Trump says second downed U.S. pilot rescued from Iranian territory

by · UPI

April 5 (UPI) -- U.S. forces have rescued the second of two missing airmen who were shot down over Iran, President Donald Trump announced Sunday.

"WE GOT HIM!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding that the "serious wounded" airman, whom he described as "a highly respected Colonel," was "safe and sound" following the search and rescue operation.

"We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran," the president wrote. "The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close."

The service member was one of two pilots on board an F-15E fighter jet that Iran shot down over its airspace on Friday. It was the first U.S. aircraft to be shot down by Iran since the start of U.S. and Israeli bombing on Feb. 28. Three other F-15 jets were shot down by mistake in Kuwait.

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In his Sunday post, Trump also offered more details on the rescue of the first pilot, saying he was rescued "in broad daylight" after "spending seven hours over Iran."

Meanwhile, Trump repeated his earlier threats to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure if the nation's leaders do not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic by Tuesday.

Using explicit language, Trump promised Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one," adding, "you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!"

He closed by saying, "Praise be to Allah."

Iran, meanwhile, claimed the "so-called rescue operation" was actually a U.S. military raid "planned in the form of a deception and rapid escape operation," which was carried out "under the pretext of rescuing the pilot of their downed aircraft at an abandoned airport."

The alleged U.S. operation "ended in complete failure due to the timely presence of Iranian armed forces," Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesman Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqar told official media.

He also claimed Iran had shot down four U.S. aircraft during the rescue operation, announcing they were "targeted and destroyed in southern Isfahan," according to the semi-official IRNA news agency.

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President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House on Wednesday. President Trump used the address to update the public on the month-long war in Iran. Pool photo by Alex Brandon/UPI | License Photo