President Donald J. Trump announced Saturday in a post on Truth Social that U.S. military forces successfully completed what he described as one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in American history, recovering a U.S. military officer who had been stranded behind enemy lines in Iran.
“WE GOT HIM!” Trump wrote at the start of the message, addressing what he called “my fellow Americans.”
According to the president’s statement, the rescued service member is a highly respected U.S. Colonel who had been trapped in the mountainous terrain of Iran while being pursued by enemy forces. Trump said U.S. military leadership, including the commander in chief, senior military officials, and warfighters, monitored the situation continuously while planning the rescue mission.
Trump said that, under his direction, U.S. forces deployed multiple aircraft equipped with advanced weaponry to carry out the recovery operation. The colonel sustained injuries during the ordeal but is expected to recover, according to the president.
The announcement also revealed that the rescue followed a separate operation the previous day in which another U.S. pilot was successfully recovered from enemy territory. Trump said that earlier mission had not been publicly disclosed at the time to avoid jeopardizing the second rescue effort.
“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory,” Trump wrote.
Trump emphasized that neither operation resulted in any American fatalities or additional injuries among U.S. forces. He credited the outcome to what he described as overwhelming U.S. air dominance over Iranian skies.
“This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around,” Trump wrote, praising the professionalism and capability of the U.S. military.
The president concluded his message by expressing gratitude to American troops and offering an Easter message to the nation.
“GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!” Trump wrote.
