U.S. Helicopters on Rescue Mission in Iraq
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back everyone. In Iraq, the political turmoil and the fight against ISIS militants only parts now of the big picture. There was also this humanitarian crisis unfolding. Civilians, thousands of them in need of the basics. Food, water, diapers, formula. They're stranded on a mountain by ISIS right now. They're members of the Yazidi minority. Refugees desperate for any bit of help. And desperate, frankly, to get off that mountain. Our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson went on this life or death of rescue mission to that mountain under siege.</s>IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Machine gunners unleashed bursts of hot metal. This is the crew aboard an Iraqi air force helicopter. They burn through cartridges and belts of ammunition while rushing an aircraft full of food, diapers, water and baby's milk over ISIS frontlines for civilians trapped on Sinjar Mountain. They're opening fire at targets down below. They say that they</s>BERMAN: See them smile like that is such a welcome thing. Most of us thank god will never know what it's like to fear for our lives or may be even assume that we will not survive like the people on that mountain right now.</s>BOLDUAN: Ivan pointed out, I mean they are traumatized from their week having to spend on that mountain. It's not just that week. I mean they are fleeing with nothing. They fled their homes with whatever they had on their back because these tens of thousands are people are stuck there because they were facing genocide. An unbelievable option. They were either convert or be killed, is what ISIS is presenting most of them. It's just unbelievable.</s>PEREIRA: Many of them probably felt that there was no hope. They didn't think there would be help coming their way. And what a miracle that that helicopter -- just - ...</s>BOLDUAN: More thanks to Ivan Watson for bringing that story to all of us and all of you. Thank you so much. We are going to take a break there. Coming up next on "NEW DAY," we're going to return to talking about Robin Williams, the loss of a legend. Coming up, some of Williams' signature CNN moments.