CIA played role in F-15 crew member rescue, administration official says
The CIA played a role in the rescue of the second F-15E crew member from Iranian territory, a senior administration official told ABC News.
Before the downed weapon systems officer (WSO) was located and rescued, the official said, the CIA "launched a deception campaign spreading word inside Iran that U.S. forces had already found him and were moving him on the ground for exfiltration out of the country."
"While the Iranians were confused and uncertain of what was happening, the agency used its unique, exquisite capabilities to search for -- and find -- the American," the official said. "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."
"The CIA immediately shared the WSO's exact location" with the Pentagon and White House, the official said.
"The president ordered an immediate rescue mission, which the DoW executed with boldness and precision, with CIA continuing to provide real time information," the official added.
-ABC News' Cindy Smith




