Wont leave . Announcer from nbc World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. With american fighter jets providing cover along with a force of u. S. Marines, more than 150 americans were evacuated from libya after heavy fighting in tripoli forced the closure of the u. S. Embassy there. Libya has been increasingly unstable with rival militias engaged in some of the fiercest fighting of the gadhafi regime todays exodus has large implications which helped topple gadhafi and the threat of the bloody 2012 attack on the american consulate in benghazi. We begin our coverage with White House Correspondent kristen welker. Reporter the evacuation was necessary to protect the more than 150 americans in tripoli. Its the worst violence in the area since the revolution in 2011. Th u. S. Embassy was caught in the middle of intense fighting between the militia causing the americans to be evacuated. John kerry inherits on a diplomatic mission. Because of the f
Good evening. Tonight israeli tanks are positioned outside the entrances to gaza, awaiting orders to invade as the Aerial Bombardments from both sides continues but claiming an uneven toll of dead and injured. The Israeli Military tonight successfully intercepted another barrage of hamas rockets, fired from gaza toward tel aviv. Hamas, however, has had no such success, defending against israeli counter attacks. The death toll in gaza now stands at over 150, with over 900 people wounded. Inside israel, there have been no deaths from the rocket attacks but at least 11 people have been wounded. Tonight we have the view from the ground on both sides starting with Martin Fletcher in tel aviv. Good evening. Reporter lester, good evening. The stakes are rising sharply here tonight. Israel says because hamas is hiding its rocket launchers among palestinian homes in northern gaza, tonight it will order Palestinian Civilians to leave their homes, quote, for their own safety. They were running fo
Good evening. American war planes once again today struck isis targets near the critical mosul dam in iraq. The latest strike comes a day after the Obama Administration acknowledged it is considering expanding attacks against the Islamic State fighters into syria. And that has opened a vigorous discussion over just how serious a threat isis poses outside the middle east, more specifically the united states. The grisly execution murder of american journalist james foley this week underscored the brutal nature of the group. And just yesterday the white house said isis is more dangerous than it was six months ago, a telling admission from an administration that not long ago was downplaying the terror groups capabilities. Lets begin our coverage tonight with Kristen Welker who is in Marthas Vineyard where the president remains on vacation. Kristen, good evening. Reporter lester, good evening. The pentagon is drawing up military options for syria, even identifying possible isis targets in t
End of ramadan, killing and wounding dozens of people. Early reports from those who witnessed the attack claimed it was hit by an israeli drone. Israeli officials claim these two areas were struck by rockets launched by gaza terrorists who miss their targets. So far they fired at least 12 rockets into israel and mortar rounds killed up to four Israeli Soldiers marking one of the deadliest strikes since the conflict began. Speaking this afternoon, Benjamin Netanyahu told israelis to prepare for a Long Campaign and israel would continue to act until its achieved its mission to protect israeli citizens. This morning, just hours before netanyahus latest comments, u. N. Second ban kimoon urged for an immediate halt to the violence. It is time for an immediate unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in the name of humanity, the violence must stop. Last night on a phone call with netanyahu, president obama made clear, the question is how do we get there . Speaking from washington today secretary
Good evening. After much criticism for saying the u. S. Didnt have a strategy against isis, president obama today said hed lay out the game plan this week for fighting the militant group. His comments came in an exclusive interview with chuck todd on meet the press. U. S. Warplanes carried out strikes against isis, an effort costing the untcountry 7 millia daflt Kelly Odonnell joins our coverage. Reporter the president says its time to go on the offensive against Islamic State fighters. That is a big turn from his no strategy comments just days ago. Tuesday hell talk about next steps with congressional leaders from both parties and then wednesday hell address the nation as he explained to meet the press moderator chuck todd. Im preparing the country to make sure that we deal with a threat from isis. That threat from fighters has taken the lives two of americans and thousands of civilians in the reej yovenlt but on meet the press, the president told chuck todd his response will not be a