The second US serviceman whose aircraft was shot down on Iranian soil has been rescued in a bold operation which marks a clear success for the US president at a time when he is under mounting pressure to end a war.
In a triumphant post on Truth Social this morning, Donald Trump announced the second US service member of the downed F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet had been rescued. Here’s what we know so far — and what we don’t.
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Both US service members of a US F-15 fighter jet that was downed over Iran on Friday have now been rescued. The first was rescued shortly after the crash and is receiving medical attention.
The second service member, who was a Colonel, “sustained injuries,” according to Trump, however he added he will be “just fine.”
As CNN’s national security analyst Alex Plitsas noted, the rescue prevented the crew member becoming a “strategic bargaining chip” for Tehran. The rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft, armed with “the most lethal weapons,” Trump said. No American troops were killed or wounded during the rescue, he added.
WHAT DON’T WE KNOW?
We don’t know the precise details of the rescue operation and where it took place. Plitsas said it may go down as “one of the most harrowing rescue operations in US military history.”
The second serviceman’s exact location and identity remain unclear. Trump said the US military had been monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and “diligently planning for his rescue.”
Ejecting from a military aircraft subjects aircrew to extreme forces and can result in trauma, meaning that questions remain over the nature of his injuries.
Despite many in Iran calling for the immediate capture of the second downed US crew member, with officials offering a reward to anyone who found and handed him over, he evaded being caught behind enemy lines for nearly two days.
WHAT IS IRAN SAYING?
Iran’s state Tasnim News Agency claimed “several enemy American aircraft” were destroyed in the Isfahan region. “The invading enemy aircraft in southern Isfahan, including 2 Black Hawk helicopters and one military transport aircraft C-130, were hit and are now burning,” it said.
Video and images released by Iranian state media and geolocated by CNN appears to show the burnt out wreckage of several aircraft in southern Esfahan province.
State media claimed Iranian forces shot down the aircraft seen in the images. In a post on Truth Social President Trump, made no mention of aircraft losses, but did say no US service members were injured or killed in the operation.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR WAR?
For Trump the successful rescue operation offers some rare positive news, and the US president has called on all Americans to unite in pride over the mission. It also spares the US potential messy hostage negotiations that may have occurred if the US airman had been captured by Iran.
