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U.S. Rescues Downed Air Force Officer Deep Inside Iran, Trump Says
PinnedHere’s the latest.An Air Force weapons officer whose fighter jet had been shot down in Iran was rescued by U.S. Special Operations forces in a risky Saturday night mission that took commandos deep into enemy territory, said current and former U.S. officials briefed on the operation.President Trump confirmed in a social media post just after midnight that the stranded officer had been brought out of Iran safely by U.S. forces. “He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Mr. Trump said. He added that there were no U.S. casualties.The rescue came after a life-or-death race between U.S. and Iranian forces that stretched over two days to reach the injured airman, who evaded Iranian for more than 24 hours in mountainous territory with little more than a pistol.As U.S. forces converged on the downed airman, a firefight erupted, a former senior military official briefed on the operation said. In the end, the United States extracted the officer in an operation that involved hundreds of special operations troops.The two members of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the first lost to enemy fire in the monthlong war, had both ejected from the cockpit on Friday after Iran’s military shot down the plane. The jet’s pilot was quickly rescued, but its weapons systems officer could not be found, setting off an urgent search with major consequences for President Trump and for the war the United States and Israel launched on Feb. 28.Rescue planes flew the weapons officer, who was not identified by name, to Kuwait for medical treatment, one senior U.S. military official said.There was a final obstacle, however, that delayed the rescue. Two transport planes that were supposed to carry the commandos and the airman to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, the official said. Three new planes were flown in to extract the U.S. forces, who blew up the two disabled planes to keep them out of Iranian hands.Here’s what else we’re covering:Petrochemical factories hit: Israel on Saturday struck the Mahshahr petrochemical complex, a sprawling industrial center in Iran’s southwest that plays a significant role in the country’s economy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said the targeted sites were part of a “money machine” that brought in revenues for the Iranian government. At least five people were killed and 170 others injured in the attack on the major oil industry hub, state media in Iran reported.Iranian missiles: After its underground missile bunkers and silos are bo...
What Trump Has Said About the Missing Airman in Iran
President Donald Trump has offered only limited public comment on the fate of a U.S. airman still missing after a fighter jet was shot down over Iran, as the conflict between Washington and Tehran enters a more volatile phase.The downing of the aircraft marked the first confirmed loss of a U.S. manned combat plane during the war, prompting an urgent search-and-rescue effort involving U.S. and Israeli forces. While one crew member from the F‑15E Strike Eagle was rescued, the second remains unaccounted for.Trump has been briefed on the incident, the White House said Friday, but the president has largely avoided detailed public remarks, declining to outline potential U.S. responses while continuing to issue broader statements about the war, negotiations with Iran, and the country’s oil resources.Why It MattersThe fate of the missing airman has become a flashpoint in an already escalating conflict, with Iranian state media publicly urging civilians to help locate the pilot and offering rewards for information. The situation has raised concerns about the safety of U.S. personnel operating in contested airspace and the risks associated with rescue operations inside Iranian territory.Historically, the capture or harm of a U.S. service member has carried significant political and military implications, particularly during active hostilities. At the same time, the president’s comments—and silences—are being closely scrutinized as indicators of whether Washington might escalate militarily or attempt to preserve diplomatic off‑ramps, even as combat continues.Trump Declined to Say How US Would Respond if Airman HarmedAsked directly what action the United States would take if the missing airman were captured or harmed by Iranian forces, Trump declined to elaborate.“We hope that’s not going to happen,” he said in a brief phone interview on Friday with The Independent.The White House confirmed Trump had been briefed on the incident but did not provide further detail on contingency planning.Trump Did Not Appear Before the Press FridayDespite the significance of the shootdown, the White House said Trump would not appear before reporters on Friday, limiting his public engagement as developments unfolded.Instead, updates on the rescue effort and Iran’s claims surrounding the incident were relayed through official statements and media briefings....Trump Said the Downed Jet Would Not Affect Negotiations With IranAsked by NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake whether the shootdo...
Trump threatens Iran infrastructure as pilot rescue details emerge ...
President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure, while Iran struck infrastructure targets in Gulf Arab countries.
Plane shot down in Iran: Trump issues new threat, pilot rescued
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday made new, expletive-laden threats to escalate strikes on Iran and its infrastructure if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz by his deadline, after American ...
