Trump Warns “Surrender It or Face Jail” as He Targets F-15 Leak and Signals Action Against Media
Trump stated that U.S. officials would approach the media outlet that released the report and request the source’s identity.
A second F-15 airman had been missing for several hours. According to President Donald Trump, Iran had no idea about this. Then, an “insider” leaked the information to the media, and the search for him began.
“They didn’t know anyone was missing.”
Speaking in the White House briefing room on Monday, Trump stated that a media report indicated the U.S. military had rescued one member of the F-15 crew but was still searching for the other—a disclosure that complicated the rescue operation by alerting Iran.
“We are working very hard to find that leaker,” Trump said. “They essentially stated that we had one [airman] and that someone was missing. Well, [Iran] didn’t know anyone was missing until this leaker provided that information.”
Trump noted that this revelation had placed the U.S. military in an even more difficult situation. He said, “This operation became harder because a leaker revealed that we had rescued one but were trying to extract another.”
Read also: “All of Iran could be seized in a single night”: Trump’s warning ahead of deadline
“Give Up the Source or Go to Jail”
Trump stated that U.S. officials would go directly to the media organization that published the story and demand the identity of the source, warning that charges would be pressed if they refused. It was not immediately clear which media outlet Trump was referring to.
He said, “We think we’ll find out, because we’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘National security—hand it over or go to jail.'”
Iran Offers Reward After Story Breaks
Trump noted that following the publication of the report, Iran issued a public notice offering a reward for the capture of the missing pilot, thereby complicating the search and rescue efforts. Trump stated, “The country of Iran has issued a major notice… offering a very large reward to anyone who captures the pilot.”
Trump added, “We have to find that leaker because he is a sick individual. Perhaps he didn’t realize just how bad this was. I can’t imagine that the man knew, but we will find out. The incident is a matter of national security, and whoever broke this story—if they do not reveal their source—will have to go to jail.”
Inside the U.S. Military’s Daring Rescue Operation
An F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, February 28; it marked the first confirmed loss of a U.S. combat aircraft inside Iran since the conflict began.
Both crew members—a pilot and a weapons systems officer—successfully ejected. The pilot was rescued shortly thereafter, but the second airman could not be immediately located.
According to The New York Times, commandos from Navy SEAL Team 6 spearheaded the rescue operation, which involved hundreds of Special Operations troops and other military personnel operating deep within Iranian territory.
U.S. aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on an Iranian convoy to keep them away from the location where the airman was hiding. The report states that the commandos even discharged their weapons to deter the Iranian forces, although they did not engage in direct gunfire.
Before the airmen were located, the CIA launched a deception campaign, disseminating information within Iran that the U.S. military had already found them and was attempting to extract them. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the two airmen, whose fighter jet was shot down over Iran, are “recovering very well.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll, Trump said, “They are both recovering very well. They were both injured, and they are fine.”
