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Israeli special forces units reportedly played a role in the dramatic American mission to recover a downed U.S. navigator in Iran, as new details emerge about the complex rescue operation carried out deep inside enemy territory.

According to a report published Sunday by the opposition-linked outlet “Iran International,” IDF commando units Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal were involved in the mission alongside U.S. forces.

Earlier reports from Fox News indicated that Israel supported the operation by providing intelligence and helping suppress Iranian activity in the area while the navigator remained missing.

The mission itself was conducted by American forces operating on the ground within Iran, marking the first known deployment of U.S. ground troops inside the country during the current war.

Details from the report indicate that the navigator relied on his “Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape” (SERE) training to avoid capture after ejecting. He reportedly moved away from the crash site on foot, took cover on higher ground, and activated an emergency beacon, all while armed only with a handgun.

The rescue effort involved U.S. special operations units and additional elite teams, with MQ-9 Reaper drones providing aerial support throughout the operation.

The report also stated that the CIA carried out a deception campaign, spreading false information inside Iran suggesting the navigator had already been located and that American forces were leaving the area—moves that reportedly sowed confusion and aided the rescue.

President Donald Trump publicly confirmed the successful recovery in a message posted to Truth Social, writing: “WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”

He continued: “At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation. This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!”

[Video below.] A scaled-down Birchas Kohanim was held Sunday in Yerushalayim’s Old City under strict wartime restrictions, preventing the usual massive crowds from gathering at the Kosel as Iranian missile threats continue.

The ceremony took place as rabbinic leaders and public figures intensified calls to ease limits imposed by the IDF Home Front Command, pointing to a recent High Court ruling issued on Shabbos that allowed up to 600 participants at a protest in Tel Aviv.

Due to security directives, attendance at the Kosel was capped at just 50 individuals, and the BirKas Kohanim was conducted in a covered area rather than the main plaza, marking a significant departure from the traditional gathering that typically draws tens of thousands.

Among those present were Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion and the Chief Rabbis, Rav Kalman Ber and Rav Dovid Yosef. The vast majority of the tzibbur was unable to attend and instead followed the event through a live broadcast.

Shortly before the ceremony began, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation issued a renewed appeal to the Home Front Command to reconsider the restrictions limiting access to the Kosel plaza.

“I find it difficult to understand why the right to protest is perceived as more important or more urgent than the right to pray,” said Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, head of the foundation.

“The Kosel is the beating heart of the Jewish people,” he added. “If the security reality permits hundreds of people to gather in public squares for demonstrations, all the more so it should allow Jews to assemble at the Kosel Plaza.”

Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef sharpened his criticism of the High Court, coming a day after his strong remarks against the court’s stance on protests during wartime while access to the Kosel remained restricted.

“The High Court understands lawlessness in the name of freedom of protest,” he said.

“They call it ‘pikuach nefesh,’ nothing less,” Rav Yosef added.

Rav Yosef also voiced support for Rav Rabinowitz’s request that the Home Front Command reevaluate the current security policies governing the Kosel.

“We turn to the professionals who truly understand ‘pikuach nefesh,’” Rav Yosef said. “The High Court does not understand pikuach nefesh, the Home Front Command does, and here we declare that the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Chief Rabbis will act according to the instructions of the Home Front Command, because we know what safeguarding every Jewish life means.”

{Matzav.com}