Missing F-15 Crew Member Rescued: "We Will Never Leave an American Warrior Behind Enemy Lines"

The second crew member of an F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran has been rescued by U.S. special forces.

U.S. news outlet Axios reported today, July 3, that the weapons systems officer (WSO), who had been missing since the jet was downed, has been recovered.

According to Axios, U.S. government officials stated, "The rescue was carried out after an intense 48-hour search operation deep behind enemy lines."

The officials further noted that while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was making every effort to capture the crew member, U.S. rescue teams were able to extract the aviator following a fierce firefight with Iranian forces.

Both crew members of the fighter jet are now in custody and are undergoing medical examinations at a regional base.

Axios added that the success of this rescue operation brings an end to the period of extreme uncertainty that had shaken Washington since the jet was shot down.

U.S. President Donald Trump also announced on his social media, "We have successfully completed one of the most daring rescue operations in American history," adding that he is "pleased to report that the missing soldier has been rescued safely."

President Trump further emphasized, "We will never leave an American warrior behind enemy lines," and highlighted that the operation was completed without any American deaths or injuries.

Since the U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran on July 1, the pilot had been rescued, but the other crew member remained missing, leading to a two-day search race between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran had blockaded the area in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province in southwestern Iran, where the U.S. service member was presumed to be missing, and even offered a bounty to residents to encourage the search, but the U.S. ultimately succeeded in rescuing the crew member first.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.