Washington: President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the US has successfully rescued a military officer, identified as a colonel, in what he termed as "one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US history." The officer was trapped behind enemy lines in Iran's mountainous terrain and was being pursued by hostile forces before being safely recovered in a major military operation involving dozens of aircraft.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Trump shared on his Truth Social media platform that the officer suffered injuries during the ordeal but is expected to recover. The announcement followed the earlier, unpublicized rescue of another US pilot on Friday, an operation kept under wraps to ensure the safety of the second mission.
Trump emphasized that the mission involved a significant deployment of US military resources, stating, "At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him." He highlighted that both operations were unprecedented in military history, as they involved two separate rescues deep within enemy territory, with no American casualties reported.
The President lauded the missions as evidence of US air superiority over Iran and commended the armed forces as "the best, most professional, and lethal military in the history of the World." He expressed that these rescues should be a source of national pride for Americans.
Fox News provided additional details, reporting that while the rescued officer is in critical condition, several US service members sustained injuries during the rescue, though all are now safe. The weapon systems officer reportedly managed to evade capture by hiding on an elevated ridge and using an emergency beacon to signal for help.
US aircraft reportedly engaged Iranian convoys to prevent them from reaching the downed airman's location, with a firefight ensuing as US forces converged on the scene. Two former senior military officials, briefed on the operation, confirmed to The New York Times that there were conflicting reports about the extent of ground combat during the mission.
According to Fox News, the complex rescue operation involved a massive firefight, and several aircraft were destroyed, including an A-10 Warthog that crashed in Kuwait on Friday. The mission involved specialized commando forces, extensive air cover, and incorporated hundreds of special operations troops, helicopters, warplanes, and advanced intelligence capabilities.
The Wall Street Journal reported that two US Special Operations MC-130J aircraft were intentionally destroyed on the ground during the mission after becoming stranded at a remote base in Iran, with commanders deciding to detonate them to prevent their capture by enemy forces.