US rescues airman: What we know and what remains undisclosed
The precise details of the rescue operation and where it took place.
In a triumphant post on Truth Social this morning, US President Donald Trump confirmed the rescue of the second service member from the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet downed over Iran.
While the full details of the high-stakes mission remain undisclosed, the operation has been described as extraordinary. Here is a breakdown of what is currently known and what remains a mystery.
What we know
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Both US service members of a US F-15 fighter jet that was downed over Iran on Friday have now been rescued.
The first was rescued shortly after the crash and is receiving medical attention.
The second service member, who was a Colonel, "sustained injuries," according to Trump, however he added he will be "just fine."
The US rescue operation involved dozens of aircraft, armed with "the most lethal weapons," Trump said. No American troops were killed or wounded during the rescue, he added.
What we don't know
The precise details of the rescue operation and where it took place. CNN's national security analyst Alex Plitsas said it may go down as "one of the most harrowing rescue operations in US military history."
The airman's exact location and identity. Trump said the US military had been monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and "diligently planning for his rescue."
The nature of the second crew member's injuries. Ejecting from a military aircraft subjects aircrew to extreme forces and can result in body traumas. Former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath previously told CNN it is a "very violent thing to happen to the body."
How the missing US crew member evaded capture. The airman made contact with the US military as early as Friday, according to CNN's chief security analyst Jim Sciutto.
If the US lost aircraft in the operation. In an attempt to undercut a triumphant moment for Trump, Iran's state Tasnim News Agency claimed "several enemy American aircraft" were destroyed in the Isfahin region and denied the operation was successful.
CNN's Danya Gainor, Jessie Yeung and Kit Maher contributed reporting.
