U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces have successfully rescued a seriously wounded U.S. crew member from deep inside the mountainous terrain of Iran following the downing of an F-15 fighter jet. Trump described the recovery as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in U.S. military history, saying the injured airman, a highly respected colonel, is now safe and expected to recover, according to international media reports.
The rescue comes after an urgent search operation was launched when an F-15E Strike Eagle was reportedly shot down over Iranian territory. While the pilot was recovered earlier, the second crew member was located deep within hostile terrain and extracted by U.S. special forces under heavy pressure from Iranian military units that were closing in on his position.
Trump posted the update on his social media platform, saying that Iranian forces were searching in “big numbers” and nearing the site when the extraction took place. He noted that the mission followed a previous rescue of the jet’s pilot and emphasised that no U.S. personnel were left behind.
The operation unfolded amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, with broader regional conflict dynamics also contributing to heightened military activity.