Durham County Council is offering a month-long programme of activities to mark National Fitness Day and help residents explore new ways to move.

As part of the campaign, people can claim a free seven-day pass to use the council’s own leisure centres across County Durham, giving access to pools, gyms, and fitness classes.

Residents can also access a free week-long Move Plus Pass, which can be used for gentle exercise classes, pools and walking sports sessions.

It can also be used to access the council’s Move Hubs, which offer power-assisted exercise equipment.

Free taster sessions in yoga, Pilates, and HIITStep will be available at selected locations, and a fresh round of the Couch to 5k running programme is already underway.

Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “Exercise in any form, whether that’s a gentle walk or intense cardio, is beneficial to health and wellbeing.

“We want to encourage residents to explore ways to incorporate movement into their daily life, no matter their fitness level.

“As part of this ambition, we are committed to driving positive lifestyle change and increasing opportunities for residents to access physical activity across the county.”

On National Fitness Day, which falls on Wednesday, September 16, leisure centre members can spin the wheel at their local site for the chance to win memberships, guest passes for friends and family, and entries into a grand prize draw.

Two fitness challenges will run throughout September, giving residents the opportunity to win a range of membership prizes by earning MOVE points through the Technogym app.

As part of the campaign, members who achieve 2,000 MOVE points on National Fitness Day will be entered into a prize draw to win a free 12-month membership.

In addition, participants who accumulate 15,000, 30,000 or 50,000 MOVE points during September will be entered into separate prize draws, providing even more opportunities to be rewarded for staying active.

Councillor Allison said the council is “As part of this ambition, we are committed to driving positive lifestyle change and increasing opportunities for residents to access physical activity across the county.”

Brad Pitt and his much-younger girlfriend Ines de Ramon came close to crossing paths with her ex-husband at the US Open in New York City on Sunday.

The movie star, 62, and the jewelry designer, 33, were seen whispering to one another in the stands and packed on the PDA while watching the Men’s Finals match.

The pair risked an awkward run-in with her ex, actor Paul Wesley, 43, and his new wife, Natalie Kuckenburg, 26, who also attended the tennis match. 

At one point during the star-studded game, Pitt was seen getting close to his girlfriend to hold her hand, and as the pair chatted and giggled.

He was casual cool in a dark navy button-down paired with matching slacks and accessorized with a backwards cap, aviator sunglasses and a string of pearls on his neck. 

His girlfriend wore a floral-patterned blouse with lace details that exposed her shoulders. 

Her ex-husband, actor Paul Wesley, 43, and his new wife, Natalie Kuckenburg, 26, also attended the tennis match

The couple packed on the PDA and were seen whispering to one another in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York

She completed her look with fitted jeans and a seashell-shaped clutch for the big game. 

At the same event, de Ramon’s ex Wesley and Kuckenburg were seen making a chic arrival, just shortly after they tied the knot over the summer. 

The Vampire Diaries alum and the model got married in July. 

The actor sported a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, paired with brown trousers and matching sunglasses. 

His wife flaunted her svelte figure in a black slip dress and completed her look with kitten heels and a white, woven clutch. 

He was previously married to de Ramon from 2019 until their September 2022 separation. 

Their divorce was finalized in February 2024. 

In July, Pitt and de Ramon went Instagram official this month as they showed off what they wore to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding. 

Pitt and de Ramon have been romantically linked since 2022.

The couple put on a tactile display, with Brad resting his hand on Ines’ knee  

Brad whispered into Ines ear at one point during the match 

Advertisement

The movie star and the jewelry designer were seen cuddled up in the stands and seemingly couldn’t keep their hands off of each other while watching the Men’s Finals match

He put on a casual display in a dark navy button-down paired with matching slacks and accessorized with a backwards cap, aviator sunglasses and a string of pearls on his neck

At one point during the star-studded game, Pitt was seen getting close to his girlfriend to hold her hand, and as the pair chatted and giggled

His girlfriend wore a floral-patterned blouse with lace details that exposed her shoulders 

Advertisement

The two were later pictured leaving the event 

At the same event, de Ramon’s ex Wesley and Kuckenburg were seen making a chic arrival, just shortly after they tied the knot over the summer

She and Pitt attended the Swift-Kelce nuptials after an insider claimed that the F1 actor has no intention of marrying her. 

‘Ines is incredibly close with Brad’s family. They absolutely adore her and she’s been welcomed with open arms from the beginning,’ a source informed Page Six. 

‘At this point, they basically consider her family and one of their own. But Brad has no plans on getting married despite how close Ines has become with everyone.’ 

The Hollywood icon was married to Jennifer Aniston from 2000 to 2005. 

He famously moved on with his Mr. and Mrs. Smith costar Angelina Jolie. 

They split in 2016 following a 12-year relationship and two-year marriage, with their divorce finalized eight years later in December 2024 amid a number of legal battles.  

The pair were recently pictured after they touched down at JFK Airport in New York City on Friday. Pitt was seen keeping his girlfriend close after his children’s public estrangements from him and ex-wife Jolie’s recent boastful statements about her relationship with their kids. 

Katie Holmes, 47, looked smitten with younger boyfriend Jason Bard Yarmosky, 39, at the event 

The Dawson’s Creek alum and the artist were spotted packing on the PDA in the stands 

Martha Stewart looked radiant in a white sweater and chunky necklace 

Advertisement

Singer Pink carefully watched the action unfold 

She rocked a white top and pants paired with a green jacket

Dakota Johnson was all smiles at the event, after recently sparking up romance rumors with Machine Gun Kelly 

The star-studded men’s singles finals match between Ben Shelton of the U.S. and Germany’s Alexander Zverev also saw Hollywood stars like Bohemian Rhapsody actor Rami Malek in the audience

Advertisement

Actor Pierce Brosnan, who is known for playing James Bond, was also spotted in the stands

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos was seen joining in on the fun alongside his wife Lauren Sanchez

The star-studded men’s singles finals match saw Alexander Zverev defeat Ben Shelton.

The game also saw Hollywood stars like Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek in the audience. 

Katie Holmes, 47, looked smitten with younger boyfriend Jason Bard Yarmosky, 39, at the event. The Dawson’s Creek alum and the artist were spotted packing on the PDA in the stands. 

Martha Stewart was radiant in a white sweater and chunky necklace as she watched the action on court unfold. 

Actor Pierce Brosnan, who is known for playing James Bond, was also spotted in the stands. 

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos was seen joining in on the fun alongside his wife Lauren Sanchez.

CCTV captured a smiling killer buying a knife – before he stabbed a 26-year-old man to death.

Sulaiman Tajzai, 18, pleaded guilty to the murder of Farmanullah Sherzad and possession of a bladed article at the Old Bailey on Friday.

CCTV showed Tajzai purchasing a knife from a corner shop in Leeds at 12:17pm before catching the train down to London to wait outside Farmanullah’s Westminster address.

Tajzai had travelled to London in the weeks before the attack to scope out Mr Sherzad’s home address and where he worked.

When Mr Sherzad arrived home from work at approximately 10:15pm, Tajzai chased him onto Abbey Orchard Street, where he fatally stabbed him on March 27, 2026.

A member of the public found Mr Sherzad unconscious and called the police, but despite the medical staff’s best efforts, the 26-year-old died 20 minutes later.

Tajzai ran away from the scene and tried to catch a train back to Leeds from King’s Cross station; however, he missed it and got onto another one just after 6am the following day.

He was arrested at his cousin’s house in Leeds on March 29 and police officers searched the address, seizing multiple items belonging to him including a pair of blood-stained trainers.

The alleged animosity against Mr Sherzad was said to have dated back to the autumn of 2025.

The prosecutor in the case cited a ‘pre-existing condition’ between the defendant’s cousin’s wife and Mr Sherzad, which had turned ‘sour’.

On October 3, police attended the couple’s home where they found Sherzad tied up on the floor and arrested him on suspicion of stalking and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, the court heard.

However, he went on to claim to be in a relationship with the wife, saying he had come to Leeds to visit after she had invited him on social media platform Snapchat.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the investigation, said: ‘Our thoughts remain firmly with Farmanullah’s family and loved ones as they continue to come to terms with his tragic loss. This is a devastating case in which a young man lost his life after being subjected to a brutal and senseless act of violence.

‘I would like to commend the dedication and professionalism of the investigative team, who worked meticulously to piece together crucial CCTV, and forensic evidence to build a compelling case.’

He will be sentenced later this week.

MORE: Six men hunted by police after balaclava anti-migrant protest injures officers

MORE: US diplomat accused of possessing child abuse images ‘secretly flown out of UK’

MORE: Drug dealer hiding shirtless in wardrobe reveals his location after he connects to public WiFi

Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid and Ed Balls told viewers that the presenter has gone home after experiencing issues with her voice.

An ITV star was forced to step in to help.

Good Morning Britain viewers aired their concern for presenter Kate Garraway during Monday’s show as the ITV star could be heard battling a hoarse throat. It seems as though it had got worse over the duration of the programme, as Susanna Reid told viewers she had gone home.

Susanna explained: “As you may have noticed earlier this morning, Kate Garraway had a very hoarse voice; she was belting it out at the National Television Awards last week, and her voice has not fully recovered. So, we have put her on vocal rest, and Faye Barker has valiantly come to the rescue and is here with the rest of this morning’s news.”

This is a breaking showbiz story and is being constantly updated. Please refresh the page regularly to get the latest news, pictures and videos. You can also get email updates on the day’s biggest stories straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletters.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

The UK, which in 1917 issued the Balfour Declaration supporting the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, is now initiating a historic and consequential shift in its foreign policy.

In response to the massive expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and credible reports of increased violence by settler groups towards Palestinian residents, the government has announced it will institute a trade ban targeting goods produced in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank.

The UK will also impose a new ban for arms licences and other exports that “materially contribute to the occupation”.

UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, told the House of Commons on September 8 that Jewish “settler terrorists” were guilty of ethnic cleansing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This is a dramatic change in tone from the UK government which – while recognising the state of Palestine and voiced support for a two-state solution – has previously moderated its criticism of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinian people.

Writing in The Guardian newspaper, the UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, said: “For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel. Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.”

A key factor behind this decision was the July 2024 advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The court ruled that Israel’s ongoing presence in the West Bank has no legal basis and confirmed that states have a duty not to support or facilitate the continuation of that situation.

The UK is one of 12 countries, including France, Ireland and Canada, to sanction Israeli settlements. Ireland and Spain have already introduced some measures, while France has been lobbying unsuccessfully for the EU to act.

The economy of the West Bank relies heavily on agriculture and resource extraction. According to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 16.4% of West Bank households depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Primary goods facing the import ban include fresh produce cultivated in the fertile Jordan Valley, which includes Medjool dates, along with grapes, citrus fruits and various greenhouse vegetables. The ban also targets processed foods, wines produced from settlement vineyards and cosmetics manufactured using minerals extracted from the Dead Sea shores.

Israel is the UK’s 43rd-largest trading partner, according to UK government figures for March 2025-2026, with trade amounting to about £6 billion (£3.5 billion exports and £2.5 billion imports). Settlement-related goods make up a relatively small share of that total. But the UK will also restrict certain services that support construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate.

The move appears to be a direct response to Israel’s advancement of the controversial E1 settlement plan. This project, announced in August 2025 by Israel’s far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, would effectively cut the West Bank in half.

Announcing the scheme, Smotrich said it “buries the idea of a Palestinian state, and continues the many steps we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan”. This was widely interpreted as an intention to annex the territory, something he foreshadowed in 2017 in his “Decisive Plan”.

How a trade ban might work

Passing a law in Westminster is completely different from implementing it at the border. The whole Israeli economy is integrated. So the central dilemma facing UK customs is differentiating between Green Line products (goods produced within Israel’s pre-1967 borders) which are eligible for trade agreement incentives, and goods produced in the occupied West Bank.

In order to solve this implementation puzzle, the UK government does not have to start from scratch. It has a recent precedent to draw upon. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK successfully implemented strict origin-verification mechanisms to ban goods from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories such as Crimea and the Donbas. At the same time, this system guaranteed that legitimate Ukrainian producers were protected and could still access British buyers.

The UK is highly likely to adapt this customs blueprint for the West Bank. It will require reliable and granular proof of production origin to distinguish settlement goods from Israeli goods in order to implement the settlement ban without imposing a blanket boycott on Israel.

Palestinian producers would also need clear mechanisms to verify the origin of their goods to ensure their local economy is protected rather than inadvertently penalised by enhanced compliance checks.

International reaction

Israel’s reaction has been immediate and angry, accusing a “hostile” government of “outrageous lies”. It has closed Britain’s consulate in Jerusalem and banned 12 British MPs from entering Israel – including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said the UK had “no chance of succeeding” in changing Israeli policies.

National security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called on the government to officially recognise Argentinian sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. He accused Britain of violently stealing the territory, a statement that was quickly reposted by Argentina’s president, Javier Milei.

Burnham is reported to have discussed the ban with the US president, Donald Trump, before it was announced. While Trump is reported not to have pushed back, other US officials have denounced the UK’s plan. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, warned of retaliation against the UK, while lawmakers in Florida threatened to trigger state anti-boycott laws to financially penalise any British companies that comply with the new UK restrictions.

The announcement has come a fortnight before Burnham’s first trip to the US as prime minister. He will fly to New York for the annual meeting of the UN general assembly and is expected to meet the US president. How this latest development will affect their dialogue remains to be seen.

A binman has shared some important advice for people who are struggling to get their rubbish collected. He warned it may not be taken away if a few common items are found in recycling bins

Putting the bins out is a job nobody likes, but you have to make sure you get it right if you want to ensure your waste is collected every week. This is because binmen actually say putting certain items in recycling bins can lead to them leaving your rubbish outside your home, which is something nobody wants to deal with.

One refuse collector, who goes by the name The No 1 Binman on TikTok, recently shared some expert advice that people should be aware of. With Recycle Week taking place across the UK from September 14 to September 20, it’s worth noting to ensure you avoid having to deal with a growing rubbish problem.

It comes after another tip was shared earlier in the year. Placing one common piece of packaging in your recycling waste could also land you in a spot of bother.

Top tips from a binman

There are three items you need to stop putting in your recycling bin, and each one comes with a reason why. It’s easy to get confused about them, but the binman has broken down exactly what you should be doing instead.

In a previous video, he said: “Crisp packets do not belong in your recycling bin. You’re meant to take them to the supermarket and recycle them there, because it’s a different type of plastic.

“Just like carrier bags, just like film, bubble wrap – all that stuff does not go in your recycling. Take it to the tip, they can sometimes dispose of it there differently, or take it to a supermarket.

“There’s loads of stuff. Polystyrene, plastic, but it doesn’t go in your recycling bin, because it takes up too much room and it costs too much money to recycle because there’s barely any plastic in it. It’s mainly air.

“Please check before you put it in your bin. Normally, it’s like tins and bottles. Easy things to put in the recycling.

“Please check before you do it because you don’t want your bin to be contaminated. Don’t be the person who gets their bin rejected when you want it to be emptied.”

The reason binmen can leave waste behind

You might not be aware, but bin collectors have the power to — and frequently do — refuse to take away people’s rubbish. This can occur if bags contain the wrong items.

Beyond refusing contaminated waste, they can also decline to collect rubbish that’s deemed too heavy, or if there’s “side waste” — meaning extra bags or items left alongside the bin. When waste becomes contaminated, it can spoil entire loads and cause harm to sorting facilities.

As a result, putting items in the incorrect bins can lead to rubbish being left behind or flagged for correction. This is exactly why getting it right matters so much; otherwise, you could end up with waste piling up outside your home.

Advertisement

In most parts of the country, crisp packets cannot be recycled through your standard household waste collection. Instead, clean crisp packets should be taken to major supermarkets that have flexible soft-plastic recycling bins located near the entrance.

Carrier bags and bubble wrap must also be disposed of in the same manner. Simply find your nearest drop-off point and make sure they accept the items you’re looking to recycle.

These are the three everyday items you should never put in your recycling bin. If you’re ever in doubt about what can and cannot be recycled, head to your local council’s website for guidance, as the rules can sometimes vary depending on where you live.

Manchester United have been handed a new verdict over the controversial goal conceded from Manchester City in the derby

Former Premier League referee Graham Scott has claimed Michael Oliver should have been advised to conduct an on‑field review of the incident that led to Manchester City’s winning goal against Manchester United in controversial circumstances. Erling Haaland finished from Josko Gvardiol’s cross, but the build‑up immediately sparked debate.

Gvardiol’s delivery deflected towards the back post, with Lisandro Martinez positioned between Enzo Fernandez and Haaland. The City midfielder launched himself towards the ball in an attempt to convert a diving header.

The linesman initially raised his flag for offside, but after a VAR check, officials ruled that the former Chelsea man had not interfered with play and suggested that Patrick Dorgu’s boot kept Haaland onside.

However, Scott, who refereed in the English top flight for a decade, argued that in situations like this, it ‘would have made more sense’ for Oliver to be sent to the monitor so he could review the incident ‘in its entirety,’ he told The Athletic.

He also noted that officials operate under intense pressure to make quick decisions, adding that it may have been a reasonable call for the VAR team ‘not to intervene unless absolutely necessary.’

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, have since taken accountability for the mistake, which they described as an error of judgement, and confirmed that a review will take place.

A Pro Ref spokesperson said: “Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.

Erling Haaland’s goal for Man City was the subject of controversy in the Premier League win over Manchester United in the Manchester derby

Manchester City appeared to mock Manchester United with a social media post referencing one of the Reds’ famous fans. City emerged victorious from the Manchester derby on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over United at Old Trafford.

Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game in a dramatic clash in the Premier League over the weekend, with City claiming all three points to continue their 100% start to the campaign.

However, there was controversy with the goal, with Haaland’s effort initially being ruled out for offside, only to be given following a VAR review.

Pro Ref later issued a statement saying that an “error” had been made in allowing Haaland’s goal to stand, given Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Almost immediately after the final whistle, City’s official X account made a post that appeared to poke fun at United.

The post read: “Five wins in a row,” and featured a scissors emoji and an eyes emoji.

This appears to be in reference to the famous United fan, Frank Ilett, who pledged not to cut his hair until United had won five matches in a row.

Following the controversy, Pro Ref issuing a statement admitting that an “error” was made with the review of Haaland’s goal.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT A young player collapsed and died minutes after assisting a goal during a football match – as teammates and audience members watched in shock

Dozens of football players on the pitch and thousands of football fans were horrified to witness the death of one young, talented player, who passed away on the pitch mid-game.

24-year-old Miklos Feher was a Hungarian striker part of the Benfica squad on the day of his death in 2004. During the team’s rainy match against Vitoria Guimaraes, Miklos came onto the pitch in the 60th minute and two minutes later assisted Fernando Aguiar on the only goal that would come out of that 2004 game.

Seconds before the televised match drew to a close, at minute 91, referee Olegario Benquerença issued Miklos a yellow card for wasting time on the pitch.

As he reacted to the card shown, Miklos smiled, bent over with his hands on his knees, and then fell backwards, prompting teammates and rivals to run to his side.

Audiences watched, confused, as the minutes passed with Miklos lying motionless and the people on the pitch growing increasingly desperate – fellow players heartbreakingly dropped to their knees in prayer, while club personnel, including coach Jose Antonio Camacho, were seen crying.

Miklos received medical attention at the stadium, before being taken by ambulance – which arrived late due to “access difficulties” – to the nearest hospital.

The match resumed once it became apparent that the medical team had revived Miklos, with the remaining athletes playing out the final moments after he was taken for further treatment.

But, according to an autopsy report later released, the Hungarian player was pronounced dead at 11pm that day, a victim of a fatal heart attack of natural causes.

According to Benfica’s medical team, the player had undergone exhaustive medical tests, including an electrocardiogram on his heart and drug testing, just one month before his death, and nothing unusual was found in his system.

Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias later claimed that analysis of tissue samples indicated Miklos suffered from a congenital heart deformity that had not been detected by the clubs he played for.

Tributes soon poured from his teammates, former colleagues and the team’s crew – all of whom described him as a friendly, exemplary player.

The jersey – which was torn to allow medics to use the defibrillator – and the boots Miklos was wearing at the time of his death are now displayed at the Benfica Museum in Portugal. Since then, Benfica has retired the number 29 in his memory.

His Primeira Liga championship medal was posthumously presented to his grieving parents, and both Benfica and the Hungarian national team regularly hold commemorative tributes, laying wreaths and honouring his memory at home stadiums and Miklos’ gravesite.

A US Air Force colonel who was stranded behind enemy lines in the heart of Iran for two days has opened up about the experience – from the ‘terrifying’ moment he realized his parachute was broken to the daring rescue mission.

The weapons system officer, who has only been referred to by his callsign ‘Dude 44 Bravo,’ was flying in the back seat of an F-15E Strike Eagle on April 2 when it was struck down over a remote area of Iran.

He now calls his rescue and fight for survival a ‘modern-day miracle’ after breaking his back, an arm and a shoulder, and spraining his ankle. 

Bravo’s mission that night was to conduct a strike on industrial facilities related to Iran’s drone and missile program, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, told 60 Minutes on Sunday night.

But as he and the pilot of the plane, who has only been referred to as ‘Alpha,’ were crossing south of the city of Isfahan, a shoulder-fired missile struck the $30 million plane in what Bravo likened to ‘getting hit by a freight train.’

At first, the airman said he and his partner did everything they could to try to save the fighter jet – but it quickly became apparent that the plane couldn’t be saved and they were forced to eject.

Alpha was able to land safely, but after Bravo jumped out of the plane, he realized his parachute had been damaged in the attack.

‘At one point, when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen,’ the airman recounted, choking up as he spoke.

‘So I paused right then and I prayed, “Lord your will be done. But I’m getting through this.”‘ 

Bravo shared how terrified he was when he realized his parachute had been destroyed

Advertisement

Bravo was flying in the back seat of an F-15E Strike Eagle on April 2 when it was struck down over a remote area of Iran

Bravo then free-fell to the ground, crashing down at an estimated 70 to 100 mph.

‘I believe it’s a testament to God’s provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn’t prevent injuries, but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive,’ he said.

‘I had injuries, but we all train to adapt and overcome the things that we’re faced with,’ he explained. ‘I moved as quickly as I could, despite the injuries, away from the place that I landed.’

When the sun then rose that morning, Bravo was able to make out some of his surroundings – and found himself in a valley with cliffs to either side.

He then realized the safest place for him to go would be up, where he could see Iranian forces coming from the valley below.

So, despite his broken bones, Bravo hiked and climbed up a 7,000-foot ridgeline as he told himself to ‘never let a lack of motivation put you on Iranian TV.’

Meanwhile, back in the United States, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to be woken up in the middle of the night as his aides told him about the crash.

His immediate reaction, he said, was to ask whether the crew was OK and whether Iran knew what had happened. 

But ‘whether they’re alive or not, we’re going to get them,’ Hegseth vowed. 

Following the crash, Iranian military forces put a $60,000 bounty on the airman’s head, prompting Iranian militants to hunt for him in the mountains. (Pictured: Bakhtiari tribes in Khuzestan headed into the mountains, rifles in hand, searching for the missing American F-15 jet pilot)

Evidence of the wreckage was quickly shared on Iranian media 

Advertisement

Soon, though, evidence of the wreckage was shared on Iranian media and videos emerged online of armed groups hunting down the F-15E’s crew.

Some came within just a few hundred meters of where Bravo was hiding, US military sources told 60 Minutes.

‘There was clear intent out of the Iranian ground force to come find those two guys,’ said General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

During the ‘race against time,’ US military closely tracked the Iranians in the area, and after six hours, US forces were able to rescue Alpha in a risky daytime raid as American helicopters took fire.

‘It was a gun fight all the way in and all the way out,’ Hegseth recounted. ‘But they got Alpha back in.’

Still, the crews were unable to find Bravo and withdrew from the region. 

Declassified video showed the moment rescuers approached Bravo after two days of hiding on the ridgeline at about 7,000 feet above sea level

But as night fell on that first day in Iran, Bravo was able to send a message back home.

‘When I got to the moment where I could review and think about all that I’d gone through, I sent “God is good” as recognition of all that He had brought me through,’ said the airman.

He also alerted the US military that he was injured but was moving.  

A rescue force was almost sent in immediately after US forces received the message, but it ‘just didn’t line up,’ Hegseth said. 

‘That was a really tough decision,’ he said. ‘I’ll never forget, you know, being in the situation room and saying “OK I guess we’re gonna roll 24,” which means, “Hey Bravo’s going to be out there for basically 24 hours more.”‘ 

Fortunately, the airman was able to survive with almost no food or water, in the wind and the cold on the high mountain desert.

At the same time, the CIA launched a multi-pronged deception campaign meant to confuse Iranian forces looking for Bravo as they used top-secret technology to pinpoint the airman’s location.

When US forces were then ready to conduct another daring rescue, American bombers and drones struck Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces near where he was hiding.

Once the path was then cleared, the US sent more than 90 soldiers on the ground – marking the first US boots on the ground in Iran in 46 years.

Several hundred other soldiers took to the air while several thousand more served as support, as General Caine said the US would have sent even more to rescue Bravo.

The rescue teams then came in on two large planes and landed on a makeshift desert airstrip, while ‘Little Bird’ helicopters reached Bravo on the ridgeline several miles away.

When Bravo then saw his rescuers approach, he said it was ‘one of the greatest moments of my life.’

Still, Bravo was not in the clear – as the rescue planes’ landing gear got stuck in the desert sand and could not take off, leaving more than 90 of what Adm Cooper described as the military’s ‘most elite service members’ stuck until a clandestine Air Force unit came to the rescue.

It then destroyed the two stuck aircraft, worth about $100 million each, as well as the Little Bird helicopters so that the technology wouldn’t fall into Iranian hands.

Finally, about 50 hours after being shot down, Bravo was safe.

When he then left the country, the airman made sure to call his wife back home.

‘I was really proud of her and grateful for the strength that she showed,’ he recounted.

Bravo said he now wants the American public to realize the rescue mission was about more than what he had endured.

‘It’s a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, of the decisions and the leadership to do something that will live in history as an example of what America’s willing to do, in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind.’