US Rescues Second Aviator Shot Down in Iran After Frantic Mountain Search
President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that the United States had successfully rescued an aviator nearly two days after he was shot down over Iran. The extraction followed a frantic search in a remote, mountainous region of Iran, marking a significant military operation behind enemy lines. A second crew member had been rescued on Friday, shortly after the F-15E Strike Eagle crashed, which was the first U.S. aircraft downed by Iranian fire since the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28.
Historic Rescue in Enemy Territory
In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized the rarity of the mission, stating, "This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory." He added, "WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!" The White House had avoided confirming the initial rescue to protect the search for the second aviator, which was conducted overnight from Saturday into Sunday. Trump noted that this overnight operation involved "dozens of aircraft" armed with lethal weaponry, while Iran had offered a substantial reward for the capture of the service member.
Monitoring and Planning Amidst Danger
Throughout the ordeal, the U.S. military monitored the fallen airman's location "24 hours a day" and meticulously planned the rescue. Trump described the situation as perilous, with the aviator being hunted in treacherous mountains as enemies closed in hourly. The pilot, identified as a colonel, sustained serious wounds but is expected to recover fully, according to Trump. No details were provided about the condition of the first crewman rescued on Friday.
Destruction of US Aircraft During Getaway
Iranian state television broadcast images of black smoke from what it claimed were a destroyed American transport plane and two helicopters. A regional intelligence official, speaking anonymously due to the covert nature of the mission, revealed that a technical malfunction forced the U.S. military to bring in additional aircraft to complete the rescue. As a result, the U.S. destroyed two transport planes left behind due to the mishap. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported on Friday that a second U.S. plane, an A-10 aircraft, crashed after being hit by Iranian forces, though the U.S. military has not commented on this incident or its crew status.
