ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two American pilots were rescued from “enemy territory” in Iran, US President Donald Trump said Sunday, following a two-day combat search-and-rescue mission after their aircraft were reportedly “shot down” by the Iranian military.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “WE GOT HIM,” adding that the retrieval came hours after the US military “pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. history.” He said the mission rescued a crew member officer, described as “a highly respected Colonel,” who is now “safe and sound.”
According to Trump, the officer had been operating “behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran” and was “being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer.” He added that he ordered “dozens of aircraft” for the mission and that the officer sustained injuries but “will be just fine.”
Earlier on Friday, a US F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, as Tehran’s military claimed responsibility. The aircraft is typically flown by a two-member-crew; a pilot and a weapons system officer. The incident prompted a combat search-and-rescue mission shortly afterward which rescued the pilot on Friday, while the weapons system officer was retrieved on Sunday.
Earlier on Friday, a US F-15E fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran, with Tehran’s military claiming responsibility. The aircraft is typically flown by a two-member crew: a pilot and a weapons systems officer. The incident prompted a combat search-and-rescue mission shortly afterward, during which the pilot was rescued on Friday, while the weapons systems officer was retrieved on Sunday.
Iran's state media on Friday detailed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had shot down a US F-35 fighter jet, stating it was “struck and brought down over central Iran by the IRGC Aerospace Force’s new air defense system.”
IRGC-affiliated media outlets on Friday published photos and videos they said showed debris from the aircraft, including what appeared to be an ejection seat. Additional footage circulated showing what were described as US aircraft conducting search operations for crew members in southern Iran.
Iranian state television also called on tribal residents in the Yasuj area, in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, to assist in locating the pilot.
The latter incident refers to a separate A-10 Thunderbolt II, Warthog, which was also reportedly hit by Iranian fire, the Washington Post reported, noting that the pilot managed to fly the single-seated aircraft while damaged toward Kuwaiti airspace before ejecting.
The incident appears to refer to a separate A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, which was reportedly hit by Iranian fire, The Washington Post reported, adding that the pilot managed to fly the single-seat aircraft toward Kuwaiti airspace before ejecting.
According to Trump, the rescue missions mark “the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory.