Secretary Pete Hegseth details rescue of U.S. airmen in Iran

[0:00] Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Americans, and especially the brave warriors in our armed [0:04] forces, over this Easter weekend, the United States military has once again proved why we [0:10] possess the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. In two extraordinary combat search [0:17] and rescue operations deep inside enemy territory in Iran, our warriors executed missions of [0:24] breathtaking skill, courage, and precision. When our warriors are unleashed, as this president [0:32] has allowed them to be, they are unstoppable. When American airmen were down behind enemy lines, [0:39] our forces and our president did not hesitate. Special operators supported by elite air crews [0:45] and intelligence professionals moved swiftly and decisively into treacherous mountain terrain [0:49] under the constant threat of Iranian forces closing in. Ultimately, it was an impotent [0:56] Iranian threat. And today, as the CIA director mentioned, Iran's military, and we know this, [1:02] is embarrassed. [1:04] And humiliated. And they should be. Now, these are not routine operations. They were high-risk, [1:10] high-stakes missions conducted in the heart of enemy territory. This was not just barely into [1:15] Iran. This was deep into Iran, involving coordinated strikes to suppress threats, [1:20] deception tactics to protect our teams, and full synchronization across air, ground, [1:25] and special operations. The Iranians are still asking themselves right now, [1:30] how did the Americans do this? One downed airman. [1:35] Evaded capture for more than a day, scaling rugged ridges while hunted by the enemy. When he [1:42] was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple, [1:49] and it was powerful. He sent a message, God is good. In that moment of isolation and danger, [1:57] his faith and fighting spirit shone through. You see, shot down on a Friday, good Friday, [2:04] hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, [2:11] skewed on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. A pilot reborn, [2:22] all home and accounted for, a nation rejoicing. God is good. Despite incoming fire and unforgiving [2:32] conditions, our troops brought every American home. No American lives were lost. We leave no [2:38] man behind, and that is not luck. It's the result of unmatched training, superior technology, [2:44] and unbreakable warrior ethos. [2:47] And sheer American grit. Our special operators, pilots, and support crews performed with near [2:54] perfection under fire, and they were lethal. Just ask any Iranian soldier who dared attempt [3:02] to get anywhere near that pilot before or during that mission. Death from above. Our troops turned [3:12] a potential tragedy into a resounding demonstration of American resolve and capability. That's what [3:17] excellence in uniform looks like. [3:21] But make no mistake about it. None of this would have been possible without the courageous [3:26] leadership and ironclad determination of President Donald J. Trump. From the moment our airmen [3:34] went down, President Trump made it clear we will leave no one behind. The first mission, [3:40] the first of two, was an audacious daylight thunder run right up the middle. It was authorized [3:48] in less than two hours from that pilot going down when we knew where he was. [3:53] And it was authorized in the middle of the night because anybody that's worked for this [3:58] man knows he's up in the middle of the night. Authorized immediately, without hesitation, [4:03] audaciously. The second mission, as soon as we knew where that pilot was, and John [4:07] was certainly helpful in that, also executed immediately. You know, I looked up at my screen [4:14] when the final mission was complete inside our SCIF, our secure facility, and we have [4:18] a running VTC, a running coordination cell. And the top of it read 45 minutes and 45 hours [4:27] and 56 minutes. That's it. That's it. That's it. That's it. That's it. That's it. That's it. [4:28] For 45 hours and 56 minutes, we held that call open for coordination. From the moment [4:35] our pilots went down, our mission was unblinking. The call never dropped. The meeting never [4:41] stopped. The planning never ceased. The president demanded rapid, decisive action. He backed [4:48] our military with the full weight of his resolve, refusing to let enemy propaganda or tactical [4:53] setbacks deter us. His leadership ensured that every lethal and nonlethal resource was [4:59] brought to bear, that our forces had the authorities and the support they needed to succeed. When [5:05] the president says he has the backs of our warfighters, he means it. And it means a great [5:11] deal, and it's a big difference on the battlefield. President Trump understands that peace through [5:16] strength is not a slogan. It is a doctrine that saves American lives. His unwavering commitment [5:23] to rebuilding our military and restoring the warrior spirit has paid dividends in missions [5:29] just like this one. [5:32] For his command, America projects power with confidence and brings our people home with [5:37] victory. [5:38] And that continues today, by the way. Per the president's direction, today will be the [5:42] largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation. Tomorrow, even more than today. [5:49] And then Iran has a choice. Choose wisely, because this president does not play around. [5:57] You can ask Soleimani. You can ask Maduro. You can ask Khomeini. To those heroes who planned [6:04] and executed these rescues, your nation stands strong. [6:07] I stand in awe. The chairman stands in awe. We all stand in awe of your professionalism [6:12] and bravery. We serve for you. You embody the very best of America. To the rescued airmen [6:19] and their families, welcome home. Your courage and endurance, the quiet declaration of faith [6:25] amid the storm inspires us all. God is good every day, and to our adversaries watching [6:34] from Tehran, let this be a clear message. The United States military will go anywhere, [6:41] at any time to protect our own and complete the mission. [6:46] We execute with precision. [6:48] We control the skies. [6:49] You see, we flew for seven hours in daylight over Iran to get the first pilot, and we flew [6:57] seven hours in the middle of the night to get the second. [7:01] And Iran did nothing about it. [7:05] We fight with honor, and under President Trump's leadership, we win. [7:09] So God bless our troops, God bless President Trump, and God bless the United States of [7:14] America. [7:15] Thank you.