WASHINGTON D.C April 5, 2026 – President Donald Trump has revealed that U.S. forces conducted a daring search-and-rescue operation lasting several hours — reportedly seven hours in broad daylight — deep over Iranian territory to extract the second crew member of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.
In a statement shared on Truth Social early Sunday, President Trump declared “WE GOT HIM!” and praised the mission as one of the most audacious in U.S. military history.
“At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him,” Trump wrote. “He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”
The F-15E was shot down on Friday amid ongoing U.S.-Iran military tensions. One crew member was rescued shortly after the incident, but the weapons systems officer — a highly respected Colonel — remained isolated in a remote, hostile area, triggering the large-scale rescue effort involving multiple aircraft operating inside Iranian airspace.
The operation underscores the U.S. military’s commitment to “never leave an American warfighter behind,” a point Trump emphasized in his announcement.
The news quickly went viral on social media, with BRICS News highlighting the seven-hour daylight duration and pairing Trump’s image with the Iranian flag to illustrate the high-stakes nature of the mission inside enemy territory.
Iranian sources have claimed successes against additional U.S. aircraft during the rescue, but those reports remain unverified. No U.S. fatalities have been reported in the operation.
Pentagon officials are expected to provide further operational details in the coming days as the rescued airman receives medical care.
This latest development comes against the backdrop of escalated conflict between the United States and Iran, following recent U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
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