Trump threatens Iran, hails daring rescue of downed U.S. airman
President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning to Iran on Easter Sunday, saying the country could face attacks on its power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Posting on Truth Social early in the morning, Trump wrote that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” ending the message with the phrase, “Praise be to Allah.”
The post comes days after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes destroyed the B1 bridge in Iran, one of the country’s tallest, linking the capital to the western city of Karaj.
The two-wave strike on Thursday reportedly killed eight people and injured at least 95, according to Iranian state media. The second attack occurred while rescue crews were still at the scene.
Trump’s warning highlights escalating tensions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that has been blocked since the conflict began on February 28. The president emphasized that Iranian closure of the waterway could trigger further U.S. strikes.
The president also celebrated a daring rescue of a U.S. airman trapped behind enemy lines.
The pilot and crew were in an F-15 fighter jet that went down in a remote part of Iran on Friday. While the pilot ejected safely and was quickly rescued by helicopters, a second crew member, a highly respected Colonel, remained missing for nearly two days.
The colonel, injured during ejection, hid in harsh mountainous terrain armed only with a handgun while Reaper drones provided cover. U.S. special forces mounted a complex operation involving hundreds of personnel, multiple helicopters, and warplanes.
A firefight broke out as Iranian forces approached the stranded officer, and two U.S. planes were intentionally destroyed on a remote airfield to prevent capture.
Trump praised the mission late Saturday, calling it “one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. history.”
According to reports, the colonel reached elevations around 7,000 feet while evading pursuing Iranian forces, who had reportedly offered a $60,000 bounty for the pilot.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump remained “working nonstop” over the Easter weekend as tensions escalated.
His last public appearance was on Wednesday at the Supreme Court during a birthright citizenship case hearing, followed by a televised address on the war in Iran.
Comments
Post a Comment