The second crew member of a US F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued by American commandos, ending a two-day search. The weapons systems officer, a colonel, was wounded but successfully extracted from a mountain hideout, President Donald Trump announced on social media. He described the operation as 'one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history' and said no American casualties occurred.
Trump later threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to merchant shipping. In a social media post, he wrote: 'Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.' He also told the Wall Street Journal that Iranian civilians wanted such attacks because they were 'living in hell'.
The colonel, who had climbed a 7,000ft ridge while evading capture, was rescued by a 200-strong special forces team under heavy covering fire. Iranian sources reported three Revolutionary Guards killed. Iran’s military claimed it destroyed four US aircraft involved in the search, including two modified Hercules transport planes, two Black Hawk helicopters, and two drones. State media shared images of charred wreckage.
The pilot of the F-15E was rescued on Friday after spending seven hours on the ground. The CIA located the second crew member using 'beeping information' and launched a disinformation campaign to mislead Iranian forces. Unmanned Reaper drones protected the airman by striking threats within three kilometres.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, drawing parallels to Israel’s own daring rescues. Footage emerged of night-time clashes in Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, near the rescue area. Trump said he would provide more details at a White House press conference on Monday.
