The United States used an abandoned airfield near Isfahan during a mission to rescue a pilot.

Axar.az reports, citing The Guardian, US forces used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan, Iran during a mission to evacuate an American pilot.

Initial reports indicate the pilot was located in mountainous terrain and rescued by special forces under heavy covering fire. Iranian sources claimed that three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed during the operation.

Iran’s military stated that three US aircraft involved in the mission were destroyed, while US media reported that at least one C-130 Hercules transport aircraft had to be abandoned after encountering technical difficulties.

Additional aircraft were deployed to complete the evacuation.