NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, January 28, 2024

Episode Date: January 29, 2024

3 U.S. soldiers killed in drone attack in Jordan; Biden vows to retaliate after deaths of U.S. soldiers in Jordan; Nikki Haley reveals her home was target of swatting incident last month; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the deadly attack on U.S. troops, the first American military combat fatalities in the Middle East since the war in Gaza began. Three American soldiers killed, dozens more injured after a drone attack on a U.S. outpost inside Jordan. The White House blaming Iranian-backed militant groups, President Biden vowing to retaliate. Some members of Congress calling for direct strikes inside Iran. The deadly attack, a major escalation in the region. Articles of impeachment, Republicans say Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas failed to secure the border and should be impeached as senators finalize a bipartisan deal to change border policies. Why former President Trump was trying to sink it. Nikki Haley, the latest victim of swatting, police called to her home with a fake 911

call pointing guns at her senior parents, what she told Kristen Welker in an exclusive interview. KRISTEN WELKER, It put my family in danger. It was not a safe situation. LISA DESJARDINS, Six passengers and crew sent to the hospital after an American Airlines plane makes a hard landing in Maui. The wild scene on an Indiana highway, camels, zebras and the officers who wrangled them all. This is NBC Nightly News with Kate Snow. Good evening. We begin tonight with what is a tragedy for the families of the three American soldiers who've lost their lives and also a possible turning point for conflicts in the Middle East.

Today, for the first time since the war between Israel and Gaza began back in October, American service members were killed when a drone packed with explosives targeted a base in Jordan. Three soldiers died. At least 30 were injured. President Biden calling it a despicable and unjust attack and saying we shall respond. It happened here along Jordan's northeast border with Syria. And we want to take a moment to orient you to all the events playing out in that region. Israel and Gaza are there next to the Mediterranean Sea. In Iraq and Syria, there have been numerous attacks on U.S. forces, and we've seen engagement with U.S. ships in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, looming far to the east, Iran. The White House alleges that country played a major role in today's attack and others. Some members of Congress tonight calling for the U.S. to retaliate against

Iran directly. We have two reports tonight, beginning with Courtney Kuby at the Pentagon. Today, three U.S. soldiers were killed in Jordan when a drone packed with explosives struck a shelter where troops were sleeping. We lost three brave soldiers in an attack on our base. Yes. And I asked, how many times have all three of us fallen asleep? Jesus. President Biden blaming radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in the region. More than 30 U.S. troops were also wounded, according to two U.S. officials, including several who were medevaced out because of the severity of their injuries.

A spokesperson for the Jordanian government denied the attack occurred on their soil, but U.S. officials insist it was in Jordan. This is the first time U.S. troops have been killed during the more than three months of assaults by Iranian-backed militia groups. Now more than 160 attacks against bases with Americans in Iraq and Syria since October 17. And just one week ago, multiple U.S. troops were injured when a barrage of ballistic missiles hit Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin releasing a statement saying he is outraged and deeply saddened. The attack targeted a small outpost near the Syrian border known as Tower 22,

according to U.S. officials, the troops there work with and advise the Jordanian military. But it also supports the U.S. garrison on the other side of the border in Syria called Al-Tanf. We visited that base five years ago. The troops there tasked with keeping ISIS in check. But the entire area has a much bigger mission. Situated along a highway that runs from Tehran to Baghdad and all the way to Damascus. The troops there are cutting off a land bridge for Iran to move weapons and fighters into Syria. Back now with Courtney at the Pentagon and Courtney, we're hearing there was another attack today. That's right, Kate. Another attack drone targeted al-Assad air base in Iraq, but there were no injuries reported. All right, Courtney Q before us at the Pentagon. Courtney, thank you for all your reporting.

President Biden said today that America will retaliate, but he has been under fire for not responding more forcefully to previous attacks. And there are questions tonight about how directly the U.S. should target Iran. Aaron Gilchrist was with the president in South Carolina today. A stern warning from President Biden after the deaths of American soldiers in Jordan. The president vowing to retaliate, promising in a statement to hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing. The Republican criticism swift. Former President Trump issuing his own statement blaming the attack on, quote, Joe Biden's weakness and surrender.

Senator Lindsey Graham calling on the president to strike targets of significance inside Iran. The Biden administration has made major efforts to keep this war in Gaza from escalating. Deterrence has failed. The militia groups the White House says are behind the drone strike are being funded, armed, and trained by Iran. They have some autonomy, but this is Iran orchestrating attacks on U.S. military forces and interests in the region.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel, these smaller militant groups have targeted sites with American service members in Syria and Iraq dozens of times. The Pentagon has been hitting back at Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen after they began firing on U.S. Navy ships and other commercial vessels. The attack in Jordan, claiming American lives and injuring dozens, could change things. What sorts of options would you want to be on the table? I think they're going to be forced into walking away from so-called proportionate response against the firing unit that has engaged U.S. forces. At some point, you have to go to a higher

level pressure point and apply economic, diplomatic, covert and military action that stuns the Iranian decision makers. And Aaron joins me now. Aaron, there are some possible developments concerning the hostages in Gaza tonight. Kate, a source familiar tells me that another deal to have hostages released in Gaza could be coming together. It is not imminent, but it would help to ease tensions across that region. Kate? That's some hopeful news. Erin, thank you.

Republicans in Congress unveiled plans today to impeach President Biden's Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. They argue Mayorkas has failed to protect the southern border. It comes as President Biden says he's willing to take his most drastic measures yet to change what's happening at the border. Ali Rafa reports from the White House. Tonight, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in House Republicans crosshairs over the historic surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The House Homeland Security Committee releasing articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, charging him with refusing to uphold the law and breaking public trust. The committee preparing to consider the resolution that the White House calls unconstitutional as soon as Tuesday.

Breach of the public trust is sufficient to impeach. And, you know, I think it's important that we respond to the American people. But at the same time, after weeks of closed door talks, a bipartisan border deal in the Senate that Mayorkas helped negotiate is now finalized but not yet released. President Biden in a stark shift from his early days in office, embracing tougher border measures to lock in a deal with Republicans on aid to Ukraine. If that bill were the law today, I'd shut down the border right now and fix it quickly. But the fate of the bill is still unclear. I do feel very positive about it because even the initial feedback has been good. Even if it passes in the Senate, House Speaker Mike Johnson warns the deal is likely dead on arrival in his chamber. Former President Trump weighing in. I'd rather have no bill than a bad bill.

Pressuring Republicans to kill any border agreement, a move many believe would help him campaign against President Biden. Senators on both sides of the aisle who have worked on the agreement for months, frustrated by Trump's pressure campaign. I am hopeful that we will still have enough Republicans in the Senate who want to fix the problem at the border rather than just do Donald Trump's bidding. Ali joins us now from the White House. Ali, Republicans are leading this impeachment charge against Mayorkas. What happens when it goes from the House to the Senate?

Well, Kate, the committee will consider these articles of impeachment on Tuesday, and if they're approved, they then head to the House. If the House then does decide to impeach Mayorkas, this effort then goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the effort is all but certain to die. Kate? Ali, thank you. Presidential candidate Nikki Haley is opening up today, revealing that she's been the target of a frightening trend called swatting. That's when someone calls 911 to trick police into rushing into a home like a SWAT response. Well, now it's happening to more and more public officials. Steve Patterson has more. Tonight, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley revealing her South Carolina home

was a target of swatting late last month. It's when someone makes a fake emergency call, often alleging violence at a victim's home serious enough for a heavily armed SWAT team. Haley saying on Meet the Press this morning, her elderly parents were there when it happened. The last thing you want is to see multiple law enforcement officials with guns drawn pointing at my parents and thinking that something happened. It is a awful situation. And just yesterday, House Republican Whip Tom Emmer sharing his Minnesota home was also swatted, posting on social media that his family was targeted by a 911 prank call that wrongly

diverted a police presence to my home, adding, thankfully, no one was home or injured. Law enforcement experts call it dangerous, illegal, and sometimes deadly. This is not a game and it potentially is life-changing. You're taking resources away from what who could be responding to legitimate calls for assistance. And no address is safe. The White House recently hit with a false call claiming there was a fire with someone trapped inside. Make one respond for fire in the White House. Authorities say more and more it's people in public service that are the targets, from Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting former President Trump,

to Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, to Florida Senator Rick Scott, who recently co-authored a bill to crack down on swatting. My bill will say if anybody gets hurt, you're going to jail. A growing menace, causing harm and wasting resources. Steve Patterson, NBC News. The FAA is investigating an incident involving an American Airlines flight. The Airbus A320 made a hard landing in Maui yesterday, injuring five passengers and a flight attendant. They all went to the hospital and all six have since been released.

Well, something weird happened in Indiana this weekend. A semi-truck carrying circus animals caught fire. Don't worry, the animals are all OK. But state troopers were suddenly wrangling zebras and they definitely earned their stripes. Sorry. Here's Jesse Kirsch. When this semi went up in flames overnight, police say they found the driver safely outside the truck. But there were several more lives trapped inside the trailer along an Indiana highway. We say the semi was carrying 10 circus animals, 5 zebras, 4 camels, and a miniature horse, rescued by officers suddenly standing on the side of an interstate, even posing for pictures.

That's definitely a very unique situation to have to deal with, not only the semi fire, but our vehicle fire, but yeah, with those types of animals in the state of Indiana. Police believe an equipment failure sparked the blaze. It was extinguished, according to authorities, who say two first responders received treatment for smoke inhalation at the hospital before being released. It's awesome to see that teamwork that they get together and they do their job and, you know, they will go inside of a trailer that has smoke that's filling up because the cab is completely engulfed in flames. One responding agency writing on Facebook,

our public safety professionals of all stripes work together to get over the hump on this job. And tonight, traffic is moving again after that group of animals far from the circus still put on a show. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. The world's most famous painting was attacked today. Protesters threw soup at the Mona Lisa. The masterpiece was unharmed, though, protected behind bulletproof glass there. The two vandals were arrested for protesting over food insecurity.

When we come back, there's good news tonight. The kids conquering so much more than just great heights. There's good news tonight about overcoming obstacles and the unique program helping kids living with cancer conquer their fears and make new friends. High five. That was a good one. There you go. At Planet Rock Fitness in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Keep going. High five. That was a good one. There you go. At Planet Rock Fitness in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Keep going. Almost halfway. These brave kids are reaching new heights. Are you ready to go? While building strength, courage, and community. Yeah. Let's go. That's life-changing because the

children here are either living with or recovering from cancer. All right, do it again, buddy. A little higher than the black triangle. It's a free program called Rock Cancer, dreamed up by pediatric oncologist Dr. Carl Cashman from the University of Michigan. What is it about rock climbing that's magic? It's your whole body, arms, hands, feet. It all has to go together. But it is the mental piece, right? You have to talk yourself into getting higher.

You know, for these kids who haven't done it before, it is a mental leap. It was a project created with his patient, Vera James, seven years ago to build strength following her grueling treatments for kidney cancer. This is Vera today. Now 17 and cancerfree, she's encouraging other young warriors. It sounds like the rock climbing is giving people the strength to keep battling that cancer. Come on, come on, you got it. It's something distracting. It's something to feel normal. It's a good starting point just to get used to getting up the wall. It's also a source of support for parents like Rebecca Hodge. Was that hard or too easy? Too easy. Wow. For a few precious hours each month,

her son Zach gets to simply be a kid again. I mean, the disease doesn't own him. He owns the disease. And obviously for me, it's like I get a sense of normalcy back. A place where joy and confidence are reached one step at a time. Good job, dude. Was that fun? Nice. Here, give me a fist bump. I think it's important to remind people in this program that you're not alone. And then I think that's the most important part. You're not alone. Exactly. that way. And Vera and Dr. Koshman now hope to expand the program to help kids in other communities. That is NBC Nightly News this Sunday. I'm Kate Snow. For all of us here at NBC News,

stay safe. Have a great night.