WASHINGTON — In a press briefing at the White House, President Donald Trump praised the rescue mission that successfully retrieved two U.S. service members who were shot down in Iran the previous week.

During the Monday afternoon conference, President Trump detailed the successful operation that took place over the weekend to save one of the downed American airmen in Iran.

Trump explained that one airman was quickly recovered following the crash. However, the second airman remained missing, prompting a large-scale search operation involving numerous military aircraft.

“I directed the U.S. armed forces to do whatever it took to bring our courageous warriors back home,” Trump declared.

The president noted that the second airman sustained severe injuries. Following his military training, the airman evaded capture by Iranian forces and ascended to higher ground. Despite his injuries, he managed to provide self-care and successfully signaled for assistance on Sunday, three days after ejecting from the aircraft.

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said the airman’s first message was “God is good.”

Hegseth praised the rescue mission, saying it showed American excellence. 

“Our troops turned a potential tragedy into a resounding demonstration of American resolve and capability,” he said. “That’s what excellence in uniform looks like.”   

The crash of the F-15E Strike Eagle marked the first time a U.S. plane had been shot down by Iran during the war, with Iran promising a reward for the “enemy pilot.” 

Trump told reporters Monday that the U.S. military “blew up the planes” that crashed so that Iranian forces couldn’t access their technology. 

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said military forces were deployed across the region in a “flawless” deception campaign meant to fool Iranian forces hunting for the ejected airman into searching the wrong areas. 

“Because it is the unique tradition of the U.S. armed forces that we leave no man or woman behind,” Ratcliffe said. “This was a no-fail mission.” 

Trump shared the news Sunday morning that the rescue operation was successful. 

In a post on social media, the president said the service member was “seriously wounded and really brave.” The operation, involving dozens of armed aircraft, rescued the airman from “deep inside the mountains,” Trump said, adding that a second crew member was rescued in “broad daylight” within hours of the crash.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

A senior U.S. administration official said that before locating the second aviator, the CIA spread word inside Iran that U.S. forces had found him and were moving him out, creating confusion for Iranians. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public.

When asked about how the jet was shot down, the president described the weapon as a “hand-held shoulder missile— heat-seeking missile.”

President Trump went on to suggest that the fighter jet was ultimately downed not by the explosion but because of related damage to the aircraft’s engines.

“They shot it and it got sucked in right by the engine,” Trump said.

This story is developing and will be updated.