Editorial Desk
US President Donald Trump has announced the successful rescue of both crew members of a downed American fighter jet in Iran, describing the mission as one of the most daring military recovery operations in recent history.
The incident began on Friday when a F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down during a combat mission over Iran’s southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Initial details surrounding the fate of the crew remained scarce, with US officials declining to comment publicly while recovery efforts were underway.
According to US media reports, one of the two crew members was rescued shortly after the aircraft went down. However, the second crew member, identified as a weapons systems officer and a senior-ranking colonel, remained missing for nearly two days, triggering an intensive search and rescue operation under highly dangerous conditions.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that the second crew member had been located and extracted safely. “We got him,” Trump wrote, adding that the United States military had conducted “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history.” He stated that the officer had been hiding in mountainous terrain while evading hostile forces.
Trump further revealed that the rescue mission involved dozens of US military aircraft equipped with advanced weaponry, deployed to secure the safe recovery of the stranded officer. Despite sustaining injuries, the rescued crew member is expected to make a full recovery, according to the president.
The operation reportedly unfolded in rugged and treacherous terrain, complicating efforts to locate and extract the missing serviceman. Trump claimed that hostile forces were actively searching for the downed officer, increasing the urgency and risk associated with the mission.
Iranian media outlets reported that clashes occurred in the region between US special operations forces and Iran’s Basij paramilitary units during the search. Iranian authorities had allegedly offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the missing crew member, while local civilians were also said to have joined efforts to locate him.
The US military has not officially confirmed the details of the reported clashes, nor has it disclosed the full scope of the operation. However, Trump emphasized the unprecedented nature of the mission, claiming it marked the first time in modern military history that two US aircrew members were rescued separately from deep within hostile territory.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides engaged in increasingly direct military confrontations. Just days earlier, on April 3, another US aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, was struck by Iranian fire. In that case, the pilot successfully ejected after the aircraft exited Iranian airspace and was subsequently rescued.
The downing of multiple US aircraft and the subsequent recovery missions underscore the growing volatility of the conflict and raise concerns about further escalation in the region. Analysts warn that such incidents increase the risk of broader military engagement, particularly as both nations demonstrate a willingness to conduct operations in contested areas.
While the Pentagon has yet to release a comprehensive account of the rescue mission, Trump’s announcement is likely to draw both domestic praise and international scrutiny, particularly regarding the scale and implications of US military actions inside Iranian territory.
The condition of the rescued personnel, as well as further operational details, are expected to be clarified in the coming days as officials provide additional briefings.
