Iran has reportedly shot down a United States C-130 military transport aircraft over its airspace near Isfahan, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday, 5 April. The operation was carried out by the Iranian police’s elite commando unit, Faraj Rangers, who brought the aircraft down safely to the ground.
According to Tasnim, the C-130 had entered Iranian airspace during a mission to rescue the crew of a downed F-15 fighter jet. The aircraft was subsequently neutralised to prevent further intrusion.
Earlier reports from the New York Times indicated that two allied rescue aircraft had been trapped in Iranian territory during the operation. To prevent these planes from being captured, U.S. forces reportedly destroyed them. Subsequently, a further three aircraft successfully completed the extraction of the F-15 crew and additional rescue personnel.
Another Iranian semi-official outlet, Fars News, confirmed that the downed aircraft was a C-130 model and was engaged in aerial refuelling operations at the time. Fars described the aircraft as “assigned to fuel hostile invaders on Iranian sacred soil.”
The incident has heightened tensions in the region, illustrating both the strategic significance of Isfahan as a military hub and the ongoing complexity of aerial operations in contested airspace.
Aircraft Involved
| Aircraft Type | Role | Status | Origin/Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-130 | Transport/Refuelling | Shot down by Iran | United States |
| F-15 | Fighter jet | Crew rescued | United States |
| Allied Rescue Aircraft | Transport/Rescue | 2 destroyed, 3 successful | United States |
The episode underscores the risks faced during cross-border rescue missions and the intensity of U.S.-Iranian military interactions over the region. Iranian authorities framed the downing of the aircraft as a defensive measure against incursions, reinforcing their stance on sovereignty and territorial integrity.