U.S. President Donald Trump revealed new details about the rescue of two American airmen after their F-15 was shot down over Iran, according to journalist Barak Ravid.
In an interview cited by Channel 12 and Axios, Trump said Iranian forces downed the aircraft using a shoulder-fired missile, adding, “They got lucky.” He explained that U.S. forces rescued the pilot in a rare daytime mission, despite heightened risks. “We are better at night operations,” he noted, adding that heavy gunfire marked the initial rescue effort.
Meanwhile, attention shifted to the second crew member, a weapons system officer, who transmitted a brief and unusual message after ejecting. “He said, ‘God is good,’” Trump stated. Initially, U.S. officials feared the signal could be a trap, suspecting possible capture by Iranian forces. However, they later confirmed the transmission was authentic, noting the airman’s strong religious beliefs.
Furthermore, Trump described an extensive search effort by Iranian forces, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He claimed that both military personnel and civilians were mobilized, with incentives reportedly offered for the airman’s capture. Nevertheless, the crewman managed to evade detection by hiding in mountainous terrain until U.S. forces located him using advanced technology.
Trump emphasized the scale of the rescue mission, stating that hundreds of troops and multiple aircraft were deployed. “Other countries would not have risked so much for one soldier, but we did,” he said.
Additionally, Trump acknowledged limited support from Israel, describing it as a “good partner.” U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that Israel primarily provided general intelligence, while its air force carried out a strike to deter approaching Iranian forces.
