The second crew member of a downed US F-15E fighter jet has been rescued, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday.
Trump posted on social media: “WE GOT HIM! I am thrilled to let you know [he] is now SAFE and SOUND.”
Earlier a US government official told Al Jazeera the airman had been located following a “heavy firefight”.
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Trump said the US military had carried out a search and rescue operation over several hours, sending dozens of aircraft armed with “the most lethal weapons in the world” to retrieve the airman. “He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump wrote.
The American leader hailed the rescue operation as “one of the most daring” in the country’s history.
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“This is the first time in military memory that two US pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory,” he added.
Iran shot down two US warplanes in separate incidents on Friday, the first time it had done so.
