US President Donald Trump announced that a missing US airman whose F-15 jet was shot down over Iran has been safely rescued after a daring operation involving “dozens of aircraft”. The rescue, which involved multiple branches of the military and its partners, prevented the crew member from becoming an Iranian bargaining chip. The US Air Force confirmed that the crew member had made contact with the military early on Friday.
However, Iranian media is trying to undercut Trump’s triumphant moment by denying the US rescued the missing F-15 crew member. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel attacked Iran’s petrochemical plants, and Gulf countries reported multiple drone interceptions as energy facilities came under fire.
The operation was “remarkable” according to a CNN analyst, but it involved significant risks for the rescue team, including flying at low altitudes to search for the service member. The US military also warned that the region is fraught with dust and grime that could gum up an aircraft’s engines and landing gear.
Trump claimed that many Iranian military leaders have died in a “massive strike” in Tehran, but without providing further detail. He said the rescue operation was successful, but did not confirm whether the second US service member whose F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was also rescued.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/05/world/live-news/iran-war-us-trump-oil