In dramatic turn of rescue of a downed F-15E Strike Eagle crew member in Iran, Trump told Axios that USA officials feared the stranded officer’s radio transmission. It was part of Iranian trap and lured American forces into an ambush.
Initial Fears of an Iran Trap
This concern arose from the three-word message, “God is good,” sent by the stranded weapons systems officer after ejecting over Iran. This raised suspicions that Iranian forces might be using false signals to set a trap.
The wounded weapons systems officer survived for over 24 hours in mountainous terrain before extracted in a risky nighttime special forces mission involving around 200 troops. According to Trump, the officer hid in a mountain crevice while “thousands” of Iranian troops and local civilians searched for him.
The Suspicious 3-Word Message
Tehran offered rewards for his capture. US surveillance technology eventually tracked his location, but an unusual radio message was initially heard as “Power be to God.” Trump told Axios, “What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say,” adding that people who knew the officer later explained he was a religious person, which clarified why he would say that. Later, defense officials confirmed the message was “God is good.”
The rescue followed an earlier daylight operation to recover the F-15E pilot, who landed several miles away after ejecting from the aircraft. US defense officials described the first extraction as a bold and quick grab under heavy Iranian fire. The second mission took place overnight after American forces set up a temporary base inside Iran territory.
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