US Snatches Airman From Iran As Trump, Israel Ratchet Up Pressure

U.S. Special Forces rescued a downed airman in Iran in a complex operation that averted a potential crisis for President Donald Trump, who issued renewed threats to intensify attacks if Tehran did not re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced the rescue in the early hours of Sunday in a social media post that described the operation, in a mountainous area of ‌Iran, as “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History”.

The airman, the weapons officer of an F-15 jet shot down on Friday, was wounded but “will be just fine”, Trump said in a message on X posted by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The pilot of the aircraft was rescued on Friday.

In another post, laden with expletives, Trump repeated a demand that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, the vital conduit for around a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supply, which has been largely shut down since the start of the war five weeks ago.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he said on his Truth Social platform.

“There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Adding to the pressure, a senior Israeli defence official said Israel, which ⁠attacked a major petrochemicals facility on Saturday, was preparing to attack Iranian energy facilities within the next week, and was awaiting approval from Washington.

However, in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said Iran was negotiating and he believed a deal could be concluded by Monday.

With the impact from the closure of the Strait on the global economy deepening by the day, the rescue of the U.S. airman removed the risk for Trump of a hostage crisis further souring the mood of an American public already sceptical of the war.