U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out a high-risk rescue operation to recover a stranded airman from within Iran.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump revealed that the mission successfully brought back a senior officer, describing him as a respected colonel who is now safe despite sustaining injuries.
According to Trump, the officer had been isolated in a mountainous area and under threat, while U.S. military officials closely tracked his position and planned the extraction. He added that the operation involved multiple aircraft and significant coordination among top defence leadership.
Trump also disclosed that another pilot had been rescued in a separate mission earlier, though it was not immediately made public due to operational concerns.
He described both rescues as unprecedented, saying it marked a rare instance of two U.S. pilots being recovered from hostile territory in close succession.
He praised the military effort, emphasising America’s commitment to never abandoning its personnel, and called for unity among citizens in recognising the achievement.
The statement comes amid rising tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel, with Trump also issuing strong warnings to Tehran over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and ongoing regional conflict.