"They were then flown to a hospital in Kuwait where they were given a 95 percent chance of survival due to the joint efforts of the Air Force, Army and special operations forces," the US Central Command said in a statement.

The operation involved two HH-60G Pave Hawk special forces helicopters and a total of four A-10 Thunderbolt planes that provided close air support.

The soldiers, who had been found and picked up in poor weather conditions, were flown to Najaf where they were put aboard a medical plane and evacuated to Kuwait.

The names of the soldiers have not been released.

SPACE.WIRE