The rescue of two US pilots in Iran ranks among the most dramatic and high-risk operations of the current war. US President Donald Trump confirmed that Washington had, at one point, feared that at least one of the two may already have fallen into Iranian captivity.

“We thought he may have been captured,” Trump said in an interview with Israeli television. The uncertainty surrounding the crew’s whereabouts, along with the danger of an ambush, made the situation especially tense.

The incident began with the downing of a US fighter jet over Iranian territory and within hours developed into a rescue mission under extreme conditions.

Separated in enemy territory — one quickly rescued, one missing

After the aircraft was shot down, both crew members were able to eject, but they became separated and landed deep inside Iran.

One of the two pilots was located and recovered relatively quickly. The second, however, remained missing and became the focus of an increasingly dramatic search.

The wounded pilot was in mountainous terrain and hid to avoid detection. For hours, he remained concealed among rocks and difficult terrain while Iranian forces searched the area.

Communication with him was difficult and uncertain. At the same time, there was real concern that his location might already be known or that his signals had been intercepted.

Trump later said Iranian units had been “close” to finding him.

Rescue at the last moment

The United States opted for a rapid and high-risk rescue operation. Special forces were sent into the area, supported by fighter aircraft and drones providing cover from the air.

The search focused on the mountainous region where the pilot was believed to be. Eventually, intelligence enabled rescuers to locate him — he had been hiding in a rock crevice.

The pilot was injured and weakened, but he managed to remain hidden until rescue forces arrived. The evacuation was carried out under severe time pressure. Iranian forces were nearby, and any delay could have significantly increased the risk of capture.

Despite the danger, US forces succeeded in reaching the pilot and extracting him from the area.

Capture narrowly averted

The successful rescue prevented a scenario with potentially far-reaching consequences. A captured American pilot would have handed Iran a potent tool for political leverage and propaganda.

Trump said Israel had helped “a little” in the rescue operation, though most of the work had been carried out by the Americans. The Israelis, he said, “were good partners. They are great and brave people. We are like a big brother and a little brother.”

US officials said Israel’s assistance consisted of intelligence on the general area in which the rescue operation unfolded and was not specifically tied to the crew member’s exact location. The Israeli Air Force also carried out an airstrike to prevent Iranian forces from reaching the area.

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