loss rate of the conflict. The missing F-15E navigator remains unaccounted for, with the IRGC maintaining a cordon around the crash zone in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province.