On April 7, 2021, US President Donald Trump warned the Islamic Republic at a White House news conference that the United States has the ability to destroy “the entire country of Iran” in a short period of time. “The entire country could be destroyed overnight, and that night could be tomorrow night,” he said.
In another part of his speech, Trump referred to the rescue operation of a US fighter jet crew member who was trapped after the plane was shot down in Iran, saying that the operation was carried out on his direct orders.
He stressed that “I have ordered the US armed forces to do whatever is necessary to bring our brave warriors home,” describing the mission as “highly dangerous.”
According to the US president, 21 aircraft participated in the operation, which “flew over Iran for seven hours in broad daylight,” and at times came under “heavy enemy fire.”
Trump added that the pilot of the F-15 fighter jet was identified in the first wave of search and rescue operations and was evacuated by a rescue helicopter.
He also said that the second crew member, a weapons systems officer, had landed further away and was seriously injured. He said that the man was trapped in what Trump described as an area “infested with IRGC forces.”
Despite his injuries, the officer attempted to climb up the mountainside to recover from the crash, treat his wounds and communicate his location to U.S. forces via an advanced communications device.
