President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that both crew members of a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down over southern Iran have been rescued in what he called “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History”.
The second crew member, a weapons systems officer (WSO) described by Trump as a “highly respected Colonel,” had been missing for over 24 hours. The pilot was rescued on Friday.
“We got him!” Trump declared on Truth Social. “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour”.
The operation involved hundreds of special forces personnel, dozens of warplanes and helicopters, and reportedly included a CIA deception campaign that spread disinformation inside Iran to confuse enemy forces.
Officials confirmed a firefight broke out between US and Iranian troops during the mission. The missing officer, who was armed only with a handgun, had evaded capture while hiding in a mountain crevice. He sustained injuries during ejection but is expected to recover.
However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) claimed the mission was a failure, asserting that its forces shot down a US drone and multiple other American aircraft during the operation. Iranian state media reported the destruction of two US Black Hawk helicopters and transport planes.
“The enemy’s desperate efforts… failed,” an IRGC spokesman said, calling it a “black and humiliating” day for the US.
The downing of the F-15E marks the first US fighter jet lost to enemy fire in over 20 years. Despite the successful rescue, Trump has renewed threats against Tehran, giving Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating consequences.
