A missing U.S. service member has been rescued from Iran after an American fighter jet was shot down on Friday. “WE GOT HIM! 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 announced on social media early on Sunday. “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 president said his team was monitoring the service member’s location around the clock. He said the operation involved dozens of aircraft. In a later post on Sunday morning, Trump described the U.S. service member as “seriously wounded.” Trump initially said that he sustained injuries but would be “just fine.”Another crew member involved in the crash was rescued earlier. Trump said they didn’t initially confirm the mission because “we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.” Trump said the success of these operations is further proof that the U.S. has achieved “overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.” But the fact that Iran was able to shoot down the F-15E Strike Eagle demonstrated that its military can still hit back. It was the first known time that a U.S. aircraft crashed in Iranian territory since the war started more than five weeks ago. On Sunday, Iran’s military joint command claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the operation. Trump said Sunday that no Americans were killed or wounded during the mission, but didn’t immediately address possible aircraft damage. It comes as the conflict could be on the brink of a significant escalation. This weekend, Trump reiterated his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route that remains largely blocked. Trump wrote on Saturday, “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”In an expletive-laden post on Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants come Tuesday if Tehran doesn’t agree to his demands. A spokesperson for Iran’s military warned, “We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful.” Trump has previously delayed deadlines like this in the past to leave room for diplomacy. Pakistan, which is trying to broker a ceasefire with the backing of regional partners, said Saturday that peace efforts were “right on track.” No date for proposed talks between the U.S. and Iran has been set.
A missing U.S. service member has been rescued from Iran after an American fighter jet was shot down on Friday.
“WE GOT HIM! 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 announced on social media early on Sunday. “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 president said his team was monitoring the service member’s location around the clock. He said the operation involved dozens of aircraft.
In a later post on Sunday morning, Trump described the U.S. service member as “seriously wounded.” Trump initially said that he sustained injuries but would be “just fine.”
Another crew member involved in the crash was rescued earlier. Trump said they didn’t initially confirm the mission because “we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.”
Trump said the success of these operations is further proof that the U.S. has achieved “overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.”
But the fact that Iran was able to shoot down the F-15E Strike Eagle demonstrated that its military can still hit back. It was the first known time that a U.S. aircraft crashed in Iranian territory since the war started more than five weeks ago.
On Sunday, Iran’s military joint command claimed that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the operation. Trump said Sunday that no Americans were killed or wounded during the mission, but didn’t immediately address possible aircraft damage.
It comes as the conflict could be on the brink of a significant escalation. This weekend, Trump reiterated his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route that remains largely blocked.
Trump wrote on Saturday, “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
In an expletive-laden post on Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants come Tuesday if Tehran doesn’t agree to his demands.
A spokesperson for Iran’s military warned, “We once again repeat: if you commit aggression again and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more forceful.”
Trump has previously delayed deadlines like this in the past to leave room for diplomacy. Pakistan, which is trying to broker a ceasefire with the backing of regional partners, said Saturday that peace efforts were “right on track.” No date for proposed talks between the U.S. and Iran has been set.
