The Headlines Inside the Race to Save a U.S. Airman in Iran, and Artemis II Heads Behind the Moon
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Apr 6, 2026 
Julian E. Barnes, a New York Times reporter who covers U.S. intelligence, walks through a high-stakes rescue of an American airman after Iran downed an F-15E. He also discusses how that loss could reshape U.S.-Iran dynamics. The conversation jumps to NASA’s Artemis II mission as it slips behind the moon, with tense communications and critical milestones.
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Airman Hid On 7,000 Foot Ridgeline
- A downed F-15E crew triggered an urgent U.S. mission after one airman was quickly found and the second went missing behind enemy lines.
- Julian E. Barnes describes the missing airman hiding on a 7,000-foot ridgeline in a mountain crevice, hard for both Iranians and rescuers to spot.
CIA Used Deception To Redirect Iran
- The CIA ran a deception campaign to shift Iranian search efforts away from the airman's true hiding spot.
- Julian E. Barnes says the ruse spread false reports the crew was in a ground convoy to lure attention to roads instead of mountains.
Rescue Reinforced Both Sides' Resolve
- The rescue operation's success bolstered resolve on both sides, with Iran proving it could down a U.S. fighter and Americans demonstrating a daring extraction.
- Julian E. Barnes notes this single event could shape the war's next phase by emboldening each side.