Missing F-15E crew member located, rescued from 'behind enemy lines' in Iran: Trump

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday praised the rescue of a U.S. airman in Iran.

“Proud of our troops. Proud of our President. Proud to be an American,” Leavitt said on X.

Earlier Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that a U.S. weapons system officer was located and rescued after the two-person crew fighter jet he was on was shot down in Iran on Friday.

The president said the U.S. military mission was “one of the most daring” search-and-rescue operations in U.S. history.

Israel was involved in the rescue operation of a U.S. airman in Iran, Fox News has learned.

Israeli officials reportedly shared information with the U.S. as the search-and-rescue operation unfolded.

Additionally, the Israeli military helped halt Iranian air strikes in the area while the rescue mission was underway over the past 36 hours.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that dozens of aircraft were involved in the evacuation.

Fox News’ Mike Tobin contributed to this report.

At least one aircraft involved in the extraction of a U.S. weapons systems officer in Iran was left behind during the daring rescue mission due to complications, Fox News has learned.

An aircraft, possibly a C-130 Hercules, was left behind after reportedly getting stuck in the mud and destroyed to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, while additional aircraft came in to bring personnel involved in the operation home safely.

Fox News’ Mike Tobin contributed to this report.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin outlined how the downed U.S. weapons systems officer in Iran demonstrated remarkable survival skills.

The colonel, who ejected along with the pilot when their F-15E Strike Eagle was struck early Friday local time in southwest Iran, reportedly climbed several thousand feet up a ridge and remained hidden there for nearly 48 hours.

The service member either used an encrypted communication method or activated a beacon to help U.S. forces locate him.

The CIA launched a “deception campaign” inside Iran before the Pentagon initiated its rescue mission for a missing U.S. weapons systems officer, Fox News has learned.

Before the service member was found, the CIA spread word inside Iran that U.S. forces had already located the missing colonel and were moving him on the ground for exfiltration, Fox News' Jennifer Griffin reported, citing a senior administration official.

Griffin reported that while Iranian forces were confused and uncertain about what was happening, the CIA used its “unique, exquisite capabilities” to locate the American service member.

She described the effort as “like looking for a needle in a haystack,” with the American hidden inside a mountain crevice and invisible without CIA capabilities.

The CIA immediately shared the service member’s location with the Pentagon and the White House.

President Donald Trump then ordered an immediate rescue mission, which U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) executed with CIA support providing real-time intelligence.

Hundreds of American service members were involved in the rescue of a downed U.S. weapons systems officer in Iran.

Elite special operations forces and aircraft from multiple branches participated in the mission, Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported.

The operation did not involve a firefight between U.S. and Iranian forces, according to a senior official, but U.S. forces did fire weapons to keep Iranian personnel away from the rescue site.

"This is the stuff of movies," Griffin said. "When the final story is told, I think we'll be stunned."

Griffin acknowledged that past rescue operations in Afghanistan did not always end well, but said she has never seen anything like this mission in terms of its complexity, the successful rescue of two airmen, and the scale of personnel and aircraft involved.

"This is really one for the history books."

President Donald Trump said early Sunday on Truth Social that a second U.S. pilot was rescued in Iran during a successful mission to locate and extract an airman who went missing when an F-15E was shot down on Friday.

“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation,” Trump wrote. “This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory.”

Trump touted the success of the operations, saying they proved the U.S. military’s air superiority amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies,” Trump said.

Trump framed the moment as one all Americans should celebrate.

“This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!”

President Donald Trump reacted to the evacuation of a U.S. weapons systems officer who was downed in Iran earlier this week.

“WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The president continued, “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”

Trump said the “miraculous” search effort involved dozens of aircraft.

 “At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine,” Trump said. 

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday called for peace in a world facing widespread conflict during his Easter message, urging unity and hope.

In his homily, Leo said that sin is “a heavy barrier that closes us off and separates us from God, seeking to kill his words of hope within us,” connecting it to the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb but was later overturned, revealing his resurrection.

Leo said there are stones representing sins that must be overturned today, some “so heavy and so closely guarded that they seem to be immovable.”

“Some weigh heavily on the human heart, such as mistrust, fear, selfishness and resentment; others stemming from these inner struggles, sever the bonds between us through war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.

“Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by them!” Leo said, calling for a commitment “so that the Easter gifts of harmony and peace may grow and flourish everywhere and always throughout the world.’’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Two relatives of slain Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani living in Los Angeles were taken into custody by federal agents after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their green cards, officials said.

Hamideh Soleimani Afshar, identified as Soleimani’s niece, and her daughter were arrested and are now being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to an announcement Saturday from the State Department.

The Trump administration says Afshar has been a supporter of Iran’s "totalitarian, terrorist" regime.

"Afshar is the niece of deceased Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani," Rubio wrote on X. "She is also an outspoken supporter of the Iranian regime who celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the 'Great Satan.'

"This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter's legal status and they are now in ICE custody, pending removal from the United States."

In January 2020, a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad killed Soleimani during President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

While living in the U.S., Afshar "promoted Iranian regime propaganda, celebrated attacks against American soldiers and military facilities in the Middle East, praised the new Iranian Supreme Leader, denounced America as the 'Great Satan,' and voiced her unflinching support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated terrorist organization," the State Department said."

[Afshar] pushed this propaganda for Iran’s terrorist regime while enjoying a lavish lifestyle in Los Angeles, as attested to by her frequent posting on her recently deleted Instagram account," the department said.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Fox News' Bill Melugin.

Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George urged senior leaders to remain focused on the mission in a farewell letter obtained by Fox News following his removal by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

In the note sent to three- and four-star generals and senior Army leaders, George reflected on his 38 years of service and thanked colleagues for their “exceptional teamwork.”

“It has been the greatest privilege to serve beside you and lead Soldiers in support of our country,” George wrote.

He encouraged leaders to continue prioritizing warfighters and cutting through bureaucracy.

“I know you’ll all continue to stay laser-focused on the mission, continue innovating, and relentlessly cut through the bureaucracy to get our warfighters what they need,” he said.

George, who enlisted out of high school, said he remained in the Army for decades because of the people he served alongside.

“Our Soldiers are truly the best in the world,” he added. “They deserve tough training and courageous leaders of character.”

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this reporting.

A downed U.S. airman behind enemy lines would take comfort in knowing the military is deploying every available resource to bring them home, a former Army pilot said.

Amber Smith, a former deputy assistant to the secretary of defense, said elite combat search and rescue teams are trained for exactly this kind of high-risk mission.

“You know that the might of the U.S. military is behind you and is going to come get you,” Smith said on “The Big Weekend Show.” “They will move heaven and earth to find you.”

Smith said both pilots and rescue teams undergo intense survival, evasion, resistance and escape training designed to help them operate in hostile territory and avoid capture.

She noted that separation between crew members after ejection is common due to timing delays and wind conditions, which can carry them to different locations on the ground.

Smith also cautioned that even with U.S. air superiority, threats remain.

“A threat in a war environment is always going to exist,” she said, adding that Iran only needs limited success to create dangerous situations.

The comments come as the search continues for a missing weapons systems officer after an F-15E was shot down over Iran.

Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi pitched the economic promise of a post-regime Iran during remarks to American business leaders in Texas, calling for a decisive end to the current government in Tehran.

In video shared to X, Pahlavi told the Dallas Economic Club that a “free Iran” could become a major economic partner to the United States and the West.

“I am here to lead that transition — not to rule, but to serve as the bridge to a secular, democratic future,” he said.

Pahlavi argued that Iran represents an “untapped market” and said a stable transition plan is already in place, emphasizing the role of the Iranian diaspora in rebuilding ties with America.

He also urged a more aggressive approach toward the current regime, warning against leaving it in place.

“All of this is hinging upon getting the job done,” he said. “Not wound it — just kill it, get it over with.”

The remarks come as debate grows over what a post-regime future could look like in Iran.

Former U.S. Amb. to NATO Kurt Volker warned the United States and its allies must "stop the sniping" and come together to end the conflict with Iran during a Saturday interview on Fox News.

Volker appeared on "Fox News Live" to discuss the Trump administration’s comments about reevaluating its relationship with NATO.

"I think this is completely wrong," Volker told Fox News anchor Aishah Hasnie of the friction with NATO.

"We did not inform allies. We did not consult with allies. We did not set up a clear goal, a common operation. We didn't ask them. So, this went off the rails from the very beginning."

Operation Epic Fury has strained some relationships between the United States and its allies. Spain and other allies have denied the use of jointly operated bases for these operations.

The United Kingdom also granted limited use of its bases for strict defensive purposes.Volker argued that both sides need to pause before making any major decisions.

"We both need to take a breath, realize that NATO has a very important purpose, which is peace in Europe," Volker said.

"We need to stop the rhetoric, talk to each other and come up with a way forward on actually opening up the Persian Gulf and ending the war with Iran and restoring security in Europe," he added.

President Donald Trump has signaled the White House might be rethinking its relationship with some European allies in the wake of the conflict.

He spoke to The Telegraph in an article published Wednesday, saying, "Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."

Trump is expected to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte next week for a planned visit. Volker said he believes he and Trump will have a better discussion about U.S. goals in Iran.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo.

A missing U.S. weapons systems officer (WSO) downed over Iran would have received extensive survival training aimed at evading capture and aiding rescue teams, a former CENTCOM official said.

Retired Col. Joe Buccino said the airman would be trained to quickly move away from populated areas and seek terrain that offers concealment and communication advantages.

“That officer has gone through intensive training to get to a secure location that’s away from the population,” Buccino said on 'Fox Report' Saturday. “They know how to do this.”

Buccino said the goal is to reach high ground or an isolated area where the service member can establish contact with U.S. forces and guide search-and-rescue teams.

His comments come as the search continues for the missing crew member after an F-15E was shot down over Iran. The pilot was rescued, but the weapons systems officer remains unaccounted for.

Iranian officials have reportedly urged civilians to locate and turn in the missing airman, raising concerns about the risk of capture.

Buccino cautioned that while U.S. rescue teams are highly trained, there are still significant unknowns, including the service member’s condition.

“There’s a lot of unknowns here,” he said. “We just hope and pray that we can get that service member back.”

The U.S. military has been preparing for a potential conflict in the Strait of Hormuz for decades, according to a national security expert.

Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner said the Pentagon anticipated the strategic challenge posed by Iran’s geography and capabilities in the region.

“The U.S. military has been preparing for this for decades,” Skinner said on 'Fox Report' Saturday, pointing to long-standing war games and planning across the national security apparatus.

But she warned that reopening the vital shipping lane is far from simple, describing it as a “complicated” and “dangerous” mission.

Skinner said Iran retains key advantages, including terrain along the Persian Gulf and the ability to deploy missiles, small attack boats and proxy forces to threaten ships.

She also called on European allies to play a larger role, arguing the U.S. and Israel are carrying much of the burden in the conflict.

The comments come as President Donald Trump has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the strait, warning that “time is running out.”

The Israeli military released new video showing troops moving through and securing a building as part of its expanding operations tied to strikes on Iran and its proxies.

Video posted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on X shows armed soldiers advancing up a staircase and clearing the structure, offering a rare on-the-ground look at operations alongside ongoing airstrikes.

The video comes as the IDF says it completed “extensive waves of attacks” hitting more than 200 targets across Iran and Lebanon, including sites tied to the Iranian regime and Hezbollah. 

Israeli officials say the strikes are part of a broader campaign targeting weapons infrastructure, missile production and militant positions across the region.

President Donald Trump said the downing of a U.S. fighter jet over Iran will not impact ongoing negotiations, as the search continues for a missing American airman.

The F-15E was shot down Friday over Iranian territory, with the pilot rescued after ejecting safely. The aircraft’s weapons systems officer remains missing.

“This is the first time since 2003 that an American warplane has been shot down over enemy territory,” Fox News correspondent Alex Hogan reported on 'Fox News Live.'

The search-and-rescue operation remains ongoing as U.S. forces work to locate the missing service member, with Iranian officials also reportedly calling on civilians to find and turn in the airman.

Trump, who has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warned that “time is running out” as tensions continue to escalate.

Operation Epic Fury is now entering its sixth week, with U.S. and allied forces engaged in sustained operations across the region.