Social media stills released on Saturday (April 5) appear to show the wreckage of an American plane and helicopter in Isfahan, Iran after U.S. special forces rescued an airman in a high-risk mission deep inside enemy lines.

Trump announced the rescue in the early hours of Sunday in a social media post that described the operation in a mountainous area as "one of the most daring" such missions in U.S. history.

Iran said several U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the operation, including two military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters. Footage posted on social media showed burned-out aircraft wreckage.

The Wall Street Journal said two U.S. Special Operations aircraft were blown up on the ground during the rescue mission quoting a person familiar with the mission adding MC-130Js are equipped for covert infiltrations.

The New York Times reported that two U.S. transport planes used in the rescue got stuck so U.S. commanders blew them up to prevent them falling into Iranian hands.

Three new planes were sent to extract the U.S. military personnel, the newspaper said.

Reuters was able to confirm the location from the shape and position of the mountains seen in the images and video which matched topography mapping and satellite imagery of the area.

Reuters was not able to verify the exact time the photos were taken, but no older versions were found posted online before Sunday (April 5). Several aircraft were destroyed during the U.S. mission to find the US airman in Iran, the Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday (April 5) according to Iranian media.

The type of aircraft in the debris could not be verified, but William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, told Reuters that the pictures show some recognisable features which matches a MC-130J. According to him, in the wreckage it also appears to be a part of the main or rear rotor of a helicopter.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Still photos emerged on social media showing what could be the wreckage of an American plane and helicopter in Iran. Video credit: Social Media

VIDEO SHOWS: STILLS PHOTOGRAPHS PURPORTING TO SHOW WRECKAGE OF RECENTLY DOWNED AMERICAN PLANE AND HELICOPTER IN ISFAHAN, IRAN.

VERIFIED BY:

- Shape and position of the mountains matched topography mapping and satellite imagery and previous material verified by Reuters

- Not able to verify exact time photos were taken

- No older versions of the photos found posted online before April 5

- Several aircraft were destroyed during the U.S. mission to find a stranded airman in Iran, the Revolutionary - Guards said on Sunday (April 5) according to Iranian media

- Type of aircraft in the debris could not be verified, but William Goodhind, a forensic imagery analyst with Contested Ground, told Reuters that the pictures show some recognisable features which matches a MC-130J

- According to Goodhind in the wreckage it also appears to be a part of the main or rear rotor of a helicopter

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT.

SHOWS: ISFAHAN, IRAN (RELEASED APRIL 5, 2026)(SOCIAL MEDIA - No Archive / No Resales / News Use Only.)

1. VARIOUS STILL IMAGES PURPORTING TO SHOW WRECKAGE OF AMERICAN AIRCRAFT WITH VISIBLE MAIN ROTOR AND ROTOR BLADES OF A HELICOPTER, ACCORDING TO WILLIAM GOODHIND, FORENSIC IMAGERY ANALYST.