US president Donald Trump during a press conference in The White House on Monday (April 6) spoke in detail about the rescue mission carried out by its military for the stranded American airmen, who were rescued on Saturday from inside Tehran. He said that not everybody was in the military was in support of the idea to carry out the rescue mission as it could risk several lives. However, he decided he will go ahead with the mission.&nbsp;"We had people within the military who did not think this was a good idea. I was told it was a dangerous mission, not foolish, but dangerous we were endangering hundreds of people," said Trump.&nbsp;Speaking about the danger involved and the size of the rescue mission, Trump pointed that 170 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-continue-war-iran-sets-10-conditions-for-talks-after-rejecting-us-proposal-1775496150829">Will continue war: Iran sets 10 conditions for talks after rejecting US proposal</a>&nbsp;“The second rescue mission involved four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft and more. We were bringing them all over and a lot of it was subterfuge,” he said.Speaking about the dangers he said, "US military personnel faced gunfire at very close range during rescue in Iran."&nbsp;He called the rescue operation a mission “like finding a needle in a haystack," and added that "I ordered the US armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring our brave warriors back home... In the United States military, we leave no American behind."&nbsp;Trump also mentioned that the rescued airman was hiding in Iranian mountains and kept climbing higher to improve chances of recovery. Finding him was a difficult task he further said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Speaking about the size of the rescue mission, Trump pointed that 170 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission.

US president Donald Trump during a press conference in The White House on Monday (April 6) spoke in detail about the rescue mission carried out by its military for the stranded American airmen, who were rescued on Saturday from inside Tehran. He said that not everybody was in the military was in support of the idea to carry out the rescue mission as it could risk several lives. However, he decided he will go ahead with the mission. "We had people within the military who did not think this was a good idea. I was told it was a dangerous mission, not foolish, but dangerous we were endangering hundreds of people," said Trump. Speaking about the danger involved and the size of the rescue mission, Trump pointed that 170 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission. ALSO READ: Will continue war: Iran sets 10 conditions for talks after rejecting US proposal “The second rescue mission involved four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft and more. We were bringing them all over and a lot of it was subterfuge,” he said. Speaking about the dangers he said, "US military personnel faced gunfire at very close range during rescue in Iran." He called the rescue operation a mission “like finding a needle in a haystack," and added that "I ordered the US armed forces to do whatever was necessary to bring our brave warriors back home... In the United States military, we leave no American behind." Trump also mentioned that the rescued airman was hiding in Iranian mountains and kept climbing higher to improve chances of recovery. Finding him was a difficult task he further said.

Speaking about the size of the rescue mission, Trump pointed that 170 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission.

170 aircraft used in the operation to recover first crew member: Here's all what Trump said on rescue of pilots

United States President on Sunday (April 5) rescued the American service member who was missing behind enemy lines since Iran downed a fighter jet. Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran."&nbsp;But the Iranian foreign ministry on Monday (April 6) had completely a different story to say. It claimed that the operation to rescue the downed airman may have been a cover to "steal enriched uranium" from the country, reported news agency AFP.&nbsp;Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei raised questions about the US operation saying, “The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land or wanted to land their forces in central Iran.”&nbsp;"The possibility that this was a deception operation to steal enriched uranium should not be ignored at all," Baqaei said further.&nbsp;He also called the US operation to rescue the pilot &nbsp;"a disaster" for the United States.<h2>How the rescue happened?</h2>&nbsp;The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him.&nbsp;Hundreds of special forces troops and dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities were employed to save the crew member, reported New York Times. &nbsp;The US forces had a firefight with Iranian convoys. Two transport planes that were to carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, following which they decided to fly three new planes to extract all the US military personnel and the airmen. They blew up the two disabled planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.

Irans foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei raised questions about the US operation saying, The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land.

United States President on Sunday (April 5) rescued the American service member who was missing behind enemy lines since Iran downed a fighter jet. Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran." But the Iranian foreign ministry on Monday (April 6) had completely a different story to say. It claimed that the operation to rescue the downed airman may have been a cover to "steal enriched uranium" from the country, reported news agency AFP. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei raised questions about the US operation saying, “The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land or wanted to land their forces in central Iran.” "The possibility that this was a deception operation to steal enriched uranium should not be ignored at all," Baqaei said further. He also called the US operation to rescue the pilot "a disaster" for the United States. How the rescue happened? The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Hundreds of special forces troops and dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities were employed to save the crew member, reported New York Times. The US forces had a firefight with Iranian convoys. Two transport planes that were to carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, following which they decided to fly three new planes to extract all the US military personnel and the airmen. They blew up the two disabled planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei raised questions about the US operation saying, “The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land."

US airman rescue was 'cover to steal enriched uranium', claims Iran. Here's what we know

The US military operation to rescue the F-15E pilot that was shot down in Iran almost ended in a disaster before special forces managed to safely leave the Iranian territory with the injured airman. The high-risk mission took place deep inside the enemy territory as hundreds of American commandos scaled a 7,000‑foot ridge to extract the crew member who was stranded in Iran. US officials revealed that the mission that unfolded with near‑perfect precision nearly veered off course due to mechanical issues.According to a Reuters report, the plan included US forces infiltrating undetected and bringing the US pilot to a secret rendezvous point before dawn on Sunday. However, the two MC-130 aircraft, which had ferried some of the roughly 100 special forces personnel into rugged terrain south of Tehran, encountered a mechanical failure and could not take off. This risked the commandos being stuck behind enemy lines.A high-risk decision was then made by the commanders to fly additional aircraft into Iran and extract the group in waves. This meant that the US team had to wait for some hours before they were taken out of Iranian territory.“If there was a ‘holy s**t’ moment, that was it,” the official told Reuters, crediting quick decision-making for saving the day. ​The US troops destroyed disabled the MC‑130s and four additional helicopters inside Iran to prevent leaving sensitive equipment behind in enemy territory.<h2>US pilot’s ‘God is good’ message raised fears of capture</h2>Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Apr 5) revealed that the United States was initially sceptical about a message from the stranded F-15E weapons system officer. In an interview following the rescue of the US pilot, Trump told Axios that the US was worried that the Iranians were playing a trick to lure US forces into a trap when they received a message from the serviceman stranded in Iran.The weapons system officer sent a short, unusual message over his radio after ejecting from the aircraft over Iran. Trump said that the US military had “beeping information” about his location. However, after his radio message, officials suspected he might have been captured and Iranians were “sending false signals” to try to lure U.S. forces into a trap.According to Trump, the pilot’s message on the radio “sounded like something a Muslim would say.” However, people who knew the officer said that it wasn’t an unusual phrase for the pilot and that he was a religious person.After it was confirmed that the pilot was alive and not captured by Iran, the rescue operation took place swiftly to locate him and bring him back.Trump said that around 200 troops from special operations units took part in the rescue mission. The officer hid in a crevice in the mountain for more than 24 hours to evade capture by the Iranians.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US commandos’ Iran rescue mission nearly failed after MC-130 aircraft malfunction left troops at risk behind enemy lines, but a high-risk extraction plan ensured safe evacuation of the injured pilot.

The US military operation to rescue the F-15E pilot that was shot down in Iran almost ended in a disaster before special forces managed to safely leave the Iranian territory with the injured airman. The high-risk mission took place deep inside the enemy territory as hundreds of American commandos scaled a 7,000‑foot ridge to extract the crew member who was stranded in Iran. US officials revealed that the mission that unfolded with near‑perfect precision nearly veered off course due to mechanical issues. According to a Reuters report, the plan included US forces infiltrating undetected and bringing the US pilot to a secret rendezvous point before dawn on Sunday. However, the two MC-130 aircraft, which had ferried some of the roughly 100 special forces personnel into rugged terrain south of Tehran, encountered a mechanical failure and could not take off. This risked the commandos being stuck behind enemy lines. A high-risk decision was then made by the commanders to fly additional aircraft into Iran and extract the group in waves. This meant that the US team had to wait for some hours before they were taken out of Iranian territory. “If there was a ‘holy s**t’ moment, that was it,” the official told Reuters, crediting quick decision-making for saving the day. The US troops destroyed disabled the MC‑130s and four additional helicopters inside Iran to prevent leaving sensitive equipment behind in enemy territory. US pilot’s ‘God is good’ message raised fears of capture Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Apr 5) revealed that the United States was initially sceptical about a message from the stranded F-15E weapons system officer. In an interview following the rescue of the US pilot, Trump told Axios that the US was worried that the Iranians were playing a trick to lure US forces into a trap when they received a message from the serviceman stranded in Iran. The weapons system officer sent a short, unusual message over his radio after ejecting from the aircraft over Iran. Trump said that the US military had “beeping information” about his location. However, after his radio message, officials suspected he might have been captured and Iranians were “sending false signals” to try to lure U.S. forces into a trap. According to Trump, the pilot’s message on the radio “sounded like something a Muslim would say.” However, people who knew the officer said that it wasn’t an unusual phrase for the pilot and that he was a religious person. After it was confirmed that the pilot was alive and not captured by Iran, the rescue operation took place swiftly to locate him and bring him back. Trump said that around 200 troops from special operations units took part in the rescue mission. The officer hid in a crevice in the mountain for more than 24 hours to evade capture by the Iranians. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US commandos’ Iran rescue mission nearly failed after MC-130 aircraft malfunction left troops at risk behind enemy lines, but a high-risk extraction plan ensured safe evacuation of the injured pilot.

‘Holy s**t moment’: How US operation to rescue F-15E pilot from Iran almost went wrong

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Apr 5) said that the United States was initially sceptical about a message from the stranded F-15E weapons system officer, who was rescued from Iran after his aircraft went down in Iranian territory. This comes after Trump announced that the airman was “SAFE and SOUND” after he was recovered from Iran following “the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History.” The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reportedly, the second crew member from the downed F-15E has been recovered after a “heavy firefight”.In an interview following the rescue of the US pilot, Trump told Axios that the US was worried that the Iranians were playing a trick to lure US forces into a trap when they received a message from the serviceman stranded in Iran.<h2>What did the US pilot say in his message?</h2>The weapons system officer sent a short, unusual message over his radio after ejecting from the aircraft over Iran. Trump said that the US military had “beeping information” about his location. However, after his radio message, officials suspected he might have been captured and Iranians were “sending false signals” to try to lure U.S. forces into a trap.According to a US defense official, the exact phrase from the airman was: “God is Good”. The same phrase was used by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X after the US announced the successful rescue of the F-15E crew member.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">God is good.&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2040779298823659939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

According to Trump, the pilot’s message on the radio “sounded like something a Muslim would say.” However, people who knew the officer said that it wasn’t an unusual phrase for the pilot and that he was a religious person.“It was not completely clear early on, but we stuck with it and verified he was alive and not captured. And those who knew him said he is religious,” the official told Axios.After it was confirmed that the pilot was alive and not captured by Iran, the rescue operation took place swiftly to locate him and bring him back.<h2>How was US pilot rescued?</h2>Trump said that around 200 troops from special operations units took part in the rescue mission. The officer hid in a crevice in the mountain for more than 24 hours to evade capture by the Iranians.According to a New York Times report, hundreds of special forces troops and dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities were employed to save the crew member. The US forces had a firefight with Iranian convoys. The report added that two transport planes that would carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, following which they decided to fly three new planes to extract all the US military personnel and the airmen. They blew up the two disabled planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US President Donald Trump said the US initially feared a trap after the downed F-15E officer’s three-word radio message in Iran. However, later it was verified that he was alive and not captured.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Apr 5) said that the United States was initially sceptical about a message from the stranded F-15E weapons system officer, who was rescued from Iran after his aircraft went down in Iranian territory. This comes after Trump announced that the airman was “SAFE and SOUND” after he was recovered from Iran following “the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History.” The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Reportedly, the second crew member from the downed F-15E has been recovered after a “heavy firefight”. In an interview following the rescue of the US pilot, Trump told Axios that the US was worried that the Iranians were playing a trick to lure US forces into a trap when they received a message from the serviceman stranded in Iran. What did the US pilot say in his message? The weapons system officer sent a short, unusual message over his radio after ejecting from the aircraft over Iran. Trump said that the US military had “beeping information” about his location. However, after his radio message, officials suspected he might have been captured and Iranians were “sending false signals” to try to lure U.S. forces into a trap. According to a US defense official, the exact phrase from the airman was: “God is Good”. The same phrase was used by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X after the US announced the successful rescue of the F-15E crew member.

US President Donald Trump said the US initially feared a trap after the downed F-15E officer’s three-word radio message in Iran. However, later it was verified that he was alive and not captured.

Trump reveals US pilot’s 3-word radio message that sparked fears of Iranian trap — What did he say?

The weapons systems officer, who was stranded behind enemy lines after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down inside Iran, used all survival and evasion techniques to avoid being captured by Iranian forces closing on him. The injured airman hid in a mountain crevice behind enemy lines and kept moving to avoid capture by charging Iranian forces. At one point, he scaled to over 7,000 feet above sea level in the rugged terrain to evade capture, when all that he had with him was a pistol, a communication device, and a tracking beacon. His agonising wait for being rescued ended when a team of American commandos located him and brought him to safety. All this while, US aircraft kept dropping bombs to clear the area and deter moving Iranian forces.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-defence-minister-khawaja-asif-warns-of-striking-kolkata-in-future-conflict-with-india-1775326150284">Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif warns of striking Kolkata in future conflict with India</a>&nbsp;As per local reports, even civilians had joined search efforts after authorities announced rewards for the capture of the US airman.&nbsp;Two US officials told CNN that the risky rescue operation involved American military and intelligence personnel. The special operations forces carried out the successful rescue mission, even as CIA operatives mounted a deception campaign beforehand to throw off potential Iranian captors.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-its-new-air-defence-system-helped-down-us-jets-was-it-majid-verba-or-hq-9b-1775318968899">Iran says its new air defence system helped down US jets. Was it Majid, Verba or HQ-9B?</a>&nbsp;CIA operatives circulated the information inside Iran that both crew members had been recovered to confuse Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members who were frantically themselves looking to capture the downed officer.&nbsp;Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos extracted the ejected US F-15E pilot from Iran, said a New York Times report, though there was no confirmation from the US authorities.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Israel postponed some planned strikes in Iran to ensure a smooth search and rescue operation besides offering intelligence support.The CIA ultimately identified the officer’s exact location and shared the information with the military.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/downgrade-from-regime-change-to-find-our-pilots-iran-s-speaker-mohammad-bagher-ghalibaf-mocks-us-over-downed-jet-1775237385567">Downgrade from ‘regime change’ to ‘find our pilots’: Iran’s speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocks US over downed jet</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, at a remote airstrip in Iran, two MC-130J special operations transport aircraft had been waiting to take the commandos and the rescued airman out of the country. But they had been damaged during the operation.The military decided to send in new planes and blew up the damaged ones to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-india-can-t-buy-oil-without-trump-s-permission-pm-is-compromised-says-rahul-gandhi-1775386849478">‘India can’t buy oil without Trump’s permission, PM is compromised,’ says Rahul Gandhi</a>&nbsp;“WE GOT HIM!” President Trump wrote on social media after spending Saturday monitoring the operation from the White House. “Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” he said.&nbsp;All through the rescue mission, Trump had been in the West Wing, moving between the Oval Office and its adjacent dining room to receive updates on the officer’s rescue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The risky rescue operation involved American military and intelligence personnel. The special operations forces carried out the successful rescue mission, even as CIA operatives mounted a deception campaign beforehand to throw off potential Iranian captors.

The weapons systems officer, who was stranded behind enemy lines after his F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down inside Iran, used all survival and evasion techniques to avoid being captured by Iranian forces closing on him. The injured airman hid in a mountain crevice behind enemy lines and kept moving to avoid capture by charging Iranian forces. At one point, he scaled to over 7,000 feet above sea level in the rugged terrain to evade capture, when all that he had with him was a pistol, a communication device, and a tracking beacon. His agonising wait for being rescued ended when a team of American commandos located him and brought him to safety. All this while, US aircraft kept dropping bombs to clear the area and deter moving Iranian forces. Also Read: Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif warns of striking Kolkata in future conflict with India As per local reports, even civilians had joined search efforts after authorities announced rewards for the capture of the US airman. Two US officials told CNN that the risky rescue operation involved American military and intelligence personnel. The special operations forces carried out the successful rescue mission, even as CIA operatives mounted a deception campaign beforehand to throw off potential Iranian captors. Also Read: Iran says its new air defence system helped down US jets. Was it Majid, Verba or HQ-9B? CIA operatives circulated the information inside Iran that both crew members had been recovered to confuse Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members who were frantically themselves looking to capture the downed officer. Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos extracted the ejected US F-15E pilot from Iran, said a New York Times report, though there was no confirmation from the US authorities. Meanwhile, Israel postponed some planned strikes in Iran to ensure a smooth search and rescue operation besides offering intelligence support. The CIA ultimately identified the officer’s exact location and shared the information with the military. Also Read: Downgrade from ‘regime change’ to ‘find our pilots’: Iran’s speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocks US over downed jet Meanwhile, at a remote airstrip in Iran, two MC-130J special operations transport aircraft had been waiting to take the commandos and the rescued airman out of the country. But they had been damaged during the operation. The military decided to send in new planes and blew up the damaged ones to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands. Also Read: ‘India can’t buy oil without Trump’s permission, PM is compromised,’ says Rahul Gandhi “WE GOT HIM!” President Trump wrote on social media after spending Saturday monitoring the operation from the White House. “Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History,” he said. All through the rescue mission, Trump had been in the West Wing, moving between the Oval Office and its adjacent dining room to receive updates on the officer’s rescue.

The risky rescue operation involved American military and intelligence personnel. The special operations forces carried out the successful rescue mission, even as CIA operatives mounted a deception campaign beforehand to throw off potential Iranian captors.

Stranded US pilot climbed up to 7,000ft for safety, hid in a crevice to survive 24 hours in hostile Iranian terrain

United States successfully rescued its pilot from downed F-15E plane in Iran. United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 5) congratulated its military on the rescue of "seriously wounded", American service member. Acknowledging the efforts Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran."<h2>Trump acknowledges Israeli help</h2>&nbsp;There were reports that the rescue also involved Israeli help to which Trump speaking to Channel 12, an Israeli free-to-air television channel said, "Israel helped us a little, most of the operation was American, but there was also Israeli assistance."&nbsp;"The Israelis are very brave, working with us well. We work like big brother and little brother," he further said.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reciprocated by congratulating Trump on the successful rescue of the pilot.&nbsp;“All Israelis rejoice in the incredible rescue of a brave American pilot by America’s dauntless warriors,” said Netanyahu.<h2>'Will blow everything up', Trump's stern warning to Iran</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the United States President threatened unprecedented strike on Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;"I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," Trump told a Fox News journalist.&nbsp;He renewed his warning, saying, "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."&nbsp;Trump also said he had granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators to ensure talks could continue, though Tehran offered no immediate response. He said previously that Washington was in contact with Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump speaking to Channel 12, an Israeli free-to-air television channel acknowledged Israeli help in rescuing the pilot after he was shot down over Iran last week.

United States successfully rescued its pilot from downed F-15E plane in Iran. United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 5) congratulated its military on the rescue of "seriously wounded", American service member. Acknowledging the efforts Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran." Trump acknowledges Israeli help There were reports that the rescue also involved Israeli help to which Trump speaking to Channel 12, an Israeli free-to-air television channel said, "Israel helped us a little, most of the operation was American, but there was also Israeli assistance." "The Israelis are very brave, working with us well. We work like big brother and little brother," he further said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also reciprocated by congratulating Trump on the successful rescue of the pilot. “All Israelis rejoice in the incredible rescue of a brave American pilot by America’s dauntless warriors,” said Netanyahu. 'Will blow everything up', Trump's stern warning to Iran Meanwhile, the United States President threatened unprecedented strike on Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," Trump told a Fox News journalist. He renewed his warning, saying, "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil." Trump also said he had granted amnesty to Iranian negotiators to ensure talks could continue, though Tehran offered no immediate response. He said previously that Washington was in contact with Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump speaking to Channel 12, an Israeli free-to-air television channel acknowledged Israeli help in rescuing the pilot after he was shot down over Iran last week.

US fighter jet pilot rescued with Israeli help from Iran? Here's what Trump said

The Iranians are drawing parallels between the US military operation to rescue the F-15E pilot and the 1980 failed American mission to rescue their Embassy staffers in Tehran. They have alleged that US President Donald Trump, who announced that the airman was “SAFE and SOUND” after he was rescued, is not admitting to his losses during the operation. Meanwhile, Iran has released images and a video of what it claimed to be the wreckage of several US aircraft downed during the American military operation to rescue the stranded crew member of the F-15E that was shot down in Iran.<h2>Iran claims several US aircraft downed</h2>Tehran’s military has said that two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the US operation in Isfahan. The US has not yet given any confirmation or statement regarding this. Although reports suggested that two US planes that were disabled during the operation were blown up by American troops to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.The Iranian military said that the US military used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province during the operation to rescue the stranded pilot. In a statement, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military's central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said that “the so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled.”Slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s X handle, which frequently posts his statements, has posted the image of the wreckage of a US aircraft in Tabas from the 1980 US operation alongside the fresh images of destroyed aircraft in Isfahan. Several Iranian Embassies, state media outlets, and others have made similar posts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Americans once attacked here in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tabas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tabas</a>—remember!?—they wet themselves, turned back, and left! August 13, 2018<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> <a href="https://t.co/xGnNJEBQJo">pic.twitter.com/xGnNJEBQJo</a>&mdash; Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/2040716939295588647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Top: Wreckage of a U.S. aircraft in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tabas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tabas</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> — 1980 Bottom: Wreckage of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> aircraft near <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Isfahan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Isfahan</a>, Iran — 2026 Different decades, same story.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%B32?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#طبس2</a> <a href="https://t.co/tTQS5LV0q0">pic.twitter.com/tTQS5LV0q0</a>&mdash; ☫ Iran Embassy in The Hague, The Netherlands (@IRAN_in_NL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRAN_in_NL/status/2040728218408226968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What happened during Operation Eagle Claw?</h2>Operation Eagle Claw remains a dark moment in American history and a stark reminder of failed negotiations by the US to free its hostages. On April 24, 1980, an ill-fated military operation ended the lives of eight US servicemen, who had gone to rescue the US Embassy staffers who were held captive in Iran.The Iran hostage crisis began on November 4, 1979, when as many as 3,000 militant students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 63 Americans hostage. Three other US diplomats were also captured at the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The incident took place two weeks after then-US president Jimmy Carter had given refuge to the deposed Iranian ruler, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, in the United States for his cancer treatment. The move was frowned upon by Iran’s new leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who called for the US to return Shah and demanded the end of Western influence in Iran.While 13 of the American hostages were returned by mid-November, 53 others were still kept in Iran for about five months due to failed negotiations under the Carter government. As the diplomacy saw no progress, Carter approved the military rescue operation on April 16, 1980. The complex two-day operation called for helicopters and C-130 aircraft to rendezvous on a salt flat in Tabas Desert (code-named Desert One) some 200 miles southeast of Tehran. It involved all four branches of the US armed forces, along with helicopters and C-130s, which would be used for refuelling.On April 19, the US forces started deploying across Oman and the Arabian Sea, with Operation Eagle Claw beginning on April 24. While the US Delta Force initially secured the Desert One landing zone, a passing bus on a nearby road made the operation complicated, and the ground forces detained over 40 Iranians to preserve operational security.Out of the eight of the RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters that left the USS Nimitz, two encountered mechanical failure and could not continue. The entire operation was also hindered by a dust storm in the region that disrupted visibility. The six remaining helicopters managed to land at Desert One more than 90 minutes later than planned. While in Iran, another helicopter was also deemed unfit for service as it suffered a cracked rotor blade due to the sandstorm. The mission, which could not be accomplished by only five helicopters, was aborted. However, as the forces were leaving, a helicopter collided with a C-130 and exploded, destroying both aircraft. Five US Air Force personnel and three Marines were killed in the incident. The remaining troops were quickly evacuated by plane. The American forces left behind several helicopters, equipment, weapons, maps and the dead.Investigations later revealed that the operation had failed due to a lack of coordination between the military services. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had said that the mission had been stopped by an act of God. Meanwhile, Carter lost the 1980 US presidential elections. The hostages were released the day Ronald Reagan took office as the US president.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.&nbsp;

Iran is comparing the US pilot rescue to the 1980 failed American mission, alleging that US President Donald Trump is not admitting his losses. What was Operation Eagle Claw? Scroll down to know all about it.

The Iranians are drawing parallels between the US military operation to rescue the F-15E pilot and the 1980 failed American mission to rescue their Embassy staffers in Tehran. They have alleged that US President Donald Trump, who announced that the airman was “SAFE and SOUND” after he was rescued, is not admitting to his losses during the operation. Meanwhile, Iran has released images and a video of what it claimed to be the wreckage of several US aircraft downed during the American military operation to rescue the stranded crew member of the F-15E that was shot down in Iran. Iran claims several US aircraft downed Tehran’s military has said that two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the US operation in Isfahan. The US has not yet given any confirmation or statement regarding this. Although reports suggested that two US planes that were disabled during the operation were blown up by American troops to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands. The Iranian military said that the US military used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province during the operation to rescue the stranded pilot. In a statement, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military's central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said that “the so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled.” Slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s X handle, which frequently posts his statements, has posted the image of the wreckage of a US aircraft in Tabas from the 1980 US operation alongside the fresh images of destroyed aircraft in Isfahan. Several Iranian Embassies, state media outlets, and others have made similar posts.

Iran is comparing the US pilot rescue to the 1980 failed American mission, alleging that US President Donald Trump is not admitting his losses. What was Operation Eagle Claw? Scroll down to know all about it.

Iran likens US pilot rescue operation to 1980 failed American mission – What happened in Operation Eagle Claw?

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 5) congratulated its military on the rescue of "seriously wounded", American service member who was missing behind enemy lines since Iran downed a fighter jet. Acknowledging the efforts Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran."&nbsp;He went on to say that such rescues are "seldom attempted" due to the risk involved to “man and equipment.”&nbsp;"The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close. He is a highly respected Colonel. This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to “man and equipment.” It just doesn’t happen!," Trump wrote.&nbsp;"An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all! I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he further informed.<h2>How the rescue happened?</h2>&nbsp;The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him.&nbsp;Hundreds of special forces troops and dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities were employed to save the crew member, reported New York Times. &nbsp;The US forces had a firefight with Iranian convoys. Two transport planes that were to carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, following which they decided to fly three new planes to extract all the US military personnel and the airmen. They blew up the two disabled planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.&nbsp;

The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet of the United States was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. 

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 5) congratulated its military on the rescue of "seriously wounded", American service member who was missing behind enemy lines since Iran downed a fighter jet. Acknowledging the efforts Trump took to truth Social to write, "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran." He went on to say that such rescues are "seldom attempted" due to the risk involved to “man and equipment.” "The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close. He is a highly respected Colonel. This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to “man and equipment.” It just doesn’t happen!," Trump wrote. "An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all! I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he further informed. How the rescue happened? The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war. While the first pilot was rescued by the US forces earlier, the second had remained missing behind the enemy lines as American and Iranian forces raced to locate him. Hundreds of special forces troops and dozens of US warplanes, helicopters, and cyber, space and other intelligence capabilities were employed to save the crew member, reported New York Times. The US forces had a firefight with Iranian convoys. Two transport planes that were to carry the commandos and the airmen to safety got stuck at a remote base in Iran, following which they decided to fly three new planes to extract all the US military personnel and the airmen. They blew up the two disabled planes to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.

The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet of the United States was shot down over southern Iran on Friday (Apr 3), the first such incident since the start of the war.&nbsp;

'This type of raid is seldom attempted', says Trump as he acknowledges stranded airman was 'seriously wounded'

Iran released images claiming US aircraft were destroyed during an F-15E rescue mission, while Donald Trump said the pilot was safely recovered with no US casualties.

PICS | Iran releases images of US aircraft ‘destroyed’ during rescue mission

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