NYY has confirmed (apparently Delta force as well) what Iranian sources were already reporting — after the WSO was rescued, two US C-130 transport planes that were supposed to carry the Delta Force commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck on the ground at a remote base inside Iran. Three new planes had to be flown in to extract everyone. The two disabled C-130s were then deliberately blown up by US forces rather than allow them to fall into Iranian hands. Though Iranian sources claim they destroyed the big birds. Photos circulating from Iranian sources — allegedly taken before the destruction — show the aircraft on the ground. The black smoke rising over the Zagros in daylight is what’s left of them. Iranian sources claim they destroyed the planes. The NYT says the US blew them up themselves. On this occasion the credibility gap between those two accounts does not favour Washington. F-15E down. One A-10 destroyed. Two Black Hawks hit. Two C-130s blown up on Iranian soil. Both crew recovered. Trump called it the most daring rescue in US military history. That’s one way to describe it. The new measure of victory for the Epstein coalition? Time to declare mission accomplished then tuck tail and run?
