Trump Vows to Identify Leaker of Rescue Operation Details

On Monday, President Donald Trump declared that his administration would seek to uncover who disclosed information about the ongoing rescue of a crew member trapped in Iran. He emphasized the serious consequences for anyone who fails to cooperate.

Early Sunday morning, the U.S. military, alongside Trump, successfully rescued a Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) from Iranian territory. Trump announced the success on Truth Social, stating that the leaks regarding the WSO put U.S. military personnel at “great risk,” and issued a warning to both the media and the leakers about potential repercussions.

“We didn’t discuss the scenario for about an hour before someone leaked it. We hope to identify the leaker, and we’re working hard on that,” Trump told reporters at a press conference. “They indicated that one person was missing, but that only came to light because of this leak.”

The President cautioned that sharing information about the rescue while it was still happening could jeopardize the lives of those involved. He mentioned that Iran had circulated a memo offering a substantial reward for capturing the pilot. “So, in addition to a very skilled and dangerous army, there were millions of people looking to capture a prize,” he added, shifting focus to the media outlet that reported on the leak.

“We believe we can trace it back, as we’ll approach the media company that published the information and remind them of national security implications. If they don’t comply, they may face jail time,” he warned, suggesting that the news organization could face penalties if it fails to disclose the leaker. “They’ve put lives at risk by letting Iran know there was a pilot in danger on their territory.”

Trump reiterated his commitment to finding the leaker, indicating that those responsible for the publication would face jail time if they don’t cooperate. “We must identify the leaker, because this person put lives at risk, likely without understanding the gravity of their actions. We’ll find out who did this,” he stated. “This is about national security, and those who revealed the story will face serious consequences.”

The F-15E pilot was rescued after the fighter jet was shot down by an Iranian missile on Friday.