Trump says missing US crew member from downed jet rescued in 'daring' operation in Iran

US President Donald Trump has just shared to Truth Social that the missing American crew member is SAFE and SOUND" after being rescued by US military forces.

"WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History," Trump says.

Trump went on to say the missing crew member, "a highly respected Colonel" ... who "was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies" but that fellow US forces "were monitoring his location 24 hours a day".

Trump said he was thrilled to say he is "now SAFE and SOUND!"

"He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine," Trump continues in his Truth Social post about the retrieved crew member.

The "miraculous" mission comes after the rescue of "another brave pilot" yesterday, which Trump says "we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation".

He writes: "WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!"

Current and former officials are already celebrating the rescue.

"The US military has an ethos to never leave someone behind," said Mick Mulroy, a former US Marine, CIA paramilitary officer and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East.

"Today was an incredible example of that core commitment.

"The US military, the intelligence community and especially those that carried this out, deserve the gratitude of the American people," he added.

In his post on Truth Social announcing the rescue of the crew member, Trump also shares that the operation was carried out "without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded".

This comes after our White House reporter Bernd Debusmann reports that there was "engagement" between the US and Iranian forces during the rescue.

He signs off: "GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!"

Trump said in his post to Truth social that the US military "sent dozens of aircraft" to Iran to rescue the missing crew member.

Trump described the location of the missing weapon systems officer as "behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran".

Earlier reports suggested the missing crew member might be in the mountainous area of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, in the southwestern regions of Iran.