In the midst of uncertainty surrounding American war objectives in Iran, as opposition to the conflict among Americans is confirmed in all polls, clarifications were expected from Donald Trump. The American president spoke on Monday at a press conference at the White House at 1 pm (7 pm Paris time), mainly focusing on the rescue of American aviators whose plane was hit by Iranian defenses last Friday. “This is a rescue that will go down in the history books,” he boasted.
“Two crew members ejected from the aircraft and survived,” he recalled. The pilot was rescued on Friday in the hours following the crash.
Another combat aircraft lost in the operation
This aircraft, designated by the code name Dude 44 Alpha, was rescued with the support of 21 aircraft, including A-10s specialized in ground attacks, to keep the Iranians trying to capture him at bay.
Behind them, and as shown in videos that emerged on social networks, HH-60 helicopters flew at very low altitudes and in broad daylight alongside a refueling aircraft and managed to recover Dude44Alpha.
However, admitted General Caine, one of the A-10s was hit by Iranian fire. The pilot ejected and was safely recovered outside of Iran. During the return trip of this first rotation on Friday, the helicopters were targeted by light weapons fire, and one of the aircraft was hit and its crew slightly injured, the chief of staff specified. Iran had indeed claimed on Friday to have hit a second American plane, in addition to the F-15 with the two rescued aviators.
The co-pilot was rescued later
To rescue the co-pilot, code-named Dude 44 Bravo, who did not land at the same location, the US military, on the other hand, had to pull out all the stops.
Donald Trump highlighted the work of the rescue teams to save him. “The pilots took enormous risks to rescue their fellow soldiers. They managed to locate the F-15 co-pilot and extract him from the territory. No one was injured,” he said.
Regarding the rescued co-pilot, Trump added, “It’s incredible what he did. He climbed a mountain to hide, while bleeding profusely.” According to the president, the aviator was “severely injured” and “under the threat of the Revolutionary Guards.” “As a subterfuge, we wanted the Iranians to think he was somewhere else. They were scattered all over,” he explained.
Hidden in a rock crevice, “he treated his wounds himself and contacted American forces to relay his location,” the American president added.
General Dan Caine then praised the soldier’s “fighting spirit.” “His will to survive, his desire to escape the threat, his will to recover, all of this is essential. In this specific case, his absolute commitment to survival made our efforts largely possible,” explained the interagency chief of staff.
By using “human resources and cutting-edge technologies that no other intelligence service in the world possesses,” the CIA located and identified him, said director John Ratcliffe.
A diversion to trap the Iranians
From there, Washington triggered an “air armada” to rescue him: 155 aircraft, including 4 bombers, 64 fighter jets, 48 refueling aircraft, 13 rescue aircraft, and drones. But a large part of them were used as a diversion, according to Donald Trump.
Two of the aircraft expected to bring the aviator and his rescuers back safely remained stranded on an isolated base in Iran, stuck in the sand, and had to be destroyed to escape the Iranian forces, the American press revealed. “They were old aircraft, we blew them up,” confirmed Donald Trump to journalists. So faster and lighter aircraft had to be sent back to Iran to bring Dude 44 Bravo home.
Tehran confirmed that two Black Hawk helicopters and two C-130 military transport aircraft had been destroyed, with debris located about 50 km south of the city of Isfahan. Five Iranians were killed in the operation, according to the Tasnim news agency.
“God was with us”
“At midnight on Easter Sunday Washington time, more than 50 hours after the start of this operation, the rescue center declared the two Dude 44 aviators back in friendly territory,” concluded General Dan Caine, praising an operation without casualties on the American side.
“God was with us. It was Easter. I think God helped us,” added the American president, who often makes references to religion, especially in the context of the war in Iran.
“God is good,” added Secretary of State for War Pete Hegseth. He recalled that the co-pilot disappeared on Good Friday and was rescued on Easter Sunday.
“When he (the co-pilot) was finally able to activate his distress beacon, his first message was simple and poignant. He said, ‘God is good.’ In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and courage shone through,” Hegseth detailed.
Threats against the press
Finally, the Republican billionaire denounced information leaks after American media revealed last week that the two pilots had ejected from their aircraft. “Something leaked. A mole warned Iran. We will find out who did this, and send them to prison if they do not reveal their source,” he assured.
A new threat against the press, as the American administration has been very vocal against certain media outlets since Donald Trump’s election, regularly restricting journalists’ access to the White House.
Concluding the operation, Donald Trump could not resist emphasizing his own role during the mission: “In the military, some people said it was not wise. But I said, ‘Let’s do it!'” Justifying himself, he said, “I thought it was worth it.”
