The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said this Monday (6) that his government is investigating to find out who leaked information to the press about the rescue of two American pilots who were in a fighter jet that was shot down in Iran and were rescued in an operation over the weekend.
On Friday (3), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that a US F-35 fighter jet was shot down in Iranian airspace, in the central province of Isfahan.
The two pilots ejected shortly before the aircraft was hit and one of them was rescued afterwards, but the second had to hide in a mountainous region and only on Sunday (5) did Trump confirm that he was rescued.
At a press conference at the White House this Monday, the president stated that the White House was not going to disclose that the first pilot had been rescued and that the second was still being sought, because this would pose a risk to this soldier’s life, but someone leaked the information to the press.
“There are things that should not be done, because when they did it (disclosed the information), everyone in Iran knew that there was someone down there (the second pilot),” said the Republican president, emphasizing that the Iranian regime “offered a big reward to whoever captured” the pilot.
“We have to find whoever leaked the information, because he is a sick person. He will be arrested,” said Trump.
Regarding the operation itself, the president said that 200 soldiers and 155 aircraft were mobilized for the rescues.
“I gave orders to do whatever was necessary. We could have ended up with 200 dead (in reference to Iranian fire against those involved in the operation). It was a difficult decision, but we didn’t leave any Americans behind,” Trump said.
The US president referred to his ultimatum that he will bomb Iran’s energy infrastructure and bridges if the strategic Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened by the regime by Tuesday night (7).
“The whole country could be brought down in one night, and that night could be tomorrow,” Trump said.