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Netanyahu says he spoke with Trump, congratulated him on rescuing downed pilot

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by Max Rego - 04/05/26 8:18 PM ET

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by Max Rego - 04/05/26 8:18 PM ET

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he spoke with President Trump about the mission to rescue a U.S. service member whose aircraft was downed by Iranian forces.

“I spoke earlier with President @realDonaldTrump and personally congratulated him on his bold decision and a perfectly executed American mission to rescue the downed pilot from enemy territory,” Netanyahu wrote on the social platform X. “The President expressed his appreciation for Israel’s help.”

“I am deeply proud that our cooperation on an off the battlefield is unprecedented, and that Israel could contribute to saving a brave American warrior.”

Trump said early Sunday morning that U.S. forces rescued a missing service member from Iran, after his F-15 Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over the Middle Eastern country. U.S. forces previously rescued the other crew member before the weekend.

“My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“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,” Trump added.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom), which oversees the military’s operations in the region, confirmed on social media that U.S. forces rescued the second service member on Saturday.

The president also wrote Sunday in a separate Truth Social post that the rescued service member was “seriously wounded.” Since the war began on Feb. 28 with joint airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel, a total of 365 American service members have been wounded as of Friday, according to figures published by the Pentagon.

Seven U.S. service members have been killed by Iranian attacks, while six troops died when a refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12.

During a U.S. rescue mission for the crew of the downed fighter jet on Friday, Iranian forces struck a U.S. Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and a second search-and-rescue helicopter, but the aircraft were able to escape, a source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to share operational matters, told The Hill.

The Iranian Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also reported Sunday that two C-130 aircraft and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed during the U.S.-led rescue mission.

Multiple outlets, including CNN, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, also shared images of destroyed aircraft that Iranian state media released. The Hill has reached out to Centcom for comment.

Sophie Brams and Filip Timotija contributed reporting.

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