The United States rescued an airman caught behind lines after Iran shot down his F-15 fighter jet, the U.S. government said early on Sunday (5 April), resolving a major crisis for President Donald Trump with the war on Iran in its sixth week.
The airman, who Trump said held the rank of colonel, was the second member of a two-person crew of an F-15 that Iran said on Friday had been brought down by its air defences.
Trump said the crew member was injured but "he will be just fine."
Reuters reported on Friday (3 April) that the first member of the crew had been recovered, triggering a high-profile search for the remaining airman by both Iran and the United States.
"Over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History," according to a statement from Trump posted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X.
Trump emphasised that it was the first time in memory that two U.S. pilots had been rescued separately, deep in enemy territory. The operation involved dozens of military aircraft and faced fierce resistance from Iranian forces.
Reuters reported on Friday that two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search effort were hit by Iranian fire but made it out of Iranian airspace.
In a separate incident, an A-10 Warthog fighter aircraft was hit and crashed over Kuwait, with the pilot ejecting, the officials said. The degree of any injuries among the crew of the aircraft remained unclear.
Still, Trump was triumphant.
"The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies," he said in his statement.
Iranian officials had called on citizens to help locate the remaining American, hoping to gain leverage against Washington in the war Trump and Israel launched on 28 February.
He has threatened to escalate the conflict in the coming days with attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure.
A hostage crisis could have shifted American public perception of a conflict that, according to opinion polls, has already struggled to win popular support.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, was kille...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the l...
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringin...
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinar...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said air defence systems are being restructured and repaired as Russia’s latest attacks on energy infrastructure left parts of the country, including Kyiv, facing electricity and heating shortages during freezing winter conditions.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
Thousands of fans turned out in Iran's capital Tehran for a massive farewell ceremony on Wednesday night for their national football team, wishing them success before their departure for the World Cup 2026 matches co-hosted by the United States and Mexico.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, with both leaders highlighting cooperation despite ongoing tensions.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Uzbekistan has launched a nationwide environmental initiative titled ‘Day Without Cars’, which will take place twice a month as part of efforts to improve air quality and reduce vehicle emissions.
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum will open in Baku on Sunday, bringing together government representatives, city leaders, urban planners, international organisations, businesses and civil society to discuss the future of sustainable urban development.
Matiul Haq Khalis, Director General of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, has travelled to Baku to attend the 13th World Urban Forum, where climate change and safer cities will be discussed.
Children laughed, applauded and watched wide-eyed as animated characters lit up the screen at the opening of the ninth Animafilm International Animation Festival in Baku, where filmmakers and audiences from around the world gathered to celebrate the growing influence of animated cinema.
Leaders of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) gathered in the Kazakh city of Turkistan for an informal summit focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, transport, energy and regional connectivity as the bloc seeks to expand its geopolitical and economic influence across Eurasia.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment