In a captivating narrative of the rescue of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle crew member inside Iran, President Donald Trump revealed to Axios that US officials initially had concerns that the stranded officer’s radio transmission could be a ploy by Iran to trap American forces. The worry arose from the simple message of ‘God is good’ sent by the stranded weapons systems officer after ejecting over Iran, causing a brief suspicion that Iranian forces might be using deceptive signals to set up an ambush.
The injured weapons systems officer managed to survive for over 24 hours in rugged mountain terrain before being extracted in a daring nighttime special forces operation involving approximately 200 troops.
Trump mentioned that the officer took refuge in a mountain crevice while Iranian troops and local civilians scoured the area for him, with reports of Tehran offering rewards for his capture. US surveillance technology eventually pinpointed his location, but an initial radio message, interpreted as “Power be to God,” led to confusion. Trump explained that the message sounded like something a Muslim might say, but later clarification from defense officials revealed it as “God is good.”
Following an initial daylight operation to retrieve the F-15E pilot, who had landed a few miles away after ejecting from the aircraft, the subsequent rescue mission was carried out under the cover of night after American forces set up a temporary base within Iranian territory.
The stranded officer utilized survival tactics and minimized beacon usage to avoid detection, opting to communicate via a secure encrypted device to coordinate with US forces without disclosing his whereabouts.
Simultaneously, the CIA initiated a deception campaign within Iran, spreading false information that the airman had been located and was being transported overland for extraction to divert Iranian search efforts from his true location.
Specialized US intelligence capabilities were deployed to track the officer’s position, leading to the successful coordination of his extraction authorized by President Donald Trump, who later confirmed the mission’s triumph on Truth Social.
Furthermore, Trump mentioned that Israel offered limited support during the operation. While Israeli intelligence did not directly assist in locating the missing officer, it provided intelligence on Iranian troop movements, and the Israeli Air Force reportedly conducted a strike to impede Iranian forces moving towards the rescue area. Trump praised the strong partnership between the US and Israel, highlighting their close collaboration during the operation.