US President Donald Trump has confirmed that a second American airman, who was downed inside Iran, has been safely rescued following a high-risk military operation.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr Trump said the mission had been successfully completed after several hours of intensive effort by US forces. He described the operation as one of the most daring search and rescue missions in recent military history, adding that the officer—identified as a senior-ranking pilot—had sustained injuries but was now in stable condition.
According to the US president, the operation involved the deployment of multiple aircraft equipped for combat and recovery. He also noted that both rescue missions—carried out separately—were completed without any American casualties.
Earlier reports had indicated that one of the two crew members from a US F-15 fighter jet, brought down over Iran, had already been rescued by American Special Forces. The second crew member had remained missing until the latest announcement.
The incident marks the first known case of a US fighter jet being lost within Iranian territory since the conflict in the region escalated earlier this year.
However, Iranian officials have offered a contrasting account of events. State-affiliated media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had destroyed a US aircraft involved in the search for the missing pilot. The report said the aircraft was targeted in the southern province of Isfahan.
These claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate response from US military authorities regarding the reported loss.
The differing narratives highlight the ongoing uncertainty surrounding developments in the conflict, where both sides continue to release competing accounts. Despite this, the confirmed recovery of both US aircrew members represents a significant outcome for American forces amid an increasingly volatile regional situation.
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