Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Apr 6: US President Donald Trump has disclosed details of a high-risk rescue operation carried out inside Iran to recover a downed F-15 crew member who was feared to have fallen into enemy hands.

The concern arose after the pilot, who had ejected from the aircraft, transmitted a brief radio message — “God is good.” Trump said the phrasing initially raised suspicion among US forces, who briefly feared the pilot might be under duress or sending a misleading signal.

However, officials later confirmed that the pilot was alive and deeply religious, ruling out fears of a trap. The injured crew member reportedly survived for over a day while hiding in mountainous terrain, taking shelter in a crevice as search operations intensified.

Trump claimed that Iranian forces, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were actively hunting for the pilot, and that civilians were allegedly offered rewards to capture him.

US forces deployed advanced tracking technology to locate the pilot, involving nearly 200 special operations personnel. One rescue attempt was conducted during the day under heavy fire and described as a swift extraction, while a second operation took place at night after establishing a temporary base inside Iranian territory.

The F-15E jet, which Trump said was brought down by a shoulder-fired missile on April 3, had two crew members who ejected safely but landed miles apart. One was rescued quickly, while the second, reportedly surrounded by hostile forces, was recovered later on April 5.

Trump also acknowledged limited assistance from Israel, stating that Israeli forces shared general intelligence and carried out a strike to delay Iranian troops from reaching the area.

“They have been good partners… We are like a big brother and little brother,” Trump said.