Axios · Donald Trump · Iran · Pentagon · Axios
Trump confirms U.S. feared Iran trap during F-15 crew rescue
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President Trump told Axios the U.S. initially worried that a message from the stranded crew member of an F-15 downed by Iran was a trick by the Iranians to lure U.S. forces into a trap.
Key facts
- President Trump told Axios the U.S. initially worried that a message from the stranded crew member of an F-15 downed by Iran was a trick by the Iranians to lure U.S. forces into a trap
- The crew member survived more than 24 hours in the mountains despite being wounded, before being rescued in a special forces operation on Saturday
- The President noted that the pilot was rescued much more quickly, in daylight, under heavy fire from the Iranians
- Trump said the IDF helped the U.S. military "a little bit" during the search and rescue of both crew members
Summary
The crew member survived more than 24 hours in the mountains despite being wounded, before being rescued in a special forces operation on Saturday. Around 200 soldiers from special operations units participated in the operation, Trump said. Trump said the Iranian military shot down the F-15 using a shoulder-fired missile. Speaking to Axios hours after confirming the rescue, Trump said that "thousands of these savages were hunting him down," using that loaded term to refer to members of the Iranian military. "Even the population was looking for him.