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CNN This Morning

Israel Says Another Wave Of Strikes Underway Against Iran; Tornadoes Leave Eight Dead Across Central U.S.; New Middle East Travel Corridors Open For Passengers; Gas Price Are At Their Highest Point Of Either Trump Presidency; Trump Claims Cuba IS Going To Fall "Pretty Soon"; Honoring The Lives Of Six Service Members Lost In Iran Conflict. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired March 07, 2026 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. Welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. It is Saturday, March 7. I'm Bianna Golodryga, in for Victor Blackwell.

We have breaking news to bring you. President Trump says that Iran will be "Hit very hard today," including targeting different areas and groups of people that were previously not considered for targeting.

Israel, meantime, says that its using more than 80 fighter jets to carry out pre-dawn strikes in Iran already this morning. Tehran's airport was in flames earlier. And at the same time, Israel says that its intercepting waves of Iranian attacks. But Iran's president said in an address on state media that the country is dialing back on some of its strikes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through a translator): We do not intend to attack neighboring countries. As I have repeatedly said, they are our brothers. We must work with our friends in the region hand in hand to bring about peace and stability.

And I'm hopeful of that with the decision that we have made in the temporary leadership council. That was announced to the armed forces that from now on, there should be no attack on neighboring countries or missile strikes unless they should wish to attack us from those countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And yet, shortly after he spoke, interceptions continued over the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Qatar and Saudi Arabia say that they repelled drones and missiles as well. And despite ongoing attacks, the UAE says that it is resuming flights in and out of Dubai's airports. Airports in the UAE are key for connecting flights worldwide, a major lifeline as people flee the attacks.

We are covering these new developments with our reporters around the world. Nic Robertson and Jeremy Diamond are here with us. But first, let's go to CNN's Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv. Jeremy, what more do we know about this new wave of strikes in Iran this morning? What exactly was Israel targeting?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Israeli military is continuing to carry out a broad range of strikes inside of Iran. In the early hours of this morning, the Israeli military said that they had 80-plus fighter jets carrying out these strikes, targeting everything from a military university, which the Israeli military said was used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an IRGC compound, underground ballistic missile storage facilities, as well as missile launch sites.

And the Israeli military, as we've been reporting in the last few days, is claiming that these attacks are helping to reduce the number of ballistic missiles being fired towards Israel and the number of missiles that are therefore getting through Israel's air defense system. With more than 60 percent of those ballistic missile launchers now neutralized, according to the Israeli military. Similar figures also coming out of the United States military as well.

We also understand that the -- according to the Israeli Defense Forces, there was a night of heavy bombardment in Tehran in particular, and in the Isfahan governance. We had reports from inside Iran of 80 homes that were severely damaged in overnight attacks.

Meanwhile, were also watching as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is very much heating up. Yesterday, my team and I were along the border between Israel and Lebanon, where we witnessed a multiple projectiles on both sides of this border as clashes intensify. Look at a portion of what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: OK. So, we're going to put our vests on now because you just saw not one, but two projectiles coming in. Still not clear exactly what that was, but we're now starting to hear the outgoing Israeli fire responding to it. And now -- OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's just -- he's so used to it.

DIAMOND: And that was hitting the same spot. Yes, getting very active here now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: So, as you can see, Bianna, a very tense situation along that border. In fact, just yesterday, the Israeli military said that eight soldiers were wounded by some of that very same fire that we saw on the border with five soldiers in serious condition. In Lebanon, the Israeli military has escalated its strikes not only in the southern part of the country, but also carrying out heavy, heavy airstrikes in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where hundreds of thousands of Lebanese were forced to flee their homes as Israeli military issued evacuation orders for a large swath of those southern suburbs of Beirut. A very tense situation as this regional war continues to escalate, Bianna.

[07:05:31]

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And just moments ago, the Israeli defense minister warning the president of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah or the country will pay a "Heavy price." So, you'll be following a number of fronts for us throughout the day. Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much.

Well, the Gulf is facing another day of mounting pressure as Iran keeps up its strikes. Saudi Arabia says that it stopped 20 drones targeting the Shaybah oil field, a remote desert site that remains central to the kingdom's oil production. Well, this morning, Iran's president is apologizing to Gulf Nations, saying Iran would not stop striking its neighbors unless the attacks on Iran start from those countries.

For more, let's go to CNN's Nic Robertson in Saudi Arabia. And, Nic, so far in these eight days, all of these strikes have been initiated from Iran themselves. They were not initiated from any of these Gulf countries.

And yet, they have been on the receiving end of a barrage of missiles and drone attacks. I'm curious your reaction. How do you think the Gulf leaders will be responding to this new message from the president of Iran that these strikes will stop?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: I think, very simply, to see if actions measure up to the words. I mean, overnight last night, you mentioned that more than 20 drone strikes at that very important oil field in the east of Saudi Arabia. By our reckoning, from the publicly released data by the Ministry of Defense here, that was the most intense barrage around a Saudi oil field that we're aware of so far during the last eight days of war.

It's not that oil field, by any reckoning, would not be a base of operations for the U.S. or Israel, not -- it's even a remote consideration here. But by any consideration, not a place that the U.S. would be basing operations out of an oil field.

There were three ballistic missiles intercepted near the Prince Sultan Air Base, just outside of Riyadh. Historically, the U.S. Air Force has used that base at times. Not clear if it is now. There were two drones around Riyadh.

So, the actual messaging from Iran shortly before the president spoke today, saying that if they're not struck from bases -- from the GCC countries that are giving support to the United States, if they're not struck from the air by the U.S. from those places, then they won't strike back. But the evidence that Iran actually speaks with is that they're still trying to target the oil infrastructure. So, the test here is not just do the words -- not just do actions match the words but it will be a very instructive 24, 48 hours to show if Iran's president actually has any command and authority over the military elements, the IRGC, the supporting militia in Iraq and other countries in the region, if he actually has any sway at all.

And if over 24 48 hours, he isn't able to command the authority that he appears or sounds like he is speaking with, then that will obviously be instructive about a breakdown in political leadership, at least in Iran. And that will be instructive for the Saudis and for other Gulf leaders to try to measure how they respond. We are talking to contacts and sources here, close and inside the government, of course, to try to get a reaction. But they still have not -- they are not willing to commit one way or another. I think we just -- and they will be watching to see what Iran actually does.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. And I don't know of any expert that has ever viewed President Pezeshkian of having the authority to make those decisions ultimately as well. Nic Robertson, thank you so much for your reporting.

In our last hour, I spoke with CNN military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton and CNN Global Affairs Analyst Kim Dozier about President Trump's latest comments on Iran. And one line stood out after Iran's president said that he would not give in to the president's demand for unconditional surrender. Here's part of what they told us.

[07:10:01]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: When you look at what the president just sent out on his Truth Social account, it is pretty clear that he's escalating the conflict. And that would mean that leadership targets will be part of this type of action, based on what he has said, at least. So, if they're going to go ahead and target leadership targets, that is going to cause a cascading effect.

If those leadership targets are successfully struck, that will then mean that there will be further disarray within the Iranian government and the -- and the elements of it, like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and, you know, elements like that. So, this is a potentially a very serious escalation.

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: President Trump say that he can react very emotionally to things. So, I think he woke up this morning and saw that the Iranian president had given a five-minute taped address in which he rejected any surrender and vowed to fight on, and responded in kind to that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: And we have more coverage ahead this hour, and do make sure to tune in tomorrow night to "The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper." Sara Sidner will report on the decision to strike Iran and ways the fallout. What happens next? Watch "The Whole Story With Anderson Cooper," Sunday at 10 p.m. Eastern, and the next day on the CNN app.

Well, this morning, at least eight people are dead following severe storms throughout the central United States. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDSEY WHITAKER, THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN: Holy crap. Oh, the roof just blew off. Oh, my gosh. Oh, we need to go because the storage shed just blew off. And everything came out. We just need to go through that light.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: That is new video from Lindsey Whitaker, who told CNN that she was driving home when she saw the storm rip the roof off of a storage facility. Thankfully, she and the other passenger in the car made it home safely.

Back with me now is CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam. And, Derek, this video is quite alarming. For those residents in the central part of the country, what more can they expect in the hours to come?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Unfortunately, Bianna, the multi-day severe weather threat continues today. We'll highlight where. But first, look at this video coming out of Union City in Southern Michigan. It uprooted trees, took roofs right off a building.

Look at all the debris being flown around this very powerful twister that actually crossed over the frozen lake. You can see some of the ice being ripped from the lake. I mean, what a juxtaposition between the seasons, right? Winter to spring almost instantaneously.

Here's a recap of the radar. When you start to see this pronounced hook echo in a single storm cell, that means trouble. And you can see how it moved across Three Rivers, Union City. Unfortunately, that's where we had some of the fatalities. We also had fatalities from the tornado reports out of central and northern Oklahoma.

The severe weather marches East today. Two distinct areas that we're monitoring. One, across the Southern Great Lakes. This is the area where we have our greatest, although diminished from yesterday, chance of tornadoes. Cleveland, Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. This area, though, has the chance for large hail, over an inch and a half possible.

Here's the current radar. Lots of lightning associated with these storms. Storm Prediction Center has a tornado watch through about 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time across parts of Arkansas and to Northern Louisiana. This does include Little Rock.

There have been numerous tornado-warned storms that have moved across western sections of Arkansas. And then the other side of this severe weather threat is the potential for flash flooding across the region. Very busy next 24 hours before it wanes tomorrow. Bianna.

GOLODRYGA: We'll be -- we'll be covering it all for us. Thank you so much.

Well, stranded passengers are making their way out of the Middle East. Coming up. The new travel corridors opening up for evacuation flights. And gas prices are rising while stocks take a tumble. We'll take a look at the economic costs of the war with Iran and the conflict there. And later, a look at the powerful tributes to the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson at his memorial service

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:18:55]

GOLODRYGA: New this morning, Qatar's defense ministry says that it has fended off a ballistic missile attack today. It's one of several recent attacks from Iran targeting Qatar and other Gulf states that host U.S. military bases. At this hour, Qatar's airspace remains closed, but Qatar Airways says that it's working to help stranded passengers. In a social media post, the airline said that it established a limited relief corridor for today. Flights are from Doha to Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome.

Let's go to CNN Senior Producer Bijan Hosseini for more. So, what are we hearing about this decision to allow at least some limited flights to go out, Bijan?

BIJAN HOSSEINI, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Yes, Bianna. First, I want to start with those comments that we heard earlier in the show from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Iran apologizing, you know, for attacking these Gulf neighbors, that Iran would stop striking these Gulf neighbors. We heard from Nic Robertson earlier that strike still took place in Saudi this morning.

When the president was making those comments, we were actually under alert here. We had gotten a security alert on our phone asking us to shelter in place. The ministry, as you said, here in Qatar -- the Ministry of Defense confirming that there was a missile attack underway.

[07:20:13]

Luckily, that was all intercepted. We got the all-clear, but kind of ironic. We haven't seen or heard, or received any threats since that attack. And if true, if the Iranian president's comments are true, it will bring a lot of relief for passengers stuck here.

We know authorities told us that there are -- they believe there was 8000 passengers that were transiting through Doha when this crisis began to unfold eight days ago. As of today, the first news were getting of some flights being able to leave Qatar to offer some relief to those passengers. Like, the civil aviation authority has said that the airspace is still closed, but set up that limited security corridor for some of those flights to get out today.

You mentioned those five cities. We're also hearing from Qatar Airways that a similar corridor will be set up tomorrow for inbound flights from those five cities as well, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Madrid, London, in addition to Bangkok. So, slowly but surely, some relief for passengers coming in and out of the country here. GOLODRYGA: No doubt. Bijan Hosseini, thank you so much. And you're likely already seeing it at the pump. Gas prices are going up and the war with Iran is having other major impacts on the global economy already. We'll discuss why it's happening and what you should expect.

Plus, President Trump tells CNN that he expects Cuba's regime to fall next. We'll get a report from CNN's correspondent in Havana on how the island is reacting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:26:11]

GOLODRYGA: All right. Welcome back to our coverage of the war in Iran. Israel's military says more than 80 fighter jets hit targets across Tehran today, in what it called a broad-scale wave of strikes. One of Tehran's busiest airports took a direct hit. Iran is also firing back. Multiple explosions shook Tel Aviv today as Israel continues to intercept dozens of Iranian drones and missile strikes. But in a surprise move, Tehran apologized to its neighbors and vowed not to attack them unless they struck first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEZESHKIAN (through a translator): We do not intend to attack neighboring countries. As I have repeatedly said, they are our brothers. We must work with our friends in the region hand in hand to bring about peace and stability. And I'm hopeful of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And yet just moments after this video was released, strikes against Gulf countries continued from Iran. And Tehran is also sending out a warning that any European country that joins the U.S.-Israel attacks will become targets for retaliation. For more on how European leaders are responding to Iran's warning not to join the war, let's bring in CNN's Barbie Nadeau, who is in Rome. And barbie, what can you tell us about how Europe is responding here?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: Well, you know, European leaders don't agree on almost anything, even in the best of times. And so, what we're seeing here is sort of a disparate approach. And we've got countries like here in Italy and Spain having very different -- very different approaches to this.

In Italy, they've decided to send air defense systems and to descend -- and to send military assets to try to protect Cyprus and Turkey. We've seen the same response from France. In Germany, we've had much more of a diplomatic approach to the situation. We hear right now from the German foreign minister. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHANN WADEPHUL, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through a translator): Iran's behavior is absolutely irresponsible. And we have clearly condemned it, including yesterday in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council states. It is completely unjustified that Iran is attacking uninvolved states that did not participate in the attacks against Iran. This applies to the Gulf Cooperation Council states, to Cyprus, and to Turkey. It is irresponsible and likely to cause an escalation that must be avoided at all costs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NADEAU: And you know, Bianna, when you listen to that, you really do kind of understand the gravity of the situation. There are more than 40 bases run by the United States military across Europe. We've got several here in Italy. Spain, for one, wouldn't allow the United States to use their bases for any military action. And we've heard from the Italians as well that they would consider if the United States asks.

So, these countries that have these U.S. bases are obviously very, very concerned that they could be targeted if any of the military action is directly from the European mainland. And it's just a very concerning moment here. And none of the European leaders seem to want to go too far into the war zone. But yet were seeing like, I said, Italy, France, and Greece are sending naval assets to help protect Cyprus and Turkey.

So, it's a complicated situation, one made more complicated by the fact that it's not quite sure what the -- what the strategy is from the United States and Israel going forward.

GOLODRYGA: Or how much of a heads-up these European Nations were given ahead of these strikes as well. Barbie Nadeau, thank you so much.

[07:29:59]

Well, the warning in Iran is weighing on the markets. All three of the major stock indices posted losses on Friday. The Dow fell three percent this week. That is the worst drop since April, when tariffs rattled traders. President Trump is also trying to calm oil markets. He is offering to provide $20 billion in reinsurance to get oil tankers to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Still, U.S. crude oil spiked 36 percent this week. AAA says regular gasoline shot up to $3.32 a gallon on Friday.

Economic reporter for the New York Times, Lydia DePillis is joining us now with more. Lydia, it's good to see you.

So, as we saw, Brent crude shot up to $90 a barrel. Analysts are still saying this perhaps could be underpricing. And that, like the Qatari minister, suggesting that we could see oil hit $150 a barrel. What are you hearing from analysts, and how much of this is all based on how long this conflict lasts, if it's just a few weeks. Do you think that oil prices can maintain where they are right now, or do you think that at this point they could continue to rise?

LYDIA DEPILLIS, ECONOMIC REPORTER, NEW YORK TIMES: So, oil prices are one of those prices that go up like a rocket and come down like a feather. So, they do translate immediately into gas prices that you see at the pump. And the thing is, it translates into inventory. So, if inventories are depleted, they take a long time to stock back up, even if the supply bottleneck is removed.

And this effect is being felt much more harshly in Europe, which is more exposed to oil that goes through the Strait of Hormuz. But it does affect the U.S., because, as we know, oil is a globally priced commodity.

So, we are already starting to see U.S. companies respond by upping the amount they are pumping from fields in West Texas. But that will take a while to come back online and serve as a buffer.

So, it is something that is going to be with us for a few weeks, even if this conflict does go away in short order.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, gas prices up, 11 percent this week. The president saying that he has no intention of tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve just yet. What other options, aside from bringing this war to an end as soon as possible does the president have here?

DEPILLIS: Well, there is been some reporting that the president is contemplating, looking at taking off gas taxes. I believe that's something he would need Congress to do to help them out there. And you should remember that gas taxes are also imposed by states.

So, it's not as though removing the federal tax would move the needle all the way back down to pre-war levels. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an option that he has, and it's not an unprecedented one. President Biden also did this when oil prices spiked in 2022.

So, I'd be surprised if he didn't use that as a release valve if these prices do continue to spike, recognizing how vulnerable the president is politically and how salient gas prices are for voters.

GOLODRYGA: So, if we continue to see this war last for the weeks to come, and we continue to see gas prices rise along with oil prices, what position does that leave the Federal Reserve in and the types of options they have? Because at the same time, we got a weaker than expected jobs report. Just yesterday, 92,000 jobs were added in the previous month. So, here you have both of their mandates, basically in somewhat of a contradiction here. What should the Fed do?

DEPILLIS: It's a really tricky position to be in. And just to correct you, I mean, like, that we lost 92,000 jobs last month --

(CROSSTALK)

GOLODRYGA: Oh, yes, 92,000 jobs. Yes, excuse me. Right.

DEPILLIS: That's right. And, you know, we shouldn't over read that. That was coming after a really, really strong printing in January.

But it does put the Fed in a vice, because they can't raise interest rates to bring down prices, because they have obviously no control over what happens in the Gulf. And if they were to drop rates, then, you risk overheating other prices, even if you might help stabilize the labor market a little bit.

So, what most expect is for the Fed to hold steady for another couple of meetings, but with a bias towards cutting, because they really do care about the labor market. Now, it's encouraging to see that the unemployment rate hasn't been rising too drastically, but it is getting towards slightly uncomfortable levels.

And so, if that does rise anymore, they are going to have to be forced to cut more just to make sure that we don't result in -- we don't end up in a mass unemployment situation. But that is very risky, considering the influence that oil prices still have on prices.

You know, we are less vulnerable to those prices increases than we were in the 1970s when there was an oil embargo. But there is still something that feed into the economy fairly quickly.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, and important to note, the United States, since then, over the last eight years or so, has been the world's largest oil producer. Nonetheless, oil is a fungible commodity, so, thus we continue to see these types of spikes in the prices there.

[07:35:03]

And yes, thank you for that correction. 92,000 jobs were lost the last month. Not added.

Lydia DePillis, thank you for the time.

Well, President Trump is once again suggesting that Cuba is next on his administration's agenda, telling CNN that the regime is going to fall pretty soon. He also said he put Secretary of State Marco Rubio in charge of the island nation.

The U.S. has put intense pressure on Cuba in recent weeks, including an oil embargo, which has caused a severe energy shortage.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann, has more from Havana.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump says that Cuba is, "ready to fall." It would seem to be the kind of rehash bluster we have heard from many U.S. presidents since the Cold War, but now it does feel a little different.

The oil embargo that Donald Trump has put on this island gives some credence to his comments to CNN that the government here is hanging on by the thinnest of threads.

Every day we see less cars on the road. The blackouts become longer and longer, and people are becoming increasingly desperate as they wonder how their food will last in fridges if there is no more power, how they will earn a living if inflation is out of control and salaries are becoming near to worthless.

And so, when Donald Trump says the Cuban government is desperate for a deal, as he told CNN Dana Bash on Friday, perhaps, there is some truth in that, although, the Cuban officials that I speak to say they will never allow the U.S. to dictate to them ever again, and they are willing to resist the Trump administration, even willing to take to the streets and fight if necessary.

All the same, though, this appears to be checkmate as no other governments, not Cuba's allies, Russia or China, certainly not Venezuela, following the U.S. attack on that country, or even Mexico, following a pressure campaign from the Trump administration, are stepping in to send oil.

The oil that this economy so desperately needs. So, at the moment, there are rumors and whispers of talks of back channels going on, of deals being struck, but as this crisis goes on, it is taking a far more-deeper toll on the Cuban people.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

GOLODRYGA: Our thanks to Patrick.

And still to come for us. President Trump travels to Delaware to welcome the remains of service members killed in an Iranian strike.

We look at the lives of these six heroes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:42:32]

GOLODRYGA: Today, President Trump is expected to attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for the U.S. soldiers killed during the initial days of the war with Iran.

The six service members were killed in Kuwait. And here is more on their stories from CNN correspondent Sunlen Serfati.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These are the faces of the first American troops to lose their lives in the line of duty in the war with Iran. All six killed in Kuwait. Among them, Sergeant First Class. Nicole Amor, 39 years old, just days away from returning home. Was a mom to a fourth grader and high school senior in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

She was almost home. Her husband, who had spoken to her two hours before she died, said, Amor was an automated logistics specialist, who just a week before, her husband said had been moved off the base out of fear it was going to be attacked.

In a social media post, her husband said, "The world is dimmer without her light in it, but her love and the impact she made will live on in all of us."

Sergeant Declan Coady, from Des Moines, Iowa, was just 20 years old, posthumously, promoted from information technology specialist to sergeant. He had been updating his family over the weekend, telling them he was safe, until a fateful moment at their door.

ANDREW COADY, FATHER OF DECLAN COADY: I will say most of us started to wonder. And your gut starts to get a feeling. And we had just turned the lights off and went into the bedroom and the doorbell rang at 8:00 p.m.

SERFATY (voice over): Coady had recently told his father he'd been asked to consider extending his deployment nine more months. He was on track for a promotion and had set his sights on becoming a commissioned officer.

His sister saying she still doesn't feel his death is real.

KEIRA COADY, SISTER OF DECLAN COADY: I just really wish I got to tell my love one more time, because he was just so amazing.

SERFATY (voice over): Captain Coady Khork was 35 years old, from Lakeland, Florida, who felt a calling to serve from an early age. "He was deeply patriotic and took great pride in serving something greater than himself," his family said. Those who served with him remember his leadership and care for his team.

SGT. 1ST CLASS BRIAN KOCHENDORFER, UNITED STATES. ARMY: He cared about people.

Hey, I'm not going to put soldiers in harms' way. That's what you look for in a commander.

SERFATY (voice over): Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens was 42 years old, a devoted husband and father who stood out for his professionalism.

COL. JOSEF SUJET, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.): I hate to say this, but I don't think I ever saw the guy smile, but that's a testament to just how professional he was.

SERFATY (voice over): And mentorship.

[07:45:01]

STAFF SGT JONN COLEMAN, UNITED STATES ARMY: He always took the time. You know, he made you feel important.

SERFATY (voice over): A black belt in taekwondo, his family were prominent members of a martial arts studio in their hometown of Bellevue, Nebraska.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He just wanted to help people, and I felt like that's one of the reasons why he could have possibly joined the military. But I just know he wanted to help.

SERFATY (voice over): Major Jeffrey O'Brien, a 45-year-old father to three. "A role model to our kids," his family says, "but also a goofy and silly dad." His aunt remembering him as the sweetest blue eyed, blonde farm kid you would ever know. A man of great faith. He had a long military career spanning nearly two decades. His family is saying he was, "Incredibly proud to serve our country."

And Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, a 54-year-old father from Sacramento, California, was also at the scene of the attack in Kuwait and is believed to have been killed.

His family and friends calling him a strong leader, down to earth, blunt, and honest. His sister writing, "My baby brother, you are loved, and I will hold on to all our memories and cherish them always in my heart.

MARK MADSEN, STAFF SERGEANT, UNITED STATES ARMY: He would do anything for you and family and friends meant the most to him. The fact that we were able to sustain that friendship, you know, all the way into our 50s is a testament to that.

SERFATY (voice over): Sunlen Serfaty, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:50:47]

GOLODRYGA: A local reporter for a national Spanish language news channel is in an immigration detention center, after being arrested by ICE agents this week.

Estefany Rodriguez was sitting in her car with her husband when ICE agents detained her. The car had a press logo, identifying her as a journalist.

Her attorney says the agents did not have a warrant, but lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security say they did file one and her visa had expired.

Rodriguez immigrated to the U.S. legally from Colombia in 2021. She is being sponsored by her husband, who is a U.S. citizen. Her attorney says she is in custody at an immigration detention center.

Well, the former football coach at the University of Michigan has worked out a plea deal. Sherrone Moore was accused of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and breaking into her home. The school fired him after learning about the allegations against him. As part of a plea deal, Moore pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges. More serious charges of stalking and home invasion were dropped.

And this morning, there will be a private home going service for the late Reverend Jesse Jackson in Chicago. Yesterday, at a public celebration of life, presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden remembered the late civil rights leader.

Our Jeff Zeleny was there.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Three former living democratic presidents and scores of dignitaries and thousands of mourners gathered in Chicago on Friday to pay tribute and celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.

Chicago, of course, was his political home. But indeed, the world knew Jesse Jackson as not only a political figure, but an international one of diplomacy. His family praised him as a father, a grandfather as well.

It was a touching afternoon of tributes here at the House of Hope on the south side of Chicago. But from President Barack Obama to Bill Clinton to Joe Biden, they all shared lessons about Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law.

An offense to common decency.

But this man, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope, to step forward and say, send me. Wherever we have a chance to make an impact.

JOE BIDEN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I knew Jesse and history remembers him. I know he is determined and tenacious. I know most underrated, undeterred, and unafraid.

BIDEN: Not a joke. And more than most, Jesse is dedicated with every fiber in his being to redeeming the soul of America.

BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We did not always agree, but I'll tell you one thing. He made me a better president when I got in office.

Because he was always pushing on things, and he knew that change came from the outside in and sometimes from the inside out.

So, he knew how to keep pushing and nagging and wearing you out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And former Vice President Kamala Harris, also addressing the crowd, reminding that she was a student in 1988, during Jackson's second presidential bid, said that was inspiring for her as well. She implored Americans to take lessons from Jackson's life and apply them to today's challenges.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Chicago.

GOLODRYGA: And our coverage of the war with Iran continues in the next hour. We'll have live team coverage with the overnight strikes in Tehran.

[07:55:00]

And these are live pictures from Doral, Florida, where we expect to hear from President Trump later this morning. He will be speaking as part of the Shield of the America Summit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN "BREAKING NEWS".

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Now, welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Bianna Golodryga, in for Victor Blackwell. We continue to follow developments out of the Middle East for you, today.

We begin with "BREAKING NEWS". President Trump, saying, that Iran will be, "Hit very hard today, including different areas and groups of people that were previously not considered for targeting.

[08:00:01]

Israel, meantime, says that it is using more than 80 fighter jets to carry out pre-dawn strikes in Iran already this morning.

And at the same time, Israel says that it's intercepting waves of Iranian attacks.