In a high-stakes operation that unfolded over more than 48 hours deep in hostile Iranian territory, U.S. forces successfully rescued both crew members of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down on April 3 despite weeks of intense coalition strikes that had severely degraded Iran’s air defenses.

One month after the United States and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury,” the joint military campaign—bolstered by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—has delivered devastating blows to Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile arsenal, air defenses, and navy. Over 8,000 strikes have sunk more than 130 Iranian vessels in what officials call the largest naval elimination since World War II