‘Enemies were getting closer’: How US rescued missing pilot from Iran – Inside one of the most daring operations in history

The US military carried out one of the most “daring search-and-rescue operations” in the country’s history, extracting a senior crew member officer of the downed F-15 jet from Iran on Sunday.

He said that the rescue of a stranded American colonel behind enemy lines in Iran was the result of hours of real-time tracking, coordination and high-risk planning by top military leadership.

“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!” he said.

Trump provided details of how the rescue operations unfolded.

The rescue mission began with continuous tracking of the stranded US colonel, who was trapped in rugged mountain terrain deep inside Iran as “enemy forces” closed in.

Senior military officials monitored his movements around the clock, assessing threats and identifying a narrow window to act. As the situation grew more urgent, plans were finalised for a high-risk extraction deep behind enemy lines.

“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,” the US president said.

Dozens of US aircraft, armed with advanced weapons, were deployed to secure the airspace and support the operation, at Trump’s direction.

Under heavy protection, rescue teams moved in, reaching the officer’s location in the remote terrain, stabilising his injuries and swiftly evacuating him. Despite the dangerous conditions, the mission was completed without any American casualties, marking a rare and complex operation carried out with precision and speed.

“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,” Trump informed, further confirming the rescue of another pilot which was done on Saturday.

“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,” he said.

Emphasising that no US personnel were killed or wounded in either operation, he said the missions demonstrated overwhelming US air dominance over Iranian skies and reinforced the commitment to never leave a 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,” he said.