President Trump announced on social media:
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 U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.
At my direction, the U.S. 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 jeopardize our second rescue operation.
This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies. This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!
We know the training of the downed F15-E Strike Eagle Weapons Strike Officer and the special forces that retrieved him are the heroes of the day, but “miraculous” seems like the operative term. This is the Hudson Institute’s Michael Doran’s summary of the most notable elements:
As you think about who is going to win this war, think about this story.
Our forces successfully rescued the weapons systems officer of the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down over southwestern Iran two days ago..
The two-person crew ejected after Iranian air defenses struck the plane. While the pilot was recovered quickly, the navigator evaded capture for more than a day in hostile territory, armed only with a sidearm.
Last night, our Special Operations forces executed an extraction. The operation involved hundreds of personnel, dozens of warplanes and helicopters providing overwhelming air cover, and intense support from intelligence, cyber, and other assets.
Firefights and airstrikes occurred as the team located and extracted the officer who was hiding on a mountain top.
To prevent sensitive equipment from falling into enemy hands, our forces destroyed two of our aircraft that had malfunctioned inside Iran. See a clip of the wreckage below.
All of our personnel involved returned safely.
President Trump confirmed the success, stating the navigator is “safe and sound” despite sustaining injuries, and praising the operation as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in recent U.S. military history.
God bless the heroes who risked their lives in this beautiful operation. And Happy Easter!
As you think about who is going to win this war, think about this story.
Our forces successfully rescued the weapons systems officer of the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet that was shot down over southwestern Iran two days ago..
The two-person crew ejected after Iranian air… pic.twitter.com/rrPnEOUzKD
— Mike (@Doranimated) April 5, 2026
Here are details of the rescue operation summarized by the Israeli Telegram channel Abu Ali Express:
The American pilot hid on an elevated ridge in the mountainous and forested area where he landed. He moved on foot away from the point where he parachuted down and then activated a “locator beacon.”
The mountainous, forested, and uninhabited terrain bought him precious time and allowed him to survive without the Iranian forces and regime-supporting villagers managing to reach him.In the early morning, the rescue operation reached its peak: two American C-130 transport planes carrying American commando forces landed at an improvised airfield in Iranian territory—250 km from the nearest friendly border—Kuwait.
Simultaneously with the progress of the rescue efforts, the CIA launched an influence operation—a deception operation—and spread among the Iranians that the pilot had already been rescued, in order to create confusion even though the operation was still underway.
Basij forces that approached the area and endangered the rescue team were destroyed from the air—there are at least 9 Iranian fatalities among them.
Broadcast stations and Iranian transmitters in the nearby city of Dehdasht were attacked from the air.
After the pilot was located by American forces on the ground and preparations began for extraction, the wheels of the two American transport planes got stuck in the sand and they could not take off.
The US military flew in additional transport planes to extract the American forces from the site.
The stranded transport planes were bombed from the air by the US so they would not fall into Iranian hands (the Iranians claim they were the ones who managed to hit the American planes).The American forces took off and landed at a nearby base in Kuwait (about 250 km away).
A real Hollywood movie.
American heroism. Ethos. Malfunctions at the critical moment. The destruction of equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but a happy ending—the hero was rescued and America rejoiced. We are happy too
From Abu Ali Express… simply brilliant detail:
“Details about the rescue operation according to American and Iranian media:
The American pilot hid on an elevated ridge in the mountainous and forested area where he landed. He moved on foot away from the point where he…
— Mor Edge Insight (@MorEdge_Insight) April 5, 2026
Compare and contrast with the pitiful story of Operation Eagle Claw — the disastrous April 1980 rescue operation to extract the American hostages held by Iran. Mark Bowden tells the story in Part Four Guests of the Ayatollah.
An amazing story and heroic rescue mission by U.S. forces. NYT: "The airman evaded Iranian forces for more than 24 hours, at one point hiking up a 7,000-foot ridgeline, a senior U.S. military official said."
"In a final twist after the weapons officer was rescued, two transport… pic.twitter.com/3fF1DhOZH3
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) April 5, 2026
