Trump lays bare zero-casualty Iran op: Choppers built in 10 mins, jets blown to 'smithereens'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald J Trump on Monday, April 6, confirmed that the United States recorded zero casualties during a high-risk rescue mission inside Iran, following the downing of an F-15E Strike Eagle last week.

Speaking at a press conference, Trump described the operation as a complex extraction that successfully recovered a “seriously wounded” US Air Force colonel from mountainous terrain.

According to the president, the mission involved multiple aircraft and special operations forces working under time pressure to retrieve the officer from a remote 7,000-foot ridgeline.

He highlighted the speed and coordination of the operation, including the rapid deployment and assembly of specialized equipment in hostile conditions.

Zero casualties in 'daring' mountain rescue

The rescue operation focused on recovering the aircraft’s Weapons Systems Officer (WSO), who had remained in hiding for over 36 hours after ejecting. US forces located the colonel and executed an extraction using a combination of air and ground coordination.

Trump stated that despite the scale of the mission and the presence of Iranian forces in the region, no American personnel were killed or injured during the operation. “We exited Iranian territory while taking no casualties of any kind,” he said.

Officials indicated that multiple aircraft were involved in the effort, providing cover and support during the extraction phase. The mission is being viewed as a significant recovery operation amid ongoing military activity in the region.

Blowing secret tech to 'smithereens'

During the operation, at least two US aircraft became inoperable on the ground. According to Trump, the decision was made to destroy the equipment to prevent it from being captured.

“We blew them up to smithereens,” the president said, explaining that sensitive technology on board could not be safely removed within the available time frame.

The aircraft, believed to be transport planes used in special operations, reportedly contained advanced systems. Iranian state media later broadcast images of wreckage, claiming the aircraft had been shot down, though US officials have not confirmed that account.

Ten-minute rebuild of secret helicopters

Trump also described the rapid assembly of specialized helicopters used during the mission. The aircraft had been transported in parts and reassembled on-site to access areas where larger planes could not operate.

According to the president, the helicopters were made operational in under 10 minutes. These smaller aircraft were then used to extract the injured colonel from the mountainous region.