Trump says US feared Iran trap during F-15 crew rescue - Axios
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that the United States initially worried that a message from the stranded crew member of the F-15 downed by Iran may have been part of a trick set by Iranian forces to lure US forces into a trap.
He said the crew member survived more than 24 hours in mountainous terrain before being rescued in a special forces mission involving around 200 troops.
“Thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” Trump said, referring to Iranian forces, adding that US officials later confirmed the airman was alive and not in captivity.
Trump also said Iran had shot down the aircraft with a shoulder-fired missile and that Israel helped “a little bit” during the rescue effort.
