In a harrowing operation over nearly two days, hundreds of U.S. troops rescued the two crew members of an F-15E Strike Eagle after they ejected from their jet, which was shot down during a combat mission in Iran on April 3.
"An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all!" President Donald Trump said about the rescue operation in a Truth Social post on April 5.
Rescuing the crew member was "like finding a needle in a haystack," Trump said at a news conference April 6.
Though details are scarce, both U.S. and Iranian forces were racing to find the crew members, neither of whom has been identified. The United States suspended other combat operations to focus military efforts on the rescue, the BBC reported.
The CIA also played a part by tracking the crew member and misdirecting Iranian search attempts.
