Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Two U.S. Service Members Killed and Another Missing after Iranian Ballistic Missile and Drone Attacks Hit Jordan; Eight People Killed in Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Two Russian Warehouses; Trump Administration May Allow Saudi Arabia to Enrich Uranium Without International Safeguards to Prevent Development of Nuclear Weapons; EMS Worker Saves Man at Hockey Game; Two Rescue Workers Describe Process of Extracting Man from Floods in Texas; England and France Play for Third Place in 2026 World Cup as Argentina and Spain Prepare for Finals Match. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired July 18, 2026 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:33]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Two U.S. service members killed and another remains missing after Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan. That's according to U.S. Central Command. We'll go live to the region with the latest.

Plus, after days of hazy skies and unhealthy air, millions across the east coast of the U.S. could finally see some relief. We'll tell you when the smoke is expected to clear.

And as rising floodwaters trapped hundreds across central Texas, helicopter crews raced to get people to safety. We'll talk to two first responders who carried out these rescues where every second counts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

WHITFIELD: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Saturday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

And we begin with breaking news out of the Middle East. Moments ago, U.S. Central Command confirmed two U.S. service members were killed on Friday after Iranian attacks in Jordan. One service member is still missing in action. The announcement marks the first American military deaths since March of this year.

We're covering this story from all angles. CNN's Julia Benbrook is near President Trump's New Jersey golf course where he is spending the weekend. And CNN's Nic Robertson is in Jerusalem. Julia, let's begin with you. What are we learning?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have now been seven consecutive nights of U.S. strikes, as well as waves of Iranian drones and missiles fired at a widening number of targets in countries with U.S. bases. And we have now learned from U.S. Central Command that two U.S. service members in Jordan have been killed in action. In a statement, Cent Com said this, quote, "On July 17th, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action."

They added that four American service members had been medically evacuated and taken to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged. They're withholding information about identities at this time while they work to identify next of kin.

But it's just been over a week now since Iran had targeted a ship in the Strait of Hormuz that led President Donald Trump to say that he believed that the ceasefire agreement was over. And it's been just over a month now since there seemed to be this big diplomatic breakthrough. It was the signing of the memorandum of understanding, something that Trump touted at the time, saying that he got almost everything that he wanted out of it. It was supposed to kick off this 60-day time period for more technical talks related to Iran's nuclear program and looking to address key issues, like the fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Trump has recently, though, said that he believes that that memorandum of understanding is over as well.

So what's next here? We do know that behind the scenes, Trump had been receiving information already before this news about the potential of expanding military options in Iran. That's according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke with CNN. And that included a recent Situation Room meeting that centered around loosening Iran's grip when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway.

But throughout this conflict, Americans have been skeptical of Trump's handling of this. In fact, a recent poll by "The Washington Post" and Ipsos found that just 29 percent of Americans approved of his handling of the conflict in Iran.

He did give a major address just a couple of days ago. It was focused on election integrity, but going on while all of this escalation was going on, and he did barely mention Iran and what his strategy would look like going forward. Instead, he just said that he believed that the United States was, quote, "winning big".

WHITFIELD: All right, Julia Benbrook, we'll check back with you there in New Jersey.

All right, Nic, let's go to you now. Iran is lashing out at the U.S. allies across the region, including an attack on Saudi Arabia for the first time in months. What more can you tell us about this potential location in Jordan with these U.S. troops? Was it a U.S. installation in Jordan, or do we know of other circumstances in which they were struck?

[14:05:04]

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: What the Iranians have been saying that they've been targeting in Jordan is a Jordanian airbase just outside the town of Azraq, which is in the desert, not too far from the capital, Amman.

Now, this has been an air base that the Iranians have targeted before because they say it's a base that U.S. forces operate out of. And there has been damage to U.S. military equipment there in the past going back to the earlier part of the war. We don't know if that's the location where this where these two service members were killed, where the other service member is missing. But that's what Iran said it's been targeting over the past couple of nights. So Jordanians say that last night they'd intercepted at least 10 different missiles and a number of missiles on the previous night as well.

Look, what we see Iran doing at the moment is escalating, escalating across the region. They haven't targeted Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is at the top of their escalatory ladder after they've targeted all the other gulf countries. They've targeted the most sensitive site in Saudi Arabia, Yanbu, which is its port facility on the Red Sea, which is where it now exports its oil from because it can't export it through the Strait of Hormuz. So super sensitive, a red line for Saudi Arabia. The Iranians also targeting another air base or what appears to be another air base in Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan air base. That one also typically has been used and was -- U.S. forces were struck there in the earlier part of the war back in March.

So, then then you look at the bigger picture in Kuwait today, second day, desalination plant, power plant hit, significant enough for the Kuwaiti minister for electricity and water goes out to visit that plant. Also in Kuwait, an oil, their major oil company there saying that there was a significant impact on vital equipment, operatives at that oil plant injured. Part of that plant will be offline for a while. Bahrain hit multiple times.

So what we're seeing from Iran is an escalation. Add on top of that what we've heard from the supreme leader today, saying essentially they are not working towards the memorandum of understanding anymore. They don't trust President Trump. They're saying that his signature is worthless and unreliable. And we've heard the same from the deputy foreign minister in Iran, saying they are no longer working from the memorandum of understanding.

At this point it does seem things are set to escalate. And if you want another key indicator of that, the United States has asked Israel here if it can park more and operate more of its KC-135, those air tanker refuelers that are absolutely critical for the F-35s and other fighter jets in the skies as they prosecute the war in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran. So Israel again, now attracting more U.S. military hardware in this war at a time when Iran says anyone supporting the U.S. in this region will be targeted. If Israel were to get drawn in, that would be, again, a significant escalation. They've stayed away from it. The Iranians have stayed away from targeting them until now. But this weekend could be a potential turning point.

WHITFIELD: And so far, Nic, Iran is believing this is a successful strategy to target neighbors who are supportive of the U.S., whether it be where U.S. bases and assets operate out of or in other ways. So should it be presumed that this is going to be more of the same in terms of Iran's strategy thus far? ROBERTSON: Yes, what they're saying they're going to hit going

forward will be port facilities and other commercial facilities in these countries, in the Gulf countries. So Iran is making it very clear that their escalation will be to further sort of cripple the economies of these Gulf countries.

But I think, you know, let's try to imagine what happens next with looking in the rearview mirror at what happened in March. In March, that was a wide war against many targets in Iran and targeting Iran, targeting countries in the Gulf. They're now talking about escalating that to targeting civilian infrastructure in those countries.

But also, the war is much more likely to focus around the Strait of Hormuz. And that is that is for the -- that will be part of the key economic interests for these countries in the Gulf that Iran is hitting. This phase of the war, if it happens, could begin to look different to the last one. If you're on the ground when the missiles are coming down, it will feel and look the same. But for the Gulf countries, they can, or the Iranians at least are threatening to heighten the cost of the war to them.

WHITFIELD: All right, very significant. Nic Robertson, thank you so much. We'll check back with you there out of Jerusalem.

[14:10:03]

All right, more ahead on this breaking news. Two U.S. service members killed and one missing in Jordan after an Iranian attack there. What this means for the trajectory of this war next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, we're continuing to follow breaking news. U.S. Central Command confirming that two U.S. service members were killed on Friday after Iranian attacks in Jordan. One service member is still missing in action.

[14:15:04]

The announcement marks the first American military death since March. With us now is retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. He is also former assistant secretary of state for political military affairs under President George w Bush. General, great to see you, sadly, under these circumstances.

Now, look, so far, what we know is two U.S. service members killed, one still missing in action, that being confirmed by Cent Com. And we know in Jordan, but unclear whether it was at an installation or airbase where Americans operate out of in Jordan. What do you make of this report thus far? And what do perhaps some of your colleagues, what are you learning from them?

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY (RET): First of all, I hope everybody takes a moment to say a prayer for the families that have lost loved ones. Look, we've been operating out of that base for quite some time. It

was a base that was important during the ISIS fight. It's obviously been proven important now in the fight against Iran. Jordanians have been very good to host us, and, in many ways, it's been critical for the last probably eight to nine years in terms of fighting the fights.

WHITFIELD: It is a very vital and important relationship and locality strategically for our military readiness at all times. At what point do you believe more information might be revealed? Because the Pentagon has been operating differently under times of warfare, like we've seen in the past. We don't get the daily briefings that we have been accustomed to, meaning we, the media, and the American public being accustomed to during other conflicts.

So, you know, at what point do you believe U.S. Cent Com or the Pentagon might be revealing more so that we can also learn more about the U.S. strategy in this continuing conflict in the region?

KIMMITT: First of all, I just push back a little bit. I'm not necessarily political, but it doesn't seem to me that there's been a real hold up of combat information. Look, the hold up right now, obviously, is the family notification. That's got to be done first. And the dust has got to clear for the families before details come out. I think we see what's going on here. This -- once the Iranians declare today that the MOU is null and void, they've now picked up the pace. And I think we can expect to see a lot more conflict and a lot more combat going on from this point.

WHITFIELD: And what do you believe should be anticipated as it pertains to Iran's strategy, or Nic Robertson out of Jerusalem was explaining that part of the strategy might be to not only Iranian -- not only target economic, I mean, vulnerabilities for its neighbors, but now potentially even targeting civilian locations?

KIMMITT: Yes. Listen, I'd be shocked if either side attacked pure civilian installations, but there are a lot of installations, water desalination, power, that are supporting bases on both sides, and bridges and infrastructure that support both sides. So I think at this point, neither side is showing an inclination to go against pure civilian targets, for a number of reasons. It is against international law, but it also has a tendency to blow back when you start bringing the war to the civilians and not simply the military.

But I think we're going to see more of it. I think that in particular around the Strait of Hormuz, as Nic said, we're not at this point looking at Pickax Mountain or some of the other nuclear facilities. This battle is a different battle than we started on February 28th. February 28th, it was a continuation of the fight against their nuclear program, their ballistic missile program, their proxies. Now we've somewhat narrowed it down to the area around the Strait of Hormuz. And that seems to be the narrow focus that this war is going to continue to concentrate on for quite some time.

WHITFIELD: Does what transpired over the last 24 hours, in your view, represent a particular marker or, you know, a particular point of concern at this juncture in this conflict for you? KIMMITT: Very much so. As you said, Fredricka, this is the first time

we've had American troops killed since March. That, in many ways, is a red line to the administration and to President Trump.

[14:20:01]

So I would expect that not only are we going to conduct strikes tonight for pure military purposes, as we would have had this not happened, but I think there will also be a little more severe retribution attacks for the killing of American troops.

WHITFIELD: All right, General Mark Kimmitt, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much for being with us.

We'll have much more of our breaking news right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. We're continuing to follow breaking news. U.S. Central Command confirming that two U.S. service members were killed on Friday after Iranian attacks in Jordan. One service member is still missing in action.

[14:25:00]

The announcement marks the first American military deaths since March. We're continuing to follow the latest from the region.

Also new today, Ukraine launched its most lethal drone attacks on Russia in more than two years. CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: Eight people were killed in drone attacks on two Russian warehouses, seven in one warehouse in the Tambov region and one person killed in a warehouse in the Moscow region. Dozens of other people were also injured in the attacks.

Now, these attacks are the deadliest on Russian soil in more than two years, marking a potential strategy shift by Ukraine, which said both of the warehouses were retail distribution centers owned by the same company and involved in drone manufacturing. Russia, for its part, says it shot down 28 drones equipped with warheads designed to cause mass casualties.

Now, Ukraine has previously focused its long-range drone attacks on Russian energy and infrastructure and factories making weapons and military hardware in addition to Russian shipping, including hitting 172 vessels tied to Russia's shadow fleet, according to the Ukraine military.

Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Barbie, thank you so much for that. All right, also new today, the Trump administration is tentatively

prepared to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, but it won't require the use of extra international safeguards meant to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. That's according to sources and documents reviewed by CNN. Right now, that accord is waiting for President Trump's signature.

CNN national security reporter Davis Winkie has been working on this story, and he's joining us right now. Davis, great to see you again. So what exactly does this agreement say?

DAVIS WINKIE, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Fredricka, we don't have the exact text of the agreement yet because it's not going to be sent to Congress until Trump signs off. But what our sources told me and my colleague Zach Cohen was that this deal includes a degree of enrichment of uranium, or possibly reprocessing of plutonium for the Saudis, which is something they've wanted throughout the more than decade of negotiations that led up to this. In addition to that, the Saudis are not required to sign what's called an additional protocol to their existing safeguards agreement with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog. That additional protocol gives the U.N. more powers to sniff out suspected covert nuclear sites or other undeclared nuclear activities.

WHITFIELD: So has there been any criticism or pushback to this agreement thus far?

WINKIE: Yes, amid speculation that this -- these were going to be the terms of the deal, the Democrats in Congress asked the administration for some clarification on those terms and their justifications for including them back in the spring. The response from the State Department wasn't the most forthcoming, but it gave enough information that experts in this field are concerned that it could provide Saudi Arabia with a path to nuclear weapons if they were to use that enrichment technology, break safeguards, and use it covertly for more nefarious means.

Republicans, however, in some cases welcome this deal because it would provide a very lucrative commercial outlet for our -- for our resurgent nuclear industry here in the U.S. And some of the argument also is that the Saudis want this stuff, and if Russia and China are willing to give them to the Saudis on more the same terms that they want, would it be better for the U.S. to be the one holding the hand of Riyadh, in this case, and overseeing the safeguards agreements? Congress, however, will have the ultimate say on whether this deal goes through.

WHITFIELD: And you said the president won't sign it until Congress does work on it or review it. So what is the timetable then potentially?

WINKIE: Yes, so when the president signs off on this deal, it will be transmitted to Congress for a mandatory review period. We're hearing that that has been delayed, however, due to the potential optics surrounding sending a deal that would allow Riyadh to enrich uranium while their principal regional rival, Iran, is under -- in a sustained conflict with the U.S. over, among many things, its nuclear program and its efforts to enrich uranium. So that's out there. But there's also, according to sources who spoke with us, a fear that Congress might vote this deal down after it's the product of more than a decade of negotiations. Those things are combining, we've heard, to delay the administration sending it over.

[14:30:02]

But once they do, from what we understand, Congress is ready to do their work. And we'll see what comes from there.

WHITFIELD: All right, Davis Winkie, keep us posted. Thank you so much.

WINKIE: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, even while off the clock, an EMS worker proves they are always on call. Jason Wolf going beyond the call of duty at a Washington Capitals game.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get it down here, guys.

JASON WOLF, EMS SERGEANT: Timing is everything. My name is Jason Wolff. I'm a EMS sergeant with the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services. Night of January 15th it just so happens that it was first responder night at Capital Arena. And as we got through security, my oldest daughter, Mckenna, looked at me and tapped me on the shoulder. She goes, hey, I think you guys might have to go to work.

But we looked and we noticed somebody down in the main hallway. When I got to him, he was already completely unresponsive, and he had already become a very, like, ashen gray type color. About first glance, we already knew. We started CPR, two minutes on, two minutes off. As a paramedic, I can do all kinds of cool high-speed stuff in the back of the ambulance. The majority of that stuff pales in comparison to good, effective CPR.

CLARENCE GOOCH, GUEST EXPERIENCE SUPERVISOR, CAPITAL ONE ARENA: I ran over, grabbed the AED. By the time I returned, maybe 10 minutes or so before the Fire Department arrived on the scene, all of that worked together to save this gentleman's life.

WOLF: He was great spirits, made a full recovery from everything that I know. Hearing his voice on the phone, thanked all of us for giving him more time with his family. There's no better reward than that. That's why we do it.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: And we're continuing to follow our breaking news. Two U.S. service members killed and one missing in Jordan after an Iranian attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:36:38]

WHITFIELD: We're continuing to follow breaking news. U.S. Central Command announcing that two U.S. service members were killed on Friday after Iranian attacks in Jordan. One service member is still missing in action. The announcement marks the first American military deaths since March in this conflict.

I'm joined now by Sabrina Singh, a CNN global affairs commentator. Sabrina, good to see you. So do you expect these troop deaths now, and again, one is still missing in action, that this might cause an escalation in this conflict?

SABRINA SINGH, DEPUTY PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: Well, Fredricka, this is always just the worst day I think that, you know, the U.S. military and, of course, the families of these service members experience, the loss of life of our men and women in uniform who are putting their lives at risk for our own protections, for our own freedoms. And so I can't imagine how hard it is not just for U.S. Central Command, for the Pentagon, but these families that are going to get these next of kin notifications. And we usually allow for that to happen for 24 hours. Someone physically will go to the family's door and notify them of the death.

Now, in terms of escalation, I think this is absolutely a red line for this administration. I would not be surprised if you see intensified strikes. I would assume that the president potentially could say something either on Truth Social or publicly when he's in front of press. And I'm assuming also the secretary, Secretary Pete Hegseth, will say something.

But there's no question that I think you will see an escalation. Can the U.S., can Iran pull back from these escalatory means? This I don't know. And as you mentioned, this is the first time that we've experienced these deaths since March. So it's just going to be a really hard day for the department.

WHITFIELD: Yes, 13 dying in March. And now these two, and then one, you know, still missing in action. And General Kimmitt also made the point about, you know, how heartbreaking, difficult, and attention to, you know, time it will take to notify family members.

But I also recall yesterday you making the point to me on the air that, you know, the lack of, of Pentagon briefings on a regular basis in the midst of conflict also makes it very difficult for the American people to understand the strategy, what is at stake, what is happening. And I wonder if you could elaborate on that feeling.

SINGH: Yes, absolutely. You know, when I was at the Pentagon, we were experiencing pretty regular attacks during a period of time in post October 7th from Iranian proxy groups in Iraq and Syria. And then we had a horrific event happen at Tower 22, which is a base in Jordan where we did lose the lives of three service members. But we were briefing the American public regularly. I mean, we held briefings twice a week, if sometimes three times a week. One was off camera. But you always saw one of us in front of the people because this is the moment where people deserve transparency. They deserve to know.

And of course, there will be an investigation on this. I mean, were just 24 hours, barely 24 hours into finding out about these deaths that happened on Friday. But they just, the American public deserves to know, what were the air defenses? Were they not able to operate? Were they overwhelmed by drones? How did this happen? How did we lose more lives in this war?

But I think, Fredricka, the other thing is that the American people don't understand where this war ends.

[14:40:03]

We are right now in the battle to open the Strait of Hormuz, something very different from where we were, and I know you and I discussed this, from where we were on February 28th when it was about getting to Iran's nuclear program and their ballistic missile program as well.

WHITFIELD: And then what do you see the road ahead now, especially as a result of this that has just taken place? Again, details about the sequence of events is still unclear, but how difficult will it be for peace talks to get back on track after now seven consecutive nights of the U.S. targeting Iran, and then Iran also in its retaliatory strikes impacting gulf region neighbors. I mean, what do you see potentially happening here? Only an escalation? Or do you see a road that will ever get back to any type of diplomacy action?

SINGH: You know, all wars really end at the negotiating table. So there always has to be room for some diplomatic talks. Both sides might not be ready to have that conversation today or tomorrow, but at a certain time, it is unsustainable, I think, for both sides to keep up the cadence that they are doing with strikes back and forth.

And frankly, the Gulf countries, our allies in the region, I mean, I saw you talking to someone else earlier on air. I mean, Kuwait's desalination plant was hit overnight. Kuwait relies on 90 percent of their water to come from desalination plants. So there is a collective reason in the region to get the United States and Iran back to the table.

And I would assume today the calls that the president is getting and making from Gulf countries, but also what the president is being briefed on. And what is likely happening is that the secretary of defense and his national security cabinet are coming together and they're briefing the president on different options on what, you know, more strikes could look like and how they could expand those strikes. And it's ultimately leaving decision room for the president to make that decision on what he decides is the best course of action. Ultimately, they will, I hope, come back to the negotiating table, but it might not be soon.

WHITFIELD: Yes. What leverage or influence might some of those Gulf neighbors who are directly being impacted here and indirectly impacted, might they have in pressuring or nudging or informing the White House and its strategy? SINGH: Well, we've seen, you know, from reporting that some of these

Gulf countries can turn off our access to overflight use in their countries to, for us to be able to conduct strikes in Iran. I don't think they will do that right now as they are getting hit themselves. So they also want to respond and retaliate to Iran. But there is certain types of leverage.

And of course, the United States does hold not just military leverage over Iran, but there is economic leverage that we still hold when it comes to sanctions. And we know Iran's economy is cratering and people are suffering there as well. They also want to see this war come to an end.

But, you know, getting back to the negotiating table, it's going to be very, very difficult. And as you know, and I know you've talked about this, the MOU that was signed was incredibly murky. So to get back to the negotiating table, it's going to have to be something that's more concrete, more detailed, and that's going to be really, really difficult.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sabrina Singh, always great talking to you. Thank you so much.

We've got so much more ahead on this breaking news here in the CNN Newsroom. Plus, new details on the moments leading up to last week's fatal ICE shooting in Houston.

And flooding disaster. Texas assessing the damage after catastrophic floods. More than 270 people rescued from high waters. Two first responders in the middle of it all will join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:48:28]

WHITFIELD: We're continuing to follow breaking news. U.S. Central Command confirming that two U.S. service members were killed on Friday after Iranian attacks in Jordan. One service member is still missing in action. The announcement marks the first American military deaths in the war since March. We're continuing to follow the latest from within the region, and we'll bring you those details as soon as we get them.

Historic flooding and rising rivers in the Texas hill country remain a dangerous threat. The Texas governor urging people to be alert for flash floods even though the rainfall may have dissipated in some areas. This week, a year's worth of rain fell in a matter of days across central Texas, killing two people. The water rose so quickly in areas that cars were swept off roads, bridges were overtaken by high water. Even wild animals, like you see right there, those deer, having no recourse.

So many people were stranded after rivers rose more than 30 feet in just a matter of hours. Rescues by emergency workers were taking place in boats and by air. The shock trauma air rescue team, or STAR Flight, was very busy. Crews using helicopters were used to locate people cut off by the flood waters. Rescuers being lowered into dangerous conditions, then helping to lift people to safety.

With us now are two first responders from Travis County STAR Flight, pilot Marc Jones and rescuer Nick Volz. Great to see both of you gentlemen.

[14:50:01]

So we've been looking, you know, at this video about many of your airlift rescues. And this video of an elderly man, I guess, once he was located surrounded by water in his structure, harness put on him before being lifted to safety. I wonder, Pilot Jones, talk about, you know, the coordination of how you're able to lower the chopper so that in a case like this, your rescue colleague Volz can safely get to someone in need.

MARC JONES, ASSISTANT CHIEF PILOT, TRAVIS COUNTY STAR FLIGHT: Well, luckily, Travis County STAR Flight here in Austin, Texas, they allow us quite a bit of training opportunities to cover central Texas. It's a flash flood alley, fire alley. So we train for this quite a bit. And this kind of fell right into our rhythm of establishing the appropriate altitude, the appropriate techniques to get the rescue where we needed to. I was able to establish a good stable hover and get Nick to where he needed to be. And then, at this point, I'll pass it over to Nick to let him discuss the rescue aspect.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nick, take it away, because when you look at the water, with these kind of waves lapping. Obviously you got the chopper, which also kicks things up a little bit. But, I mean, this is very dangerous. And that gentleman, he seemed kind of calm and reserved. But in a lot of cases people are traumatized. They're frightened. They're also in shock. How do you -- what do you communicate to them to kind of allay their fears and also either put the harness on, you know, or the basket that they have to enter and then be lifted hundreds of feet into the air?

NICK VOLZ, CHIEF CLINICAL SUPERVISOR, TRAVIS COUNTY STAR FLIGHT: Yes. It's a, it's a difficult thing to convince somebody to trust you when you can't really communicate with them. And by, you know, the way we speak and clearly and showing them this is the way out, you know, and letting them know that we're going to take care of them, we're going to keep them safe and that this, even though it's scary, is the best option to get out of this really dangerous situation.

About the water and how it was flowing, you know, between the crew chief, Caleb Merrell and Marc as the pilot, we worked as a group to identify, you know, the safest position for me regarding the building. So we were kind of in what's called an eddy behind the building with the way the flow was coming. And so I had stable ground to work from so that we could get him out to us.

WHITFIELD: Well, incredible. I know everyone is really grateful for really your heroic work. I know you all feel like it's just in a day's work. You do this all the time. You had to do it a lot last year with the flooding that led to more than 100 deaths. And here we go again with this summer. And sadly, this has now led to two deaths. But great job by both of you, and thank you so much for joining us and having the time to do that. And of course, the Texas community thanking you as well, Marc Jones, Nick Volz.

VOLZ: Thank you.

JONES: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: All right, in just over two hours from now, let's talk World Cup soccer. England and France will be facing off for third place in the World Cup. Both teams suffering semifinal heartbreaking losses in their last matches. But all eyes will be on tomorrow, Sunday's big showdown, as Argentina and Spain take the pitch in the final between two powerhouse teams. Argentina looking for its fourth World Cup title. Spain, it would be its second.

CNN's Amanda Davies is joining me right now. People are fired up in this city of New York for this final.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Yes, they are. And despite -- but despite the weather. I mean, you can see the scenes behind me. Gray, thundery, flash floods happening. But that is not dampening the enthusiasm for what is to come. We had a really early start heading out to New Jersey, to the Spain team hotel, where fans have been gathering since 5:00 this morning ahead of the European champions heading out for their final training session ahead of their first World Cup final for 16 years.

A lot of people wanting away from that man, Lamine Yamal, of course. And they've had some positive news that we've had confirmation from the team's technical director, Aitor Karanka, that Yamal is 100 percent fit to take part in the game. Lots of Spanish fans by the hotel there in New Jersey.

But I have to say here in New York, there is no doubt there is one shirt, and that is the blue and white stripes of Argentina, with one name dominating the back of those shirts. So that is the man who has very much confirmed his status as GOAT, hasn't he, Leo Messi. We've seen fans at the Rockefeller Center, at Times Square.

[14:55:07]

And I have to say, for all the popularity, it seems perhaps the love for him can cause some domestic complications.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leo Messi and then my wife and then my family.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. He's the love of my life. Yes. He's the most important people in my in my life. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First Messi, then me?

(LAUGHTER) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: To make matters worse, Fred, he has a ticket for the final and she doesn't. But I guess, you know what is a little bit of a marital tiff if Argentina were to win that back to back World Cup?

WHITFIELD: Oh, that was pretty crazy. Well, she kind of took it seriously. I saw her, like, do this, like she's taking off the ring. But OK, all is fair in love and soccer, football. All right, Amanda Davies, thank you so much.

All right, coming up, all new next hour, more on our breaking news. Two U.S. troops killed in an Iranian missile attack on Jordan, another military member missing in action. The latest on the escalating war with Iran.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)