Iranian media claims clashes with US forces during rescue of American airman

Clashes broke out between Iranian forces and US troops during a rescue operation of an American pilot in which a US C-130 support aircraft was reportedly downed, Iranian media claimed Sunday, Anadolu reports.

According to Defa Press Agency, Iranian law enforcement special units destroyed several US assets, including a special operations aircraft HC-130, two Black Hawk helicopters, and multiple drones.

Following the clashes, fighting reportedly continued on the ground between Iranian units and surviving or supporting US personnel, it added.

Earlier in the day, Iran claimed that it had shot down a US C-130 support aircraft in southern Isfahan.

Fox News also reported that several US service members were injured during a mission to extract the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet downed over Iran.

No official statement has yet been issued by the US regarding the Iranian claims.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.