A first-of-its-kind rescue included praise of God as details emerged about “one of the most challenging and complex” operations that unfolded in Iran.
Over the weekend, as shameless talking heads spun narratives about President Donald Trump’s absence from the public eye, the coordination of a daring rescue of a U.S. Air Force colonel was underway. Ahead of a press conference planned for Monday to discuss the mission, reports outlined how the injured airman, pursued by bounty hunters, climbed a mountain ridge to find refuge as he declared, “God is good.”
The harrowing 36 hours behind enemy lines began late Friday when the F-15E Strike Eagle carrying a pilot and weapons system officer was shot down. While the former was quickly extracted after the crew ejected, the latter remained stranded and wounded as, according to the New York Times, a $60,000 bounty was established.
With the hunt on, the New York Post reported that the colonel had hidden in a crevice after climbing a 7,000-foot ridge, roughly 1.3 miles, evading his pursuers. It was there that he’d triggered an emergency beacon, added CBS News.
The Times also detailed that U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 was part of the rescue operation involving “hundreds of special operations troops and other military personnel” involved in skirmishes, as well as drones that aided in establishing a protective perimeter. All was said to have been made possible by the CIA’s involvement in locating the hunted airman and deceiving the Iranians as to how the rescue was taking place.
🚨 WOW. The CIA reportedly ran a CONFUSION campaign making everyone inside Iran think the airman was being transported on the ground, when he wasn’t
The CIA got the White House his location in the mountain and Trump ordered the rescue
Domination 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EgspPMxdY8
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 5, 2026
“Thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” said Trump to Axios. A U.S. official relayed the message from the colonel prior to his extraction was “God is good.”
In a broader message from the president posted to Truth Social, he detailed, “This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.”
“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation,” explained Trump. “This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also commented on the rescue, stating on X, “Over the past 48 hours, I had the privilege of witnessing two of the most daring, bold, and courageous rescue operations in American history. Each phase was marked by profound moments of grace–small miracles made possible through unrelenting tenacity, extensive experience, and elite training.”
“From the highest levels of planning to the final execution, the effort was nothing short of extraordinary, characterized by relentless determination, unbreakable resilience, and flawless coordination,” he continued. “God bless our troops. God bless our Secretary of War. God bless our President. Happy Easter. God is good.”
Over the past 48 hours, I had the privilege of witnessing two of the most daring, bold, and courageous rescue operations in American history.
Each phase was marked by profound moments of grace—small miracles made possible through unrelenting tenacity, extensive experience, and…— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) April 5, 2026
After initially planning a Monday news conference with the military to discuss the rescue from the Oval Office, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the event would instead take place in the White House Briefing Room at 1 p.m. “Due to popular demand from the press…”
Due to popular demand from the press, President Trump’s news conference tomorrow will now take place in the White House Briefing Room. 1PM ET. pic.twitter.com/A7DfXbZAxQ
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 5, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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