NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, March 1, 2026

Episode Date: March 2, 2026

U.S., Israel and Iran trade new strikes as conflict escalates; 3 U.S. service members killed in Iran military operation; Attack on Iran threatens to explode into wider Middle East conflict; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking tonight, U.S. troops killed in the Middle East with a new round of missile strikes and new word from the president on how long this operation could last. What we're learning about the deaths of American service members is you see smoke rising from explosions hitting the heart of Tehran. In Israel, casualties reported as Iran fires back. Today, these newly released videos from the U.S. military. More missile launches from a Navy ship and strikes on key Iranian facilities. Tonight, President Trump telling NBC News Operation Epic Fury is ahead of schedule and posting this video. We agree for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. His new warning to Iran retaliating tonight, hitting beyond Israel, targeting other Gulf nations. and the question, who will lead Iran with the Ayatollah and dozens of other leaders now dead. Plus, Iran threatening to cut off the world's oil supply, this tanker on fire at sea, what it could all mean for the price of your gas, and passengers left stranded as airports across the Middle East shut down, the travel chaos around the world. Then, with the fighting escalating, tensions here at home.

The FBI investigating possible terror connections to a deadly mass shooting, Texas. Could it have anything to do with the Iranian strikes? Our special coverage on Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We begin tonight in the Middle East and new video today of another round of strikes in Tehran. You see it there. We're learning now that three American service members have been killed in this operation to attack Iran with President Trump late tonight, pledging to avenge their deaths and bracing Americans for the possibility more troops may be killed. And new reporting tonight, our team learning the attack on Iran happened now because U.S. intelligence had been tracking the Supreme Leader, and they learned he would be meeting with senior officials that morning.

Our correspondents are fanned out across the region and here in the United States, but we begin with Richard Engel on the ground in Tel Aviv. On the second day of this joint U.S. Israeli war on Iran, Israeli jets pounded what Israeli officials described as military targets in central Tehran. Iran is firing back, and now there are American casualties. U.S. Central Command reported three American service members were killed in action. Two officials tell NBC News they were killed in Kuwait, where the U.S. has large bases. We grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Tonight, President Trump called on Iran to surrender, saying its military is collapsing.

The entire military command is gone as well, and many of them want to surrender into saving their lives. They want immunity. They're calling by the thousands. Two officials with direct knowledge of current intelligence tell NBC News the Iranian government no longer controls all of its military, and that some units are now operating independently. a potential recipe for chaos. In an interview with Al Jazeera today, Iran's foreign minister acknowledged some units are cut off.

Our military units are now, in fact, independent and somehow isolated. Israel's defense minister said Israeli jets can now fly over Tehran unopposed, carrying out strikes at will. Explosions ripped through the earth. Iranian capital, home to more than 10 million people. Israel and the United States have been systematically targeting and killing Iran's leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hamani. In Tehran today, tens of thousands rallied in Revolution Square to mourn, showing support

for the government, even amid the airstrikes. Many here today were calling for revenge. But outside of Tehran, signs that Iran's embassioned. battled opposition is feeling emboldened. A few Iranians went out to dance after learning the supreme leader was dead. Iran's main target remains Israel. Today, a ballistic missile hit the town of Bates-Semesh outside of Jerusalem. It was the deadliest attack on Israel since the start of this conflict.

All of this damage here was caused by a single ballistic missile that directly hit a shelter. So far, Israeli officials are talking about at least nine people killed. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today showed he's not afraid, announcing the death of Hamani to Israelis while standing on top of Israel's defense ministry building in Tel Aviv. But there are growing signs that this war could spiral out of control. This oil tanker set on fire off the coast of Oman, and Oman's port attacked, even though the country has tried to broker a peace deal between Iran and the United States. Richard is joining us now from Tel Aviv. And Richard, you talk about the potential for things to spiral.

And already we're seeing conflict erupt in the region more broadly. Hallie, one thing that I'm watching with great concern tonight is what is happening in Iraq. Iraq shares a border with Iran. The Iranian government has a tremendous amount of influence over what happens inside Iraq. And today, large crowds of pro-Iranian demonstrators tried to enter the so-called green zone and swarm the U.S. embassy. It is something that I know U.S. military officials are watching very closely. Richard Engel in Tel Aviv, thank you. For more on the military operation and those service members killed, let's bring in Courtney Kubi, who's with us here in Washington in court, as President Trump is promising to avenge those deaths. You're learning a bit more about the circumstances around what

happened. Yeah, that's right, Halley. At least three U.S. troops were killed and five seriously injured in an attack in Kuwait earlier today, according to two U.S. officials. Now, the troops are part of an Army sustainment unit there. The military is withholding the names of the fallen troops until all of their families have been notified as is standard. Kuwait's government says they have shot down nearly 100 missiles and 300 drones fired from Iran already. More U.S. troops have been injured in this operation, but including shrapnel wounds, some concussions. But so far the military says they've been minor and the troops have all been returned to duty. There had been this question of why now, specifically why Saturday morning? And our team has some new reporting that helps to answer that.

Yeah, finally we're getting a sense of exactly why this began when it did. The U.S. military usually prefers to conduct these sorts of airstrikes in a hostile environment at night. It provides the element of surprise and often means fewer civilian casualties, but these strikes yesterday were broad daylight. Now, according to two sources briefed on the matter, intelligence showed that Iran's supreme leader would be meeting with other senior leaders on Saturday morning, so the U.S. and Israel seized the opportunity to target them all at once. U.S. and Israeli spy agencies had been tracking the Ayatollah's movements for months, and this sustained military campaign is now based on intelligence cooperation between both nations. The U.S. has already hit more than 1,000 targets in Iran so far, Halley.

Courtney, Qibi, plenty to watch on your beat. Thank you. Also, tonight questions around the Iranian strategy, given that escalation with strikes on other countries in the Middle East. Kier Simmons is in Dubai tonight. Kier, what are you seeing on the ground where you are? Hally, after blast after blast, day and nights here in Dubai all through the weekend with missiles and drones intercepted. Today, we are mostly hearing here fighter jets as they clear the skies. And our children, school has been cancelled. We've been hiding in place.

But others are just trying to get home. Today, I spoke to a couple from Tennessee who are here for their 20th wedding anniversary. Now they can't get back to their children, to their families. Both of the airports here in the United Arab Emirates has been closed, hit by drones. There is fury in the Arab world here that Oman was targeted after it was trying to mediate talks between the two sides. Meanwhile, the State Department has issued a caution for Americans worldwide. And the U.S. military has branded a claim by Iran that it is only time. marketing bases as lies. Hally, all of this illustrates how this can easily spiral, Hali.

Kier Simmons in Dubai, thank you. Let's talk more about that leadership void in Iran with the Ayatollah now dead. Raf Sanchez is tracking that. And, Raf, we know that there's a temporary council that's in place now, right? Yeah, that's right, Hali. Iran today announcing that a three-man leadership council is taking control following the death of the supreme leader. On that council, you have Iran's president who's democratically elected but doesn't have a whole lot of power. You have Iran's chief justice who has been sanctioned by the U.S. for human rights abuses. And finally, you have a senior Islamic cleric. Now, their job is to hold the country together until a new supreme leader can be chosen.

And tonight, two sources tell NBC News that a CIA assessment made before the U.S.-Israeli attacks concluded that Iran's next leader will likely be a hard-law. and potentially a member of the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps. And, Raf, the Iranian law is clear that whoever the next leader is, he has to be a man and he has to be a cleric. Yeah, exactly. And he also has to be elected by a body called the Assembly of Experts. This has 88 members.

All of them are religious scholars. You could kind of compare it, Halley, to the conclave at the Vatican, which elects a new pope. Now, we heard earlier today from the Iranian Foreign Minister who said that that assembly could potentially come together quickly to elect a new leader. But given the wartime chaos in Iran right now, don't be surprised if that turns out to be a longer process. Hallie. Ralph Sanchez, thank you. President Trump has that new warning for Iran tonight, telling its military to lay down their arms or else, in his words, face certain death.

Gabe Gutierrez is at the White House. President Trump tonight with a new warning, saying Iran better not retaliate further, or we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before. Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. The president returning to Washington late today, after monitoring this weekend strikes from his Mar-Lago estate. Also speaking today with leaders from Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE.

Tonight, he's telling Americans to brace for more American casualties. And sadly, there will likely be more. Before it ends, that's the way it is. Likely be more, but we'll do everything possible where that won't be the case. Now, the president with this message for the Iranian people. I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back to your country. Meanwhile, Democrats are furiously pushing back, arguing the president should have consulted Congress

before striking Iran. I think the president has started a war of choice. There was no imminent threat to the United States. They're now calling for a vote this week to restrict the president's war powers. He ran because a big part of the MAGA base did not want another war in the Middle East. This is a betrayal of a decent chunk of the MAGA base. Still, almost all Republicans in Congress are standing by the president's actions. The mothership of terrorism is sinking. The captain is dead. The largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, is close to collapsing.

Gabe is joining us now from the White House North Lawn. And Gabe, some members of Congress have said they want to hear more about these strikes. And it sounds like they will coming up this week. Yes, Halley, top administration officials, including Secretary of State Rubio and Defense Secretary Hexstaff, are now scheduled to brief Congress about Iran on Tuesday. That's according to a White House official and a congressional. congressional official. The House and Senate briefings will be classified. Hally, Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Thank you. We are also watching the markets tonight with oil prices now surging after the attack. Christine Romans is monitoring this for us. Christine, what are we seeing? Yeah, big reactions so far here, Halley, oil prices surging as world markets are getting their first chance to react to those strikes on Iran. What happens in this region,

of course, is critical for the price of oil around the world. Iran is an oil producer, a big oil producer, but because of punishing sanctions, most of its oil goes to China. But more importantly here, the Strait of Hormuz is that critical passageway. Houtly 20% of the world's oil passes through there every day. Christine, can't talk about oil prices without also talking about gas prices. What is the expectation on that front here at home? Yeah, spiking oil prices will quickly translate into higher prices of the pump for American drivers. Look at it this way, a $1 rise in crude oil prices generally means up to two and a half cents more for a gallon of gasoline. So quick math, a $10 spike in oil would be up to 25 cents more for a gallon of gasoline. Experts say those

higher prices of the pump, you know, they could happen in a matter of days, how long they last depends on how this conflict plays out. And Hallie, as this crisis unfolds, several major shipping companies have told us they're holding their supertankers outside of the straight. They're dropping anchor on dozens of ships. Also tonight, the group of countries known as OPEC Plus says it's going to agree to a modest increase in oil production next month as all of this plays out, Halley. A lot of dynamics there. Christine Romans, thanks for being all over all of it. Still ahead for us tonight, the deadly mass shooting at a bar in Texas, possibly terror-related. So could it have anything to do with those strikes in Iran? Plus, the domino effect on travel with passengers

around the world now stranded. New developments tonight in a deadly mass shooting in Texas, possibly terror-related, with questions on whether it may have been connected to the fighting in Iran. Priscilla Thompson is at the scene in Austin with a warning. Some of the video you're about to see is disturbing. Terrifying moments inside an Austin bar. Somebody advising there's an active shooter. As a gunman opened fire in the busy downtown entertainment district,

killing two people and injuring 14 others. Here you can see people inside Bufrit's Beer Garden taking cover. Hey, close the doors. Multiple law enforcement officials telling NBC News the gunmen wearing a sweatshirt that said, Property of Allah, over a shirt with an Iranian flag theme, started shooting around 2 a.m. What did you hear? How many shots? Yeah, the first time, definitely over a dozen, probably 15 plus, just at successions, bang, bang, bang. And at the intersection, he was shot and he was killed.

Four sources familiar with the investigation identifying the suspect as a 53-year-old naturalized citizen from Senegal. It's still way too early in the process to determine an exact motivation, but there were indicators that on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism. The shooting comes amid heightened tensions across the country after the U.S. conducted military operations in Iran. Investigators have not linked the shooting to the conflict. Texas Governor Greg Abbott with this warning, writing to anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure. Understand this clearly. Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.

Priscilla is joining us now live in Austin. And Priscilla, some of the bars and restaurants there are getting ready to reopen tonight, but they're going to add more security, right? That's right, Halley. there are FBI agents who have been on the ground going back and forth to that FBI vehicle as they are continuing to comb this scene. We are also told that there is going to be increased patrols and law enforcement presence in this area. Hallie? Priscilla Thompson, thank you.

We are back in a moment with the airports in chaos and the passengers stranded a world away from home after the Iranian strikes paralyzed some commercial travel. To the chaos at airports around the world with these weekend. strikes leaving passengers stranded trying to get home. Here's Valerie Castro. Tonight, travel chaos rippling around the world. Major airports in the Middle East shut down after Iran fired a barrage of missiles and drones at countries in the Gulf. The region, a major travel hub, more than 1,500 flights to the Middle East canceled. Travelers worldwide impacted from Lebanon to India, even France and Germany. Massive crowds in Doha scrambling to

figure out their next move. the front of the line up there are waiting three hours just to get the voucher. While at Dubai International Airport, passengers were evacuated after it was attacked. And Kuwait's airport also suffering heavy damage and a partial collapse. Multiple airlines pausing all travel after Iran and several Arab countries closed their airspace. Passengers left frustrated, scared, and stranded. It's kind of been chaos here. All the airspace is closed here.

All the Rissims was already in the air headed back on. to Dallas from Qatar when the flight changed course. He's not sure when he'll be able to get home. Then all of a sudden the captain said that we had to turn back around and go back to Doha because Qatar Airways ordered all flights to come back to Doha. Another American tourist Sarah Gaither now waiting it out in her Doha hotel. I'm literally shaking right now. As thousands more anxiously hunkered down and hope to get out soon. Valerie is joining us now from Newark Airport.

Valerie, some airlines are now closing bookings for new flights to the region at the moment. Yeah, Hallie, these ticket counters normally serve customers flying L.L. That is the Israeli airline, but you can see they are totally empty tonight. The airline announcing it is suspending future ticket sales until at least March 21st. While it works to get Israelis stranded abroad back home, Emirates Airlines also suspending its operations into and out of Dubai until Monday afternoon. Hallie. Valerie Castro, thank you. When we come back, the flood of emotions from Iranian Americans looking ahead to what's next. Finally tonight, with Iran facing an uncertain future, Iranian Americans here at home are watching anxiously and hopefully to see what's next.

Here's Morgan Chesky. For Iranian, but the world is going to be a better place. Tonight, from coast to coast, a flood of emotions for the more than half million Iranians, who now call the United States home. All the diaspora of Iranians are chanting and excited because we see freedom at hand. Their glimpse of freedom, many thought, would never come after a regime that's lasted nearly 50 years. Now as Iranians look to the country's future, some reaching for its past. Get back to how Iran was in the 60s and the 70s and a democracy where there's freedom and people have, you know, right of speech and right of religion. In New York's Times Square, one rally's message, free Iran heard loud and clear.

While in L.A., in the neighborhood known as Tehranjolos, Iranian flags covering every corner with locals brimming with hope. Everyone's dancing in Iran. The last time Shailene Farabi visited her cousins in Iran, she was a young girl. Now, for the first time in her life, she believes better days are ahead. Do you believe real change can happen now and how? I think it will change. Life will be better over there. And for mother, Sepi Maccabee, prayers that this moment marks a turning point. We were oppressed, and my parents left the country so that my sister and I could have a free life.

My kids get to see a free Iran. Freedom that tonight feels closer, yet far from guaranteed. Morgan Chesky, NBC News, Los Angeles. And that is nightly news for this very busy Sunday. Tom, we'll be back tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week.