April 13, 2024, stands out as a night when American pilots acted as an indispensable shield for Israel against Iran’s extensive drone and missile offensive. This confrontation followed an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, an act that Tehran condemned as a violation of sovereignty and promised to avenge. Iran’s subsequent retaliatory operation, ‘True Promise,’ while signaling defiance, was met with robust defenses.
U.S. Central Command reported the successful interception of more than 80 Iranian drones and six ballistic missiles, highlighting the critical role played by American forces in mitigating the attack’s impact. The U.S. Air Force has since released a documentary, ‘Dangerous Game,’ providing an in-depth look at the F-15E Strike Eagle pilots’ experiences during this intense engagement.
The documentary immerses viewers in the tactical decision-making, psychological fortitude, and operational complexities that defined that critical night. It underscores the significant escalation of regional tensions, amplified by the October 7th attacks and subsequent skirmishes involving Hezbollah and the Houthis. The targeted killing of senior IRGC officers, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, in Damascus on April 1st, directly precipitated Iran’s retaliation.
Adding a personal dimension to the conflict for American forces was the January drone strike on ‘Tower 22’ in Jordan, which killed three U.S. personnel. This loss galvanized pilots, as Major Benjamin of the 494th Fighter Squadron articulated: “After the Tower 22 attack, everything became personal. The deaths of American soldiers were a huge shock. We knew we would be called to protect our comrades soon.”
The Shahid-136 drones were a key component of Iran’s attack strategy. Their low cost, mass production, and design features enabling radar evasion presented a unique challenge for defenders. These drones could fly at low altitudes and reach considerable speeds, making them difficult to counter. Pilots employed innovative techniques, such as using ground-based targeting pods for detection and maintaining minimal radio traffic, relying on concise alerts like “Drone there.”
‘Dangerous Game’ chronicles the rapid transition from a calm night shift to an all-out combat scenario. Pilots were recalled for emergency duty, facing unprecedented danger. As F-15s were deployed, radar screens became overwhelmed with inbound threats. The activation of defensive firing, marked by ‘Focus Three,’ signaled the start of the air battle. Pilots recounted harrowing experiences, including the combat use of advanced missiles and flying at extremely low altitudes to engage targets. Even seemingly successful strikes on drones were sometimes followed by their continued operation.
The threat evolved with the arrival of Iranian ballistic missiles, which illuminated the night sky. Pilots faced immense difficulty in tracking the multiple incoming projectiles, some of which were intercepted while others struck their intended targets. A red alert was immediately issued at the base, prompting security measures and the arming of aircraft. The operational tempo was incredibly demanding, with crews completing refueling, rearming, and essential aircraft checks in record time. The return journey under threat and with critically low fuel levels underscored the extraordinary efforts and risks undertaken by these pilots.
