American Pilot Describes Iran’s New Drone Swarm as a 'Minefield in the Sky'

An American pilot who was rescued from Iran about three months ago told U.S. intelligence officials that he saw advanced Iranian drones flying in a “jellyfish formation,” CNN reported Tuesday. According to a source familiar with his account, the drones were “connected and moving as one,” with smaller drones positioned beneath larger ones “like legs.” He described the scene as a “real alien experience” and a “minefield of drones” hovering in the air.

The testimony suggests Iran may have significantly upgraded its military drone capabilities. The pilot was extracted within hours after his aircraft was shot down in Iran, but his navigator, who was seriously wounded, had to hide in the Zagros Mountains for more than a day after Iran placed a bounty on his head. The exact circumstances of the jet’s downing are still under investigation.

Separately, Iran International reported claims by Israeli sources that at least two elite IDF units, Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal, took part in the dramatic rescue operation after the American plane was downed in Iranian airspace.