Start Here Inside the US Rescue Missions in Iran
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Apr 6, 2026 Gio Benitez, ABC News correspondent covering Artemis II updates and astronaut reactions. Peter Haralambas, ABC legal and political reporter breaking down a new executive order on mail voting. Louis Martinez, senior Pentagon reporter detailing complex rescue missions in Iran. They discuss rescue operations after an F-15 was downed, legal fights over voting rules, and Artemis II’s record-breaking lunar journey and onboard challenges.
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Chaotic First Rescue After F-15 Was Shot Down
- Two F-15 crew members ejected over western Iran and one was rescued hours later by a CSAR package including KC-130 refuelers and Pave Hawk helicopters.
- That first rescue drew incoming Iranian fire, damaging both rescue aircraft and causing injuries aboard, showing the operation's immediate danger.
Complex Multi-Day Rescue With CIA And Little Birds
- The second rescued crew member was located on a mountain ridgeline with CIA help and extracted by special-operations helicopters after a multi-day effort.
- The operation used MC-130Js to insert hundreds of personnel, 'little bird' helicopters for the pick-up, and replacement aircraft to exfiltrate troops after mechanical failures left forces exposed.
Backseater Was A Colonel And Heavy Equipment Losses
- The rescued backseater was revealed to be a colonel and the operation destroyed or lost nine U.S. aircraft in total across the two rescues to prevent capture.
- Costs included hundreds of millions in equipment losses, but U.S. forces prioritized not leaving anyone behind.