In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed the successful rescue of the second crew member from an F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iranian airspace last Friday. The announcement was made via his Truth Social platform, where Trump provided detailed insights into the high-stakes operation.
Trump's Truth Social Announcement
Trump identified the rescued individual as a colonel, emphasizing his status as a highly respected officer within the US military. In his post, Trump revealed that US forces had been meticulously monitoring the colonel's location around the clock, stating they watched it "24 hours a day" while formulating a comprehensive rescue plan.
Details of the Daring Rescue Operation
The former president described the mission as "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History," expressing his elation that the crew member is now "SAFE and SOUND." According to Trump, the operation was executed under his direction, with the US Military deploying "dozens of aircraft" to retrieve the colonel from hostile territory.
Notably, Trump claimed that "not a single American" was killed during the complex rescue mission, highlighting the precision and effectiveness of the military's efforts. This operation follows the successful rescue of the jet's pilot on Friday, marking a complete recovery of both crew members from the incident.
Context and Implications
The downing of the F-15 fighter jet over Iran has raised significant geopolitical tensions, with this rescue operation demonstrating US military capabilities in contested regions. Trump's confirmation via social media underscores his continued engagement in national security matters, even after leaving office.
The successful retrieval of both crew members represents a major achievement for US special operations forces, who often conduct such high-risk missions with minimal public disclosure until completion.
