US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that an Air Force officer whose fighter jet was shot down in Iran had been rescued in a daring nighttime operation. While Trump claimed the officer was not critically injured, Washington had to pay the price as US forces reportedly destroyed some of their own aircraft during the withdrawal to keep them out of enemy hands.
Citing a source, The Wall Street Journal said the aircraft were MC-130Js, which are designed for covert missions such as dropping in and out of troops in enemy or enemy-controlled areas. The official did not provide details on how the planes became immobilized during the mission, but noted that they eventually had to be destroyed.
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Trump on rescuing Air Force officer
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “WE’VE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, in the last few hours, the United States military has conducted one of the most daring search and rescue operations in US history for one of our incredible crew members, who also happens to be a highly respected colonel, and who I am thrilled to report is now SAFE and on the war lines. I SOUND was behind this brave enemy.” pursued by our enemies.”
Trump said the officer was injured but would be fine. He added: “This miraculous search and rescue operation comes in addition to the successful rescue of another brave pilot, yesterday, which we have not confirmed because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation. This is the first time in military memory that two American pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory.”
US Air Force officer rescued
According to The Washington Post, an intensive search and rescue mission began on Friday (local time) after the F-15E crashed and both crew members ejected. The pilot was located and quickly recovered, but efforts then expanded into a large-scale operation to locate the weapons officer. According to Trump, the mission involved dozens of aircraft, special operations forces and other highly trained personnel equipped to conduct rescues in high-risk environments.
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The report suggested the mission was highly dangerous as US C-130s and rescue helicopters flew low and slow over Tehran’s mountainous terrain to find the missing airman. While the search was underway, Iranian television issued a statement offering a reward for the recovery of the missing American crew members. Another broadcast urged the Iranians to “target” any Americans found. However, Iran’s state-run IRIB TV later said on social media that many people had arrived at the crash site and that the military had ordered civilians not to harm the pilot.
The incident was the first confirmed downing of a US-manned aircraft in enemy territory since the conflict began in late February.
Iran mocks Washington
Hours after Trump made the announcement, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Washington in a post on X. He shared the ruins of a US warplane and wrote: “If the United States gets three more such victories, it will be totally destroyed.”
Iran claims significant US losses
According to media reports, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Islamic Republic destroyed several US aircraft during rescue operations.
“Enemy aircraft were destroyed during a joint operation (Aerospace, Ground Force, Popular Units, Basij and Police Command),” the IRGC said after Iran’s police command reported that a US C-130 transport plane had been shot down in southern Isfahan.
