Missing U.S. crew member from downed fighter jet rescued in Iran, Trump says

Key Points:

• A U.S. crew member missing after an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran was rescued early Sunday, following the pilot's rescue on Friday, confirmed by President Trump and U.S. officials.
• The rescue involved a complex operation with hundreds of special forces, dozens of warplanes and helicopters, and included a firefight with Iranian troops, but resulted in no U.S. casualties.
• The rescued officer, a highly respected colonel who sustained injuries, was flown to Kuwait for treatment; the operation used heavy weapons to keep Iranian forces at bay while the officer, armed only with a handgun, awaited extraction.
• Following the rescue, two U.S. transport planes were trapped and subsequently destroyed at a remote Iranian base to prevent their capture, with new aircraft deployed to extract personnel safely.
• This incident marks the first time in over 20 years that a U.S. fighter jet was shot down in combat, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards claiming responsibility; the U.S. military had previously suffered friendly-fire losses of fighter jets in the region.