American President Donald Trump announced this Sunday morning (5) the rescue of a US Air Force colonel who had been isolated for more than 30 hours in Iranian territory.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote in all capital letters: “WE GOT HIM!” (“We got him”) — and called the mission one of the most daring search operations in American military history.
The soldier had ejected from a downed fighter on Friday (3) and remained injured and hidden in a mountainous region in the interior of Iran, while being sought by enemy troops. He was located and removed by US special forces.
The US government has not yet announced which base or country the soldier was taken to.
How it all started
On Friday (3), an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter was shot down during Operation Epic Fury, already in the sixth week of conflict. There were two men on board.
The pilot was rescued a few hours later. The second crew member, a colonel responsible for weapons systems, disappeared.
He ejected injured but conscious and able to walk. According to experts, the soldier made the riskiest choice possible: he did not surrender and fled into the mountains.
Race against time
What came next was a scramble to find him.
On one side, the Revolutionary Guard, searching every piece of land. On the other, American special forces, operating within hostile territory.
Two Black Hawk helicopters were hit during the search, with injuries among the crews. Meanwhile, the colonel remained hidden enough to escape the Iranians — but also difficult to find by his own allies.
On another front, American intelligence bet on a disinformation maneuver: it spread false news inside Iran that the colonel had already been located and was being removed by land. The idea was to make noise while the search continued.
With the colonel’s location finally confirmed, the order came to enter the location and rescue him.
Who went to look for
The mission was carried out by the Pararescue Jumpers (“Rescue Paratroopers”), the PJs — elite Air Force troops trained for combat rescues, including behind enemy lines. The unit’s motto sums up the work well: “We do whatever it takes so that others can live.”
To join the group, soldiers undergo two years of heavy training, which includes parachuting, diving, survival, combat and complete medical training.
A former troop commander defined the operation for the American press. “To say it was scary and dangerous is an understatement. That’s exactly what they train for.”
According to him, the PJs entered Iran with full air and technological support: rescue helicopters, refueling planes, A-10 Thunderbolt II jets (designed to protect troops on the ground) and electronic warfare platforms (capable of confusing radars, communications and defense systems).
A senior US government official described the decisive moment of the operation, when the colonel was finally located. “It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But in this case, it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, practically invisible.”
SEE ALSO:
-
Trump announces rescue of pilot who was missing in Iran; soldier is injured
