Today’s Easter Sunday celebrations will bode well for many Americans as an American crew member has been rescued after a fighter jet was shot down over Iran , with US President, Donald Trump saying the airman is “SAFE and SOUND”,
The operation to rescue the weapon systems officer involved hundreds of US troops and dozens of warplanes, BBC’s US media partner CBS reports
The CIA also launched a deception campaign to aid the rescue, according to CBS
The rescue ends a high-stakes mission that began on Friday. The pilot on board was found earlier, Trump confirms
This will be some relief for Trump, as the US avoids a prisoner of war being used for Iranian propaganda, writes our correspondent in Dubai
Trump posted a message on his Truth Social platform about the rescue of the second US airman. It reads:
“We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran. The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close. He is a highly respected Colonel.
“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment.’ It just doesn’t happen! The second raid came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran.
“An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all! I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
