Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have celebrated the “bold” rescue of two US airmen who were shot down while flying a F-15 fighter plane over Iran on Friday.
The pilot and a weapons systems officer (WSO) were forced to eject over enemy territory when the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft costing $31m was shot down.
While the pilot was rescued quickly, the second ejected passenger could not be located by US forces and was reportedly forced to scale a remote mountain region and hide from the enemy while suffering a sprained ankle.
According to reports, a massive rescue mission was launched, including a “deception campaign” that spread rumours they had already located the missing officer.
Israel then launched a bombing campaign, firing at 120 targets and opening fire across Iran in order to clear the way for a rescue mission for the missing US military figure, who was said to have only a handgun.
After hitting the ground after ejecting, while nursing his leg injury, the stranded airman unclipped his harness and immediately put his Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training into practice, according to reports.
The airman began climbing up the nearest peak to evade locals, at one stage reportedly scaling a 7,000ft mountain ridge before hiding in a crevice as he waited for help to arrive.
All flight crew are equipped with a beacon to transmit their location to central command as well as a secure communication device.
MQ-9 Reaper drones protected the crew member by striking Iranian military-aged males thought to be a threat who were within 3km of the airman, a person familiar with the operation told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Under the cover of darkness late on Saturday – and with huge numbers of Iranian troops closing in – Navy Seals landed close to the airman on an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter,.
The US serviceman was airlifted out after being identified, with the rescue celebrated on Trump’s social media as an “amazing show of bravery”.
Netanyahu also claimed Israel was involved, writing: “I am deeply proud that our cooperation on an off the battlefield is unprecedented, and that Israel could contribute to saving a brave American warrior.”
However, the tense 48 hours have undermined the president’s claim that they have “total control” over Iranian airspace, suggesting that the Iranian regime still has some fighting power.
The Iranian military claimed to have shot down several American warplanes as part of the rescue mission.
At least 13 US military personnel have died, and 300 have been injured in the month since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran.
“The enemy should know that we rely on new air-defence systems built by the young, knowledgeable, and proud people of this country, unveiling them one after another in the field,” an Iranian spokesperson said.
As Christians celebrated Easter weekend, Trump came under fire for then sharing an “unhinged” social media message where he swore and threatened to bomb more civilian infrastructure in Iran.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran” Trump wrote. “There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP” he wrote.
It even prompted outrage among previously staunch Republicans like Majorie Taylor Greene, who wrote: “he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit. I’m not defending Iran but let’s be honest about all of this.”
The deliberate bombing of civilian infrastructure, like bridges and power plants, is considered a war crime under international law.
