A U.S. Airforce officer whose plane was shot down in Iran was rescued by U.S. forces early Sunday after evading capture for more than a day in enemy territory.
“The U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The officer’s F-15 fighter jet was shot down on Friday over western Iran, and Trump said “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History” was undertaken to rescue him.
Tehran and Washington confirmed Saturday that Iran downed the two-seat F-15E jet.
The incident marks the first time Iranian forces have successfully shot down a U.S. combat aircraft since the war began on Feb. 28.
“This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour,” Trump said. “At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”
Separately, two U.S. officials said Saturday the pilot of a U.S. A-10 Warthog jet ejected from the aircraft that crashed in Kuwait after being hit by Iranian fire.
