Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, said that by describing the operation to rescue two American pilots in Iran, the operation showed that the U.S. Army does not abandon its forces and does not stop trying to bring them back.

On Friday, September 27, Hegseth said that after an F-15 fighter was targeted, its two crew members were forced to make an emergency exit. He said one of them, with a broken back, hands and shoulder, and while bleeding, was trapped in a mountainous area and went to higher elevations to stay away from the Iranian search group.

The U.S. Defense Secretary said that Donald Trump, the U.S. president, instructed the Pentagon during the Easter holiday to take whatever action was necessary to bring back the two servicemembers. According to him, fighter jets and bombers, special operations forces, flight crews, and intelligence personnel took part in the rescue operation.

Hegseth said one of the two pilots was rescued within a few hours and the operation to find and rescue the second pilot continued. He said the operation demonstrated the U.S. Army’s commitment to bringing its forces back and added: “We do not leave any of our personnel behind.”