President Trump announced the successful rescue of a U.S. pilot downed over Iran, following a daring operation involving dozens of aircraft.
Trump Confirms Rescue Operation
President Donald Trump stated that U.S. military personnel rescued the second pilot from the crew of an F-15 fighter jet shot down Friday over Iran. He described the operation as one of the bravest search and rescue missions in U.S. history.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the rescued service member, a “highly respected colonel,” sustained injuries but is expected to recover.
Details of the Rescue
According to Trump, the pilot was on enemy territory in the dangerous mountains of Iran, pursued by hostile forces. He authorized the deployment of “dozens of planes armed with the most powerful weapons in the world” to retrieve the downed airman, with no American casualties reported.
The first crew member was rescued Saturday, but confirmation was delayed to avoid compromising the second rescue operation.
Iranian Claims of Downing U.S. Aircraft
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported shooting down a U.S. aircraft involved in the search for the missing pilot over the Isfahan province.
Reports varied, with some sources identifying the downed aircraft as a drone, while others claimed it was a U.S. C-130 transport plane allegedly used for refueling. The U.S. has not confirmed these reports.
Further Iranian Claims and U.S. Response
Tasnim further reported, citing the Revolutionary Guard, that “several flying objects” were destroyed during the U.S. rescue mission. BBC News reported that Iranian forces were also searching for the American service member, offering a reward equivalent to approximately $66,000 for his capture.
Navy SEALs Involvement and Historical Context
The New York Times, citing U.S. officials, reported that U.S. Navy SEALs conducted a mission overnight from Saturday to Sunday to evacuate the wounded pilot, who had ejected after the F-15 was shot down by Iranian forces.
The downing of the F-15 marks the first instance of a U.S. aircraft being shot down over Iran since February 28th, coinciding with the start of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran.