Photo: Alamy
During a special briefing at the White House on Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump, flanked by key members of the U.S. military, told the triumphant story of the U.S. military operation that successfully rescued two downed U.S. airmen in enemy territory in Iran over the weekend.
“Generally, when planes are knocked down in wars…you can’t really do this because you send in 200 men to pick one up and it’s something that’s usually not attempted,” the president said.
The rescue operation took place in two parts, according to the president’s account, beginning with his decision to send the U.S. Armed Forces in to “do whatever is necessary” to bring home the warriors stranded in Iran. He said it was a “risky decision” and a “hard decision to make.”
“But in the United States military, we leave no Americans behind,” the president noted.
The first phase of this rescue operation included the deployment of 21 military aircraft into hostile airspace, many flying “at very low altitude, being shot by bullets.” They cruised for seven hours, searching for the downed pilots.
“This first wave of search and rescue forces successfully located the pilot of the F-15, and he was extracted from enemy territory by an HH-60 Jolly Green II helicopter…as our warriors faced gunfire at very close range,” President Trump said.
The second airman – a “highly respected colonel” – retreated into the mountainous Iranian terrain, moving toward a higher altitude despite being wounded, and contacted American forces to transmit his location.
The second phase of the rescue operation involved 155 military aircraft, President Trump said, and included “subterfuge.” He explained that through the use of careful manipulation, they misdirected enemy focus across seven different locations, while U.S. military forces moved in on the one authentic location of the remaining pilot.
“In a breathtaking show of skill and precision, lethality, and force, America’s military descended on the area – the real area, engaged the enemy, rescued the stranded officer, destroyed all threats, and exited Iranian territory while taking no casualties of any kind,” President Trump said. “The heroic F-15 weapons system officer had evaded capture on the ground in Iran for almost 48 hours, that’s a long time when you’re in tough shape and when you’re bleeding.”
The thrilling tale of America’s rescue operation was also delivered with some details about the overall scope of Operation Epic Fury. President Trump said that over the past 37 days, American military forces have carried out more than 10,000 combat flights in the skies of Iran and hit more than 13,000 targets.
“It’s a record that is unparalleled in the history of military air operations – nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” President Trump said.
