Donald Trump on Sunday confirmed that US forces successfully rescued an American airman whose fighter jet had been shot down over Iran, describing the operation as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in US military history.
In a statement, Trump said the airman—identified as a colonel—was recovered during a special operations mission carried out deep inside Iranian territory. The officer, who sustained injuries, is expected to recover, the president added.
According to US officials, the rescued officer was the weapons-systems officer aboard a F-15 fighter jet that Iranian air defences had reportedly downed on Friday. The second crew member from the aircraft had already been rescued earlier, triggering an intensive search effort for the remaining airman.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that several US aircraft were destroyed during the rescue attempt, according to reports by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
High-Risk Mission Behind Enemy Lines
Trump said the rescue took place in mountainous terrain inside Iran and involved dozens of US military aircraft. During the operation, American forces had to destroy at least one aircraft that malfunctioned while evacuating the airman to a transport plane positioned within Iranian territory.
The mission also encountered heavy resistance from Iranian forces. Reports earlier indicated that two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search came under Iranian fire but managed to escape from Iranian airspace.
Separately, a pilot ejected from a A-10 Warthog attack aircraft after it was struck over Kuwait, though officials have not confirmed the extent of injuries.
Avoiding a Potential Hostage Crisis
Iranian authorities had urged civilians to help locate the missing airman, raising concerns in Washington that his capture could create a high-profile hostage situation and shift American public opinion about the ongoing war.
The conflict—launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28—has now entered its sixth week.
Trump claimed the successful rescue demonstrated US air superiority over Iran, saying American forces carried out the operation without suffering any casualties.
Ongoing Conflict and Regional Impact
According to US Central Command, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 13 US service members and left more than 300 wounded so far. Officials say no American troops have been captured by Iran.
Despite US claims of significant damage to Iran’s military capabilities, intelligence assessments indicate that Tehran still retains a substantial stockpile of missiles and drones.
The widening conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has spread across parts of the Middle East, causing thousands of casualties and pushing global energy prices higher, raising concerns about inflation and economic instability worldwide.