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3. Trump Says U.S. Rescued Pilots of Downed U.S. Jets in Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that U.S. forces had safely recovered two pilots whose fighter jets were downed in Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that U.S. personnel were monitoring one of the fighter’s locations 24 hours a day, to plan for his rescue. He added that “the U.S. military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him.”

He stated that the U.S. had also rescued the pilot of another downed aircraft in Iran, but held off from confirming so as to not “jeopardize our second rescue operation.”

According to an Axios, who talked to 3 U.S. officials, U.S. special forces operated on the ground in Iran to carry out the rescue mission, with air cover and strikes to protect their positions and keep distance from Iranian forces.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian media reported that 3 people were killed in Iran during the U.S. search operations for the downed pilot. Trump conveyed that the U.S. had undergone the operations with no casualties.

The U.S. rescue mission occurred as reports surfaced of the collapse of ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran, with Iranian officials informing mediators that U.S. demands are unacceptable to Iran. Hostilities are continuing as pressure mounts on the Strait of Hormuz issue.

On Saturday, Trump doubled down on threats that he issued against Iran regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz, expressing that “I gave Iran ten days to make a deal to open up the Hormuz Strait. Time is running out,” and added that Iran has “48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”

The U.S. targeted the Bushehr nuclear facility amid Trump’s threats, killing a security guard and prompting Russia to evacuate 198 of its workers. A petrochemical plant, a cement facility, and a trade terminal near the Iraqi border were also struck as economic and civilian infrastructure continues to be attacked under escalating fire. 

In another Truth Social post, Trump said that the U.S. had killed Iranian military leaders in strikes on Tehran alongside footage of the attack. “Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran,” he exclaimed.

Iran has raised the pressure domestically as U.S.-Israeli attacks broaden. On Saturday, it executed two people convicted of membership in an opposition group aiming to disrupt the Islamic Republic regime amid moves to target the banned People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), 4 members of which were executed earlier in the week.

On Sunday, Iran executed two more people convicted of collaboration with Israel during the January 2026 protest movement. Iran claimed that they attempted to enter a military site and seize arms, according to the Iranian Judiciary.