Trump hails high-risk military operation as second downed F-15 crew member is safely rescued following days of evasion behind enemy lines
U.S. forces have successfully rescued a second U.S. airman whose F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Iran.
“WE GOT HIM!” President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post early Sunday morning.
“My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”
Trump said dozens of U.S. aircraft supported the search and rescue mission, which had been ongoing since the two-seat fighter jet was shot down on April 3.
He confirmed the other airman had been recovered earlier, “which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.”
As the mission continued, Trump said the downed airman evaded capture in Iran’s mountainous terrain while Iranian forces closed in.
Despite being behind enemy lines, Trump said the airman “was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”
The president added that the rescued airman sustained unspecified injuries but would be “just fine.”
Trump also said both rescue operations were conducted without any American casualties, calling it proof that the United States has achieved “overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.”
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command had not responded to requests for comment when reports first emerged on April 3 that the F-15E had been shot down.
The president remained cautious in public remarks as the operation unfolded. He declined to discuss the incident in a Friday interview with NBC News but said it would not affect negotiations with Tehran, stating, “It’s war. We’re in war.”
Several additional U.S. aircraft may have been damaged during the high-risk recovery effort.
Iranian state media reported that Iranian forces struck a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II on April 3, shortly after the F-15E was downed. The White House and Pentagon did not comment on the report.
In a separate incident during the early days of the conflict, three U.S. F-15E aircraft were shot down over Kuwaiti airspace in what appears to have been a friendly fire event. All six pilots safely ejected.
Six airmen aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker were killed when their aircraft crashed over Iraq on March 12.
An F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter was also damaged during combat operations over Iran on March 19 but landed safely.
U.S. defense officials have confirmed that several unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drones have been shot down during the conflict.
U.S. Central Command reported that 13 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 300 injured since Trump ordered military operations against Iran on Feb. 28.
