Israeli journalist Amit Segal said Monday that he was the first to report that a second American airman was missing after a U.S. F-15 was shot down over Iran, an early disclosure that later drew a sharp warning from President Donald Trump, who threatened legal consequences for whoever revealed the information.

Segal made the claim publicly on his Telegram channel, writing: “As you may recall, this was first published here,” referring to his initial report about the weapons systems officer who went down during Operation Epic Fury.

The report surfaced at a particularly sensitive stage in the escalating U.S.-Iran confrontation. Following the aircraft’s downing on Friday, American officials confirmed that one pilot had been recovered but did not immediately disclose that a second crew member was unaccounted for.

During a White House briefing on Monday, Trump asserted that the leak may have endangered the missing airman by alerting Iranian forces, which he said led Tehran to place a bounty on the serviceman. He vowed to identify and take action against whoever first reported that a second airman was missing.

Trump also blamed the media for publicizing the information, arguing that such details should not have been released. While he did not name specific outlets, observers later pointed to reports by Fox News and The Washington Post as among the earliest coverage of the incident.

At the briefing, Trump made clear he intended to pursue the source of the leak, saying: “The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesn’t say, and that doesn’t last long,” Trump said. “We’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘National security. Give it up or go to jail.'”

Shortly after those remarks, Segal publicly identified himself as the journalist behind the initial report, appearing to challenge the president’s warning. However, when questioned further by the New York Post, he softened his position, saying he was “not sure” he had been the first to break the story before adding: “I will protect my sources.”

It remains unclear whether U.S. authorities would have jurisdiction to pursue legal action against an Israeli citizen or compel a foreign media outlet to disclose confidential sources.

Segal, 43, is widely regarded as one of Israel’s most prominent political journalists. He serves as a commentator for Channel 12 News and writes for Yedioth Ahronoth, while also maintaining a large following on Telegram and contributing regularly to The Wall Street Journal. Over the years, he has reported extensively on Israeli politics, including major investigations involving government corruption and cyber activities linked to Iran.

His background includes legal studies at Hebrew University and a master’s degree in public policy from University College London. His father, Chagai Segal, is a former journalist and was previously convicted as a member of the Jewish Underground..

Trump reiterated his position during the same briefing, warning: “We’re going to go to the media company that released it and we’re going to say, ‘National security, give it up or go to jail.”