• Source:JND

US President Donald Trump has officially confirmed the recovery of the second crew member from the US F-15E Strike Eagle downed in Iran, hailing the mission as one of the most courageous search-and-rescue operations in American military history.

The airman, identified as a senior officer (Colonel), had been missing since Friday after his aircraft was shot down over the rugged, hostile terrain of Iran. While the jet's pilot was rescued shortly after the crash, the second crew member, the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO), remained behind enemy lines for nearly two days.

"Safe And Sound": A High-Stakes Recovery

In a triumphant social media announcement early Sunday, President Trump shared the news with the public, emphasising the complexity and danger of the mission.

"WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History... who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!" Trump posted.

"At my direction, the US 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. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardise our second rescue operation," he added

Journalist and former Special Forces member Jack Murphy shared on X that the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) was successfully recovered after a period of "escaping and evading" while Iranian forces actively scoured the area.

In a post on X, Murphy wrote, "Good news for once. F-15 WSO recovered alive. Was escaping and evading. Massive firefight on tgt. Iranians were actively looking for him in the area."

Search Operations And Tribal Clashes

The search centered on the difficult terrain of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province and the Bakhtiari region. According to CNN and Iran's Fars News Agency, the mission faced violent resistance:

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Helicopters Targeted: Local tribal groups reportedly fired upon two US Black Hawk helicopters during the rescue effort.

IRGC Praise: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) lauded these tribesmen as "valiant guardians" for their role in obstructing American operations.

Civilian Involvement: Iranian state media aired footage of armed civilians patrolling the mountains and announced financial rewards for anyone who captured the American pilot.

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Context Of The Escalation

The incident stems from the downing of two US aircraft on Friday, including an F-15E Strike Eagle. While one crew member was rescued immediately, the other’s status remained a mystery for over 48 hours. The Pentagon confirmed the loss of an aircraft in the Middle East but initially kept the service member's status as "unknown.

However, there has been no confirmation from Iran that the missing US pilot has been found. US officials have stated that the rescue team has yet to successfully exit Iran and reach a safe location. Therefore, the rescue operation is still ongoing.


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