16:39 08-04-2026

US Pilot Rescue in Iran Called Typical by Analyst

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Mikhail Khodarenok says US rescue of a downed pilot in Iran reflects standard practice, noting losses and historical parallels with similar operations.

Russian military expert Mikhail Khodarenok highly assessed the US operation to rescue a downed pilot on Iranian territory, calling it typical of American military practice.

According to him, the scale of such search and rescue operations is not unusual for the United States. He noted that the pilot in question held the rank of colonel, which is also not out of the ordinary. The expert pointed out that despite losing several aircraft and helicopters, the United States demonstrated its willingness to pay a high price to save its servicemen.

Khodarenok emphasized that this approach has historical roots. He recalled that during World War II, during bombing missions over Tokyo, US Navy ships were positioned along the routes of B-29 bombers to recover downed crews, while submarines operated near Japan’s coast where surface ships faced higher risks.

He described such actions as a long-standing American tradition and an example of how a military treats its personnel.

At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility that under the cover of a rescue mission, the United States may have attempted to deploy ground forces in Iran, but noted that there is not enough data to draw firm conclusions.