Fault Lines Episode 579: Behind Enemy Lines

Today, Morgan, Jess, Les, Jamil, and John discuss the dramatic recovery of an F-15 airman who was shot down over southwestern Iran, evaded enemy forces, and was ultimately rescued in a complex operation that included a last-minute aircraft failure and on-the-ground improvisation. While the mission marks a rare good news story in the ongoing conflict, it also raises serious questions about Iran’s ability to target advanced U.S. aircraft, with both an F-15 and an A-10 reportedly hit in the same day. What does this incident reveal about Iran’s air defense capabilities, and who or what might be supporting them? As the financial costs of the conflict mount and the Pentagon eyes a massive defense budget, how sustainable is this level of engagement? And with the possibility of escalation growing, are Americans prepared for the risks that come with a larger and longer war? @morganlroach @lestermunson @nottvjessjones @johnclipsey @jamil_n_jaffer Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and

You can listen to Fault Lines Episode 579: Behind Enemy Lines online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Fault Lines Episode 579: Behind Enemy Lines is an episode from Fault Lines by National Security Institute.

This episode is 14:18 long.

This episode was published on Apr 6, 2026.

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