Donald Trump reveals scale of Iran rescue mission after general urged secrecy

President Donald Trump revealed details about the rescue mission of a US airman downed in Iran during a White House press conference on Monday, 6 April. When Trump asked General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, how many personnel were involved, Caine replied, “I’d love to keep that a secret.” Trump responded, “I’ll keep it a secret,” but then added that “it was hundreds and hundreds of these people.” US forces launched a rescue mission to recover an airman stranded behind enemy lines after Iran shot down his fighter jet, officials said on Sunday. The airman rescued by special operations forces, who Trump said was a colonel, was the weapons-systems officer on the downed F-15.