President Donald Trump celebrated the United States’s rescue of the second and final fighter pilot downed over Iran as an “Easter miracle” on Sunday.
“The rescue was an Easter Miracle. The enemy was large and violent. The rescuers were brilliant, strong, decisive, and as cool as anyone can be. The Iranians thought they had him, but it wasn’t even close, and remember, we got two, but couldn’t talk about the first in that it would have highlighted that there was a second,” Trump told NBC’s Kristin Welker.
“Such a rescue has never happened before in so violent an enemy territory. It is usually not done because it is considered not doable. Such a great military – Like no other. Happy Easter! President DJT,” he concluded.
Trump said in his announcement of the rescue earlier Sunday that Iran was “looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close” to capturing the “respected colonel” before U.S. forces were able to rescue the stranded pilot in a “raid.”
It was initially revealed on Friday that the two pilots were shot down by Iran over the country’s airspace, the first such incident of the Iran war. One of the crew members was located alive by the U.S., with Trump revealing, “We rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran.” But search-and-rescue teams were still searching for the second individual. The president said the second pilot was rescued with injuries but stable.
“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to ‘man and equipment.’ It just doesn’t happen! The second raid came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran. An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all!” Trump said in a post to Truth Social.
Several other U.S. military aircraft were fired at by Iran as they searched for the two pilots, according to multiple reports. Iran shot down one of them, an A-10 Thunderbolt attack plane, though the pilot safely ejected and was rescued.
TRUMP SAYS ‘MANY’ IRAN MILITARY LEADERS KILLED IN ‘MASSIVE’ STRIKE
Aside from his Sunday announcement that the second pilot was rescued, Trump issued a message warning Iran he would unleash “hell” on the country’s energy infrastructure on Tuesday if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz. The president has repeatedly threatened to ramp up strikes on Iran if it does not open the strategic waterway, following previous threats.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday as the 10-day deadline ending on Monday, April 6, at 8 p.m. ticks down.
