Trump says some military advisers opposed Iran rescue mission over risks

President Donald Trump said not all of his military advisers supported an operation to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran, citing concerns over the potential human cost.

Speaking during a press conference on April 6, Trump acknowledged divisions within his military team over the high-risk mission, Caliber.Az reports via US media. 

“Not everybody was on board,” Trump said, adding there were certain “military people, very professional, that preferred not doing it.”

The president said objections centred on the possible casualties involved in carrying out the operation.

“There were people within the military that said it’s unwise,” he said, adding later: “Hundreds of people could have been killed.”

Despite those concerns, Trump said key defence officials backed the mission, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.

Trump said he was fully briefed on the risks before the decision was made.

“I was told that this is a very dangerous mission. I understood. They didn’t say, it’s a foolish mission. They said, ‘You know, we’re going to be sacrificing hundreds of people do this,’” Trump recounted.   

By Aghakazim Guliyev