President Trump fumed Monday over the leak of information that revealed one U.S. military aviator was missing behind enemy lines in Iran, even as the military had recovered the plane’s pilot.
Mr. Trump said the leak nearly imperiled the operation to retrieve the second serviceman, who was rescued on Sunday. He said the administration could go to great lengths to root out the leaker.
“We are going to go to the media company that released it, and we are going to say, ‘National security, give it up or go to jail,’” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump did not identify the media outlet.
The president talked about the leak during a press conference in which he boasted about the operation to retrieve both servicemen, who were shot down in their F-15 Strike Eagle on Friday.
Mr. Trump and top officials said the U.S. side worked hard to confuse the Iranians so the rescuers could swoop in and retrieve the military members.
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“Iran’s military is embarrassed and humiliated, and they should be,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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