U.S. used 2 × C-130s + 4 × MH-6 “Little Bird” helicopters to rescuse F-15E crew member from Iran.

Pilot was rescued from mountain area by helicopter.

Problem: C-130s got stuck on a makeshift desert airstrip. Additional aircraft (Dash-8s) brought in to extract personnel.

Then, U.S. abandoned and destroyed aircraft (~$300 million loss).
Iran shot down 2 MQ-9 Reaper drones.
U.S. struck approaching IRGC forces.

Casualties: None reported on U.S. side.

Source: michaeldweiss (at X)

NEW: Ukrainian President Zelensky and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrive in Damascus to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa today.

BREAKING: Trump:

If Iran doesn’t make a deal fast, I am considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil.

Source: Fox News

Trump on Iran:

I think I will be able to get a deal by tomorrow.

BREAKING: Trump:

We sent a lot of guns to the Iranian protesters, we sent guns through the Kurds, I think the Kurds kept them.

Source: Fox News

Trump has increased his estimate of protesters killed in Iran earlier this year to 45,000, up from a previous figure of 32,000.

Hegseth:

God is good.

Zelensky arrives in Syria.

Zelensky meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus.

Trump told Axios the U.S. is in “deep negotiations” with Iran and a deal could happen before Tuesday, but warned of major escalation if it fails.

“There is a good chance, but if they don't make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there.”

Trump to Axios:

People of Iran are afraid we are gonna leave in the middle of the war, but we are not going to leave.

Trump to Axios:

The negotiations are going well, but you never get to the finish line with the Iranians.

Trump said the U.S. and Iran were close to talks, but pulled back over delays:

“But then they said they will meet us in five days. So I said, ‘Why five days?’ I felt they were not being serious. So I attacked the bridge.”

Source: Axios

Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida:

The enemy’s brutality has not been satisfied by the massacres in Gaza, the bombing of Lebanon and Yemen, and the targeting of the State of Qatar.

The enemy’s horrific crimes against our brothers in Iran, such as the Minab school massacre, remind the world of the genocidal crimes in Gaza.

BIG: China quietly blocked off huge chunks of airspace off its east coast for ~40 days (Mar 27–May 6) — much longer than its usual few-day military-style airspace closures — without saying why.

The zones are off China’s coast near the Yellow Sea / East China Sea, not right next to Taiwan.

Source: WSJ

Pope Leo's Easter message:

Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!

Senator Graham:

To say the window on diplomacy is closing would be an understatement.