Donald Trump issued new threats against Iran today, Sunday, saying “open the Strait of Hormuz or you’ll live in hell“. Specifically, the American president who has given Iran an ultimatum to open the Straits was somewhat crude in his post on Truth Social.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all together, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F@@@@@@@ Straits, crazy b@@@@rds, or you’ll live in Hell – WAIT AND SEE! Glory to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
Trump’s post about the F-15 pilot – “An incredible display of bravery”
Meanwhile, American President Donald Trump referred to the rescue of the second pilot of the F-15 fighter aircraft, which was shot down on Friday by Iran’s air defense, noting that American forces flew “seven hours over Iran”.
“The Iranian military was searching for him intensively, with large forces, and was getting close. He is a particularly respected colonel” he emphasized and informed that he will give a press conference on Monday at the Oval Office.
“We rescued the seriously wounded and truly brave crew member/officer of the F-15, from deep inside Iran’s mountains. The Iranian military was searching for him intensively, with large forces, and was getting close. He is a particularly respected colonel. Such raids are rarely attempted due to the danger to ‘personnel and equipment’. It just doesn’t happen!
The second operation came after the first, during which we rescued the pilot in broad daylight – something also unusual – staying seven hours over Iran. An INCREDIBLE display of bravery and capability from everyone! I will hold a press conference, along with the military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 p.m. God bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS!”.
How the operation was set up
The two crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagle —the first of its kind to be shot down by enemy fire during the war— had ejected from the cockpit on Friday, after their aircraft was hit by the Iranian military. The first pilot was rescued immediately, however the second could not be located, which triggered an urgent search operation with significant potential implications for US President Donald Trump and the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Locating the airman, who was hiding with only a pistol as his sole means of defense, became the top priority of the American military over the past 48 hours.
The rescue operation mobilized hundreds of US Special Forces personnel, dozens of American warplanes and helicopters, and intelligence services.
American attack aircraft launched bombings and opened fire on Iranian formations, in order to keep them away from the area where the airman was hiding. As American forces converged on the location, a firefight broke out, the New York Times reports, citing two former senior military officials who had been briefed on the operation.
The pilot carried a locator beacon and secure communication device to coordinate with the rescue forces.
A senior official described the operation as one of the most difficult and complex in the history of American special operations.
After the rescue, two transport aircraft that would carry the commandos and the airman to safety were immobilized at a remote base in Iran. Commanders decided to send three new aircraft to evacuate all personnel and destroyed the two immobilized ones, so they wouldn’t fall into Iranian hands.
The F-15E was shot down in an area of Iran where there is strong opposition to the government, which possibly helped the airman find refuge and support from locals.
The crash also attracted the attention of Iranian military forces, who reportedly were searching the area. The Iranian government asked for the help of residents and offered a reward for the airman’s capture.
The pilot made a bold move to be rescued
The missing pilot managed to evade capture for more than 36 hours while wounded, two American officials told the WSJ. At some point, he reportedly made a bold move to meet the team that would rescue him.
A person familiar with the rescue operation added that the airman was protected by American MQ-9 Reaper drones, which struck Iranians who approached him. The drones have been used extensively by the US during the war against Iran and the military has lost at least 16. Fighters also played a role in intercepting suspected threats against the colonel.
The CIA conducted a “deception operation”
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted a “deception operation” to protect the airman before he was rescued, a senior government official told the Wall Street Journal.
The official said that while the airman was hiding, the CIA spread word within Iran that he had already been found by American forces, who were preparing to airlift him out of the country.
The CIA located the colonel’s position and shared the information with the Pentagon and the White House.
