U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced the successful rescue of a U.S. military officer who had been stranded behind enemy lines in Iran, describing the mission as one of the most daring in American history.
In a statement released early Sunday, Trump said U.S. forces carried out a high-risk search-and-rescue operation in the mountainous regions of Iran to retrieve the officer, identified as a highly respected colonel. According to him, the officer had been pursued by hostile forces but was under constant surveillance and support from U.S. military leadership throughout the ordeal.
Trump revealed that, acting on his directive, the U.S. military deployed dozens of aircraft equipped with advanced weaponry to execute the mission. The rescued officer reportedly sustained injuries but is now “safe and sound” and expected to recover fully.
He further disclosed that the operation followed the earlier rescue of another U.S. pilot in a separate mission, which had not been publicly confirmed at the time to avoid compromising ongoing efforts.
Describing the dual rescues as unprecedented, Trump said it marked the first time two American pilots had been successfully recovered from deep within enemy territory in separate operations.
He emphasized that no American personnel were killed or wounded during the missions, attributing the success to what he called overwhelming U.S. air dominance over Iranian airspace.
“This is a moment all Americans should be proud of,” Trump said, urging unity across political lines while praising the professionalism and strength of the U.S. military.
