The incident initially triggered concern in Washington after a brief radio transmission from the downed airman raised suspicions among officials. According to Trump, the message sounded unusual and led to fears that it could be a deceptive tactic by Iranian forces to lure American troops into a trap.
“What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say,” Trump told Axios, adding that the airman’s words were interpreted as “Power be to God.”
However, a U.S. defense official later clarified that the exact phrase used was “God is good,” a sentiment also echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a post on X. Officials noted that the airman was known to be deeply religious, and the remark aligned with his personal beliefs, easing initial doubts about the authenticity of the transmission.
“It was not completely clear early on, but we stuck with it and verified he was alive and not captured,” a defense official told Axios, adding that those familiar with the officer confirmed his religious nature.
Following confirmation, the U.S. launched a complex rescue mission under the cover of darkness. Nearly 100 special operations forces were deployed into rugged terrain south of Tehran. The team navigated challenging conditions, including scaling a 7,000-foot ridge, to reach the injured airman.
The weapons specialist, who had sustained a sprained ankle, had taken shelter in a crevice and relied on his survival and evasion training to remain undetected. During this time, he successfully established contact and authenticated his identity.
Simultaneously, the CIA carried out a deception campaign aimed at misleading Iranian forces about the airman’s location, allowing U.S. troops to execute the extraction without interception.
The operation concluded successfully, with the airman safely recovered. Trump praised the mission, calling it an extraordinary example of military precision and bravery.
