The wreckage of American planes blown up by US special forces during a raid to rescue a second missing pilot has been revealed.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that a second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet, which was downed over a remote area of Iran, had been recovered in ‘one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History’.
The announcement came as Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, and a day after Trump said the Islamic Republic had 48 hours to cut a deal or face ‘all Hell’.
‘This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,’ Trump said on Truth Social. ‘He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.
It comes after Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday, stating: ‘Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ referring to an ultimatum issued on March 26.
‘Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them.’
Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi saying Trump’s threat was a ‘helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action’.
Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that ‘the gates of hell will open for you’.
WATCH: Second US airman extracted in ‘miraculous’ rescue mission
Iran releases images reportedly of downed US aircraft
A US service member who has been missing since Iran shot down a fighter jet has been rescued, President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post early Sunday.
A frantic US search-and-rescue operation unfolded after the crash of the F-15E Strike Eaglejet on Friday, as Iran also promised a reward for anyone who turned in the ‘enemy pilot.’
A second crew member was rescued earlier.
Trump wrote that the aviator is injured but ‘will be just fine,’ adding that he took refuge ‘in the treacherous mountains of Iran.’
Trump added that the rescue involved “dozens of aircraft” and that the US had been monitoring his location ’24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.’
Israelis ‘filled with joy’ after US service member rescue, finance minister says
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to Telegram this morning to say: ‘The heart of every Jew and every Israeli is filled this morning with joy over the safe rescue of the two American aircrew members in a heroic operation on Iranian soil.
‘The bravery, courage, professionalism, and commitment to bringing every soldier home are yet another example of the shared values of the United States and the State of Israel – from Entebbe to Isfahan,’ he added, referencing a 1976 Israeli rescue mission at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
Iran shares photo of downed US aircraft in Isfahan
Iranian drones attack Bahrain petrochemical plant
Bahrain’s official news agency said on Sunday the attack ignited fires in two units at the state-run petrochemical plant.
According to the Bahrain News Agency, which cited the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, firefighters have brought the fire under control, and authorities are assessing the damage.
Iran says 10 killed and seven injured from strikes in country’s southwest
Nournews, a media outlet believed to have close links with Iranian security forces, reported on Sunday that the strikes occurred in Dehdasht county and the Vezq district, around 360 miles south of Tehran.
Nournews didn’t specify if those killed included military personnel, but said two were tourists.
Media reports had said on Friday that a US pilot who went missing after his aircraft was shot down may have been in the same areas where the strikes happened.
Nournews didn’t say if the deaths were linked to a rescue operation for the US pilot.
Egypt’s foreign minister discusses ways to de-escalate day before Trump’s Hormuz deadline expires
Minister Badr Abdelatty has spoken with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as with his Turkish and Pakistani counterparts, who are also helping mediate between the U.S. and Iran.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Abdelattay discussed a day earlier ‘ideas and proposals to achieve the required calm’ and warned of an ‘unprecedented explosion’ in the Middle East.
It didn’t elaborate further.
US President Donald Trump renewed his threats for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face devastating consequences.
At least five people killed by US-Israeli attacks during US pilot rescue operations in Iran, reports local media
Strikes killed five people overnight in Iran’s southwest during the rescue of a missing US crewmember of a downed American fighter jet, Iranian media reported Sunday.
‘Five people were martyred in last night’s attack on the Kouh-e Siah area’ in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the Tasnim news agency cited provincial official Iraj Kazemijou as saying.
He said the killings took place while the US was trying to find ‘the pilot or pilots’ of the downed fighter jet.
Trump says US airman rescued in Iran in ‘miraculous’ operation
President Donald Trump said Sunday that US forces had safely recovered a second airman downed in Iran, calling it ‘one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in US History’.
The announcement came as Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, and a day after Trump said the Islamic Republic had 48 hours to cut a deal or face ‘all Hell’.
‘This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,’ Trump said on Truth Social.
‘He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.
‘This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.’
Iranian media reported five people were killed in strikes during the US rescue operation.
The war, which erupted on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has spread across the Middle East and convulsed the global economy.
Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, a vital conduit for oil and gas, and kept up a campaign of strikes on Israel and its Gulf neighbours in reprisal.
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