WASHINGTON: Israeli journalist Amit Segal has confirmed he was the first to report the rescue of a US airman in Iran, as controversy grows over media coverage of sensitive military operations and pressure from US President Donald Trump on journalists to reveal their sources.
According to international reports, Segal said he published the information based on confidential sources but refused to disclose their identity, stating that he would “protect his sources at all costs.”
The development comes after a US military incident in which an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran earlier this month. One crew member was rescued shortly after the crash, while search operations continued for the second airman, who was later also recovered.
The initial reporting of the rescue triggered a strong reaction from President Trump, who accused unnamed media figures of leaking sensitive information and said authorities would investigate how the details became public.
Trump warned that media organisations could face legal consequences if they refused to reveal their sources, arguing that the leak had raised national security concerns during an ongoing military operation.
His remarks have intensified an already strained relationship between the administration and the press, with officials and allies increasingly criticising coverage of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The White House has not clarified which journalist or outlet the president was referring to, while multiple international media organisations had independently reported the rescue operation within a short time frame.
