In a dramatic turnaround after a 48-hour manhunt, the missing American crew member from a downed F-15E Strike Eagle was rescued early Sunday morning by U.S. forces. President Trump confirmed the success of the mission on Truth Social, marking the end of a high-stakes search-and-rescue operation that had the world on edge.
The rescued service member, identified by the President as a “highly respected Colonel,” was the second of a two-person crew to be recovered from Iranian territory.
The fighter jet’s pilot had been rescued Friday shortly after the aircraft was downed by Iranian fire, but the second officer—a weapons systems officer—remained missing in the rugged, mountainous terrain of southwestern Iran.
“My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” Trump wrote Sunday morning. He stated the officer is “SAFE and SOUND,” though he noted the Colonel sustained injuries during the ordeal but “will be just fine.”
READ: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham: Trump Ready To ‘Rain Hell’ On Iran If Hormuz Stays Closed
The operation was a massive undertaking. Trump detailed that “dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World,” were dispatched at his direction to retrieve the airman as enemy forces reportedly closed in on his position. The rescue occurred despite intense Iranian resistance; previous reports indicated that search helicopters and an A-10 Thunderbolt II had also been targeted by Iranian air defenses during the mission’s earlier phases.
The successful recovery comes at a critical moment in the 36-day conflict. On Saturday, Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face “Hell,” a deadline that expires Monday. While Iranian officials had previously offered a $60,000 reward for the capture of the American, U.S. officials now say both crew members are back in friendly hands.
“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump added in his update. He framed the lack of American fatalities during the rescue as proof of “overwhelming Air Dominance” over Iranian skies.
The Pentagon has not yet released the name of the rescued Colonel or provided further details on his medical condition. Meanwhile, the broader conflict remains volatile, with the U.S. reporting a “massive strike” in Tehran late Saturday that allegedly targeted several Iranian military leaders.
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