good evening. great to have you with us on a friday night. u.s. air strikes, breaking news in iraq. dropping precision-guided bombs. these images from the aftermath. and americans on the ground, and desperate survivors without food and water. and president obama, now saying this. tonight, so many at home, asking why now? first, martha raddatz leading us off. good evening. >> reporter: the u.s. military now has a green light to launch as needed in iraq. today, pounding multiple targets, trying to stop the militants from threatening the lives of americans and others trapped on that mountain. the first strike, 12:45 p.m. in iraq. broad daylight. the two heavily-armed f-18 fighter jets launching from the carrier uss bush in the persian gulf, roaring high above northern iraq, where isis militants were shelling forces trying to defend erbil from attacks. the u.s. fighters dropping precision 500-pound bombs on the isis mobile artillery unit. the smoke from the strike, visible for miles. you let the bomb go. and the bomb finds its way to the target. >> reporter: four hours later, 5:45 p.m. it was the armed drone launching a missile at an isis mortar position. when militant fighters returned to the site, the drone struck again. 6:20 p.m., four more f-18s, targeting a seven-vehicle isis convoy. the pentagon says a total of eight bombs dropped, neutralizing the convoy and the mortar launcher. the strikes are being called as needed to try to stop the advance on erbil and keep the americans safe. meanwhile, that other mission to save lives on top of the mountain. today, these images. iraqi helicopters were mobbed by the starving yazidis. children lifted up to safety. the u.s. dropping water and food under cover of night. >> these cargo airplanes, which and do not have the same >> many may be asking, why not get the americans out to evacuate them? >> well, it's because they're doing important work. but also, it's a key city, and the americans do not want it to fall. because surely isis would try to go after baghdad. >> and now to john karl at the white house. what's the feel there tonight? >> reporter: well, some cautious optimism tonight. some hope we could see a new iraqi prime minister in the next week. this was a decision that the president didn't want to make, but there will be no mission creep. the objective is narrowly defined. prevent a humanitarian catastrophe on that mountain top. and the president told us, there is simply no u.s. military solution to iraq. this is a narrowly-defined mission. >> thanks to you both. and the other breaking story tonight. that little circle on the screen behind me, the eye of tropical storm iselle tonight. and hurricane julio coming up right behind. this one-two punch coming. and tonight, the people living there hunkered down, and the trees, power lines down. the pumps wrapped in plastic. this evening, will all the water trigger landslides? ginger zee is here, but first, clayton sandell on the big island for us. >> reporter: here on the big island of hawaii, utility crews are out working to clear trees that the storm slashed to the ground. and completely blocked highways. power outages put nearly 25,000 in the dark. >> it was scary. it was scary. >> you don't really experience winds like that in hawaii. >> reporter: riding out the storm overnight, we watched those wind speeds jump up. >> right now it's 9:00 p.m. and the winds are 30 miles per hour. it's now midnight and the winds are gusting to 50 miles per hour. >> reporter: but the big story on the big island -- all the big water. some areas soaked with a foot of rain. the rainbow falls yesterday. and here's what it looks like now. so much water streets were flooded. as the storm moves east, famous waikiki beach is empty but amid the damage, some beauty. a rainbow on the island of maui. david, this will give you an idea of the danger and power of all that water. this is the wailuku river here in hilo. the level has risen 13 feet in just the last 12 hours. and tonight, there are flash flood watches across the hawaiian islands. david? >> just the roaring sound behind you. thank you, clayton. ginger, you were telling me that the volcanos may have helped here. >> absolutely. look at the radar right now. almost every island getting some sort of rain. but this has fallen apart big-time. it stopped right there at the volcanos and fell apart. on the satellite, it looks like it was blown away. completely disintegrates. and julio, still very strong. but that path stays north. i don't think the islands will see a lot of impact from either any longer. >> and the other concern you're tracking this weekend? >> rain, and flash flooding in parts of the southeast. south carolina, north carolina, even parts of virginia, going through the next two to three days, locally almost four inches. and another breaking headline, a frightening moment for any parent, and a reminder of the possible dangers in swimming pools. this pool, evacuated after children were shocked. and so, what are you supposed to do? ron claiborne tonight. >> reporter: it happened early in afternoon. three children in the pool, apparently jolted by an electrical current. >> he grabbed the ladder, and that's when he initially got shocked. >> reporter: children were told to immediately get out of the water. fire fighters investigatining whether there was a malfunction of the pool motor or spotlight system. faulty electrical wiring was blamed in this case. experts to say watch out for any corrosion on wires. tonight, the injured children in philadelphia said to be recovering. and now, to the deadly ebola outbreak. we're hearing from one of the two american patients fighting for his life. we're also learning about the aid worker, nancy writebol tonight, and the new dose of serum being given to her. >> reporter: for the very first time, we're hearing tonight from one of the american missionaries sick with ebola, now fighting for their lives at the atlanta hospital. in a statement, dr. kent brantly says, "i am writing this update from my isolation room, where the doctors and nurses are providing the very best care possible. i am growing stronger ever day, and i thank god for his mercy as i have wrestled with this terrible disease." he and nancy writebol had to be rescued, flown 5,000 miles home to the u.s. brantly, describing the day he started feeling ill. "i immediately isolated myself. when the result was positive, i remember a deep sense of peace that was beyond all understanding. god was reminding me, he will give me everything i need to be faithful to him." today, we heard too from nancy writebol's husband. >> i don't believe we can say she's in the clear. >> reporter: he says she's received a third dose of that experimental serum, but her family still has to speak with her through a clear wall and intercom. a good sign -- she's asked for starbucks, and her sons have delivered. her husband, still in liberia, hoping to rush stateside once it's clear he's not infected. the families of the missionaries hospitalized here say it's important to remember that they chose to work in the ebola hot zone, because of the incredible need, david. steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta. >> thank you. and to ohio tonight, a kind of homecoming for lebron james. the city abuzz of this image, a super fan of the browns. and tonight, it's not just basketball at stake. perhaps the fortune of an entire city. >> reporter: akron, ohio, is fired up. expecting nearly 30,000 fans. it's better than christmas in cleveland tonight. lebron james, coming back to the cavaliers. just four years ago, fans burned their jerseys when he left for miami. now, fans celebrating outside his home when the news broke. he's expected to bring an additional $500 million from jobs to ticket sales. and perhaps most importantly, a world championship. and the vacation nightmare caught on tape. again how far is too far when it comes to hotel security. and later, right here, the story everyone is talking about. the white house on security lockdown, triggered by a 15-month-old getting through the fence. h when i had my first migraine, i was lucky. that sounds crazy, i know. but my mom got migraines, so she knew this would help. excedrin migraine starts to relieve my pain in 30 minutes. plus, sensitivity to light and sound, even nausea. excedrin migraine works. tonight, the video under the microscope. the disturbing images caught on tape, raising questions. brian ross with the pictures tonight. >> reporter: as this new jersey oceanfront resort struggles to attack tourists, a series of dramatic videotapes and lawsuits couldn't come at a worse time. with guests claiming they were badly beaten, stomped on, and roughed up after disagreements with the staff of one of the biggest hotels here, harrah's. >> it was miserable. it was absolutely miserable. >> reporter: in the case of the binns family of cape coral, florida, security moved in after john binns, a professional poker player, became upset when told he was being evicted because the hotel computer mistakenly did not list him as a guest. watch what very few could consider to be good hospitality. >> and they grabbed him, and just slammed him to the floor. and all i could say was, get off him. he's got a pacemaker. >> reporter: then, as mother renee and daughter andrea headed away from the scene toward their room, security swooped in to stop them. first, the teen daughter is wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. and then, mom brought down, and dragged off by a man in shorts her lawyer says is the casino's head of security. >> it ended up with a broken nose for andrea, whiplash, and early termination of what was supposed to be a very nice family trip. >> reporter: harrah's employees have claimed the binns and the other two now suing the casino where the aggressors. but its director of security, doug ruhl, would not answer any of our questions. >> sir, we're not allowed to comment on any of this. >> reporter: do you think it was appropriate? did you go over the line? later in a written statement, the casino said its security personnel are trained to use the least amount of force required to protect guests, employees, and themselves. a claim it will now have to prove in court. brian ross, abc news, atlantic city. and you will see much more of this reporting on abc's "20/20" tonight. later, the mystery on top of the brooklyn bridge. what the nypd has revealed. and tonight, the toddler's parents, after she broke through the fence at the white house. jobs all over america. engineering and innovation jobs. advanced safety systems & technology. shipping and manufacturing. across the united states, bp supports more than a quarter million jobs. when we set up operation in one part of the country, people in other parts go to work. that's not a coincidence. it's one more part of our commitment to america. a woman who loves to share her passions. grandma! mary has atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. that puts her at a greater risk of stroke. rome? 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>> it was shocking, to say the least. but there she was, giggling and laughing. >> and mom, what were you do? >> i was a little bit anxious. the way she got in, i didn't know how she was going to come out. i went to her immediately and just to hold her hand. >> and then the secret service came? and they're saying in lieu of a time-out, they just gave her back to you guys. >> yeah, they said that. but the whole team, the whole secret service team was fantastic. >> only 15 months old, but someday, you'll tell her she was on "world news." and you remember the mystery on top of the brooklyn bridge? the white flags? the nypd has a very good idea of who was involved, not terrorism, but they're considering multiple arres arrests. when we kbcome back, the yog woman told she didn't have the right body. she's our person of the week. two pills. s d afternoon arrives and feeling good, but her knee pain returns... that's two more pills. the evening's event brings laughter, joy, and more pain... when jamie says... what's that like six pills today? 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"yummy." and finally tonight, the story of a little girl and a dream. didn't begin dancing until she was 13 years old, but told she had the wrong body for it. she's our person of the week. misty copeland is a star. she reads a rejection letter in a new ad. >> thank you for your application to our academy. you have the wrong body for ballet. and at 13, you are too old told considered. >> tonight, more than 4.5 million views, she's now a force. we found her at new york's lincoln center. a long way from kansas city, missouri. >> that's for sure. >> she boarded a greyhound bus, her mom worked multiple jobs. >> it's one of the stories, like a lifetime movie may come of it. >> well, starting to dance late at 13, because a of a few coaches who saw something in her. you began in a basketball court. within just two years, winning dance competitions. within five years, a spot with one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world. people looked at this body, and said this is not a ballet dancer. what did you hear? >> i'm black. we don't exist in the ballet world. i'm too muscular, short, my bust is too big. >> tonight, there are little children dreaming of this. but proof, the dream can come true. and she's preparing to take the lead role in "swan lake". >> you can give people a opportunity to be part of something to special. that's what it did for me. >> and so we choose misty copeland. thank you for watching here on a friday night. we'll see you on "20/20." for diane and all of us here, good night. this is the "jeopardy!" teachers tournament. for the deciding game, here are the three finalists -- a fourth-grade math teacher from richardson, texas... a seventh-grade social-studies teacher from martinez, georgia... and a high-school social-studies teacher