Prompting new retaliation from u. S. Forces and new fears that the violence could spread. Lets bring in Aaron Gillcrist whos covering todays diplomatic meetings in washington at the white house and Nbcs Jay Gray whos in tel aviv. Jay, starting with you. What is the latest on the ground in israel and gaza as we talk about last hour the war Cabinet Meeting last night and what may have come from that. Day 81 of the war and as intense the u. N. Says it has been since the start and as deadly. They are saying the intensity of the battles on the ground as well as the air strikes has ramped up over the last 48 hours. We know that the attacks have been targeting from the air control and command centers according to the idf. They have been working also to identify and target some of the senior hamas leaders saying that one of their air strikes did kill a leader but not saying to this point who that may be. On the ground, they are continuing to try and expose and then eliminate the Tunnel Network
Iranianlinked group amid a rise of attacks targeting u. S. Service members. All this as a top israeli official arrives in washington, d. C. The latest on the escalating tensions just ahead. Plus, holiday returns. The latest from the roads and the air as millions of americans head back home, while shoppers rush to bring back those not so great gifts before time runs out to make their returns. Thanks for being here. We begin this hour with the expected visit tomorrow to mexico. By Secretary Of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Both are set to meet tomorrow with mexicos president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and first on the agenda will likely be the socalled caravan of migrants heading toward americas Southern Border. Organizers say 8,000 people, including thousands of children under the age of 14, have started the more than 3,000 mile journey from Southern Mexico to the United States and they are walking. Sam brock is following this for us. Sam, goo
with israeli officials saying there s no timetable for slowing the pounding of gaza, a cabinet member comes to washington where pressure is growing and it soon. also, does he think it s festivals? the former president airs his grievances, makes a list and tells the people on it what to do and where to do it plus alexei navalny fear death, he resurfaces bringing a christmas message of courage, hope, and yes, good cheer from one of the coldest corners. good evening, everyone. we begin with u.s. officials trying to steer israel toward a less intensive, less destructive phase of its campaign in gaza and israeli officials signaling they are in no hurry. one of the officials is in washington tonight, we will have the latest on those meetings which wrapped up about six minutes ago. first, though, the fighting itself, which included more than 100 airstrikes today on hamas targets in gaza according to the idf, and 241 killed on the ground according to unverified claims by the hamas -c
friends. it is wednesday, december 27th, i m willie geist. joe and mika have the morning off. a lot to get to including israeli forces shifting military efforts to southern and central gaza with officials warning the war could take many more months. and hours from now, antony blinken and alejandro mayor kas are set to meet with mexican president obrador. plus donald trump continues to claim he should be immune from any prosecution surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. we ll have the latest there. also ahead, bus drivers across the country increasingly under attack on the job. we ll dig into an alarming trend and what officials are doing about it. with us this morning, jonathan lemire, susan paige, and retired four star navy admiral james stavridis. good morning to you all. let s begin together with israel expanding the ground invasion in gaza. this as the united states continues to urge israel to protect civilian lives and shift to a more low intensity oper
sites used by iran-backed mil militants. the pentagon says it s payback for attacks on american troops who are increasingly being targeted in the region. here s cnn s pentagon correspondent oren lieberman. reporter: rising tensions in the middle east with u.s. fighter jets carrying out a series of strikes in iraq against taiib hezbollah. mourners leading a funeral procession through the streets of baghdad as u.s. central command said the strikes likely killed a number of militants. president joe biden ordered the strikes after katayyib hezbollah, recognized by the u.s. as a terror organization, claimed responsibilior an attack clurring three u.s. service members, one in critical condition. the national security council said the president places no higher priority than the protection of american personnel serves in harm s way. the united states will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue. u.s. forces in iraq and syria have been targeted a