US President Donald Trump announced that the military had rescued the second pilot of the F-15E fighter jet that was shot down in Iran on Friday.
Trump explained in a post on his Truth Social platform that the US military had carried out “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in the country’s history.”
He added: “We have recovered him. I am pleased to inform you that he is now safe and well.”
He indicated that he had issued instructions to send “dozens of aircraft equipped with the most lethal weapons in the world” to carry out the operation, which he described as a “miracle.”
He continued: “This operation came as an addition to the successful rescue of another brave pilot yesterday, but we did not confirm it so as not to jeopardize the second rescue operation.”
Trump stated that “this is the first time in military memory that two American pilots have been rescued separately from deep within enemy territory.”
He pointed out that their ability to carry out these two operations without killing or injuring any Americans “proves once again that we have achieved overwhelming air superiority and control in Iranian airspace.”
Two US officials said the United States rescued a pilot whose F-15 fighter jet was shot down in Iran.
The pilot was the second member of the two-person crew of the F-15 fighter jet that Iran announced on Friday had been shot down by its air defenses. The first pilot had been rescued last Friday.
Iranian officials had called on citizens to help find the remaining American, hoping to gain an advantage against Washington in the war.
The hostage crisis was likely to change American public opinion towards a conflict that polls indicated already had little popular support.
The American rescue operation, which involved dozens of military aircraft, faced fierce resistance from Iran.
Reuters reported on Friday that two Black Hawk helicopters participating in the search operation were hit by Iranian fire but managed to leave Iranian airspace. In a separate incident, officials reported that an A-10 Warthog fighter jet was hit and crashed over Kuwait, and the pilot ejected. The extent of injuries to the crew was not immediately clear.
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