In the midst of confusion surrounding American war objectives in Iran, with opposition to the conflict confirmed in all polls, clarifications were expected from Donald Trump. The American president spoke on Monday at a press conference at the White House at 1 pm (7 pm Paris time), mainly discussing the rescue of American aviators whose plane was hit by Iranian defenses last Friday. “It is a rescue that will remain in the history books,” he boasted.
“200 men and 21 planes ‘flew at very low altitude, during the day, for seven hours, facing enemy fire’ were mobilized. In total, ‘over 150 planes of all types’ were deployed, including ‘sixty-four fighter bombers, forty-eight refueling planes, thirteen rescue aircraft,'” he said.
“Two crew members ejected from the aircraft and survived,” he recalled. The pilot was rescued on Friday in the hours following the crash.
Another combat aircraft lost in the operation, designated by the code name Dude 44 Alpha, was rescued with the support of 21 aircraft, including A-10s specializing in ground attacks, to keep the Iranians trying to capture him at bay.
Behind them, helicopters HH-60 flew at very low altitude in broad daylight alongside a refueling aircraft and managed to recover Dude44Alpha.
However, General Caine acknowledged that one of the A-10s was hit by Iranian gunfire. The pilot ejected and was successfully recovered outside of Iran. On the return trip of this first rotation on Friday, the helicopters were targeted by light weapon fire, with one of the aircraft being hit and its crew slightly injured, the chief of staff pointed out. Iran had indeed claimed on Friday to have hit a second American plane, in addition to the F-15 of the two rescued aviators.
To rescue the copilot, code name Dude 44 Bravo, who had not landed in the same place, the US military had to use major resources.
Donald Trump highlighted the rescue efforts made by the teams to save him. “The pilots took enormous risks to rescue their fellow soldiers. They managed to locate the copilot of the F-15 and exfiltrate him from the territory. No one was injured,” he said.
As for the rescued copilot, Trump added: “It’s incredible what he did. He climbed a mountain to hide while bleeding profusely.” The aviator was “severely injured” and “under threat from the Revolutionary Guards.” “As a ruse, we wanted the Iranians to think he was somewhere else. They were scattered everywhere,” he detailed.
Context: – The article discusses the rescue mission carried out by American forces to recover aviators in Iran.
Fact Check: – The use of religious references and the role of President Trump in the mission are accurately portrayed.
