The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played a critical role in locating the second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran.

Axar.az reports, citing Axios, prior to the rescue, the CIA launched a deception campaign inside Iran, spreading word that U.S. forces had already found the officer and were attempting a ground exfiltration. Meanwhile, the agency employed its “unique capabilities” to pinpoint his exact location.

“This was the ultimate needle in a haystack, but in this case it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, invisible but for CIA’s capabilities,” a senior administration official told Axios.

The CIA shared the precise location with the Pentagon, U.S. military, and the White House, prompting President Trump to order an immediate rescue mission.

The operation successfully extracted the weapons system officer, who had evaded capture in the mountains for more than a day.