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Erin Burnett Outfront

U.S. Deploying Rapid Response Unit Of Up To 2,500 Marines To Mideast; Sources: Synagogue Attacker Had Ties To Hezbollah Members; Trump: U.S. "Obliterated Every Military Target" On Iran's Kharg Island; Judge Blocks DOJ Subpoenas Of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired March 13, 2026 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:23]

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:

Breaking news, up to 2,500 U.S. Marines now being sent to the Middle East. That unit typically includes troops specially trained for ground combat. This as President Trump speaking just moments ago, said America's objectives to end the war may be different from Israel's.

Also breaking, CNN learning tonight the man who rammed his truck into a Michigan synagogue was known to the feds for having connections to people associated with Hezbollah, as we learn more about his ties to Lebanon, one of the major fronts of the war in the Middle East.

And Trump's case against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell just dealt a crushing blow in court.

Let's go OUTFRONT.

(MUSIC)

HILL: And good evening. I'm Erica Hill, in for Erin Burnett.

OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news. More U.S. marines now headed to the Middle East. According to sources, the Pentagon is sending as many as 2,500 additional marines and sailors plus warships to the region. These units typically have a ground and aviation combat component. The decision to bolster U.S. forces in the region comes just as President Trump was speaking with reporters saying they've decimated Iran's military.

And then in a new post just minutes ago, the president saying the U.S. military, quote, "totally obliterated every military target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island".

It's clear, though this war is not over, and Americas involvement is getting deeper. The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said today will actually be the heaviest day of kinetic fires across Iran. And Israel, for its part, not letting up either, going after what it calls terror targets in Tehran, you're looking at new video showing blasts.

Iran, though, is defiant tonight. Cluster munitions exploding in several locations in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli officials. This video shows you the moment of impact from one of the missiles. The explosions causing this fire, a number of buildings and vehicles destroyed. The war, which is now entering its third week, is also putting more American troops in harm's way.

An Iran-backed group in Iraq is now offering more than $100,000 for information on American targets. And at the same time, the U.S. government is offering up to $10 million for information on the top 10 Iranian leaders, which includes a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Kristen Holmes is at the White House. Jeremy Diamond is in Tel Aviv.

Kristen, let's begin with you there at the White House. The president just speaking. What did he say?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, before we get to what he said, I do want to go to this breaking news because moments after he spoke, he talked about Kharg Island. And this is really a big deal. I mean 90 percent of Iran's oil exports go through Kharg Island. There have been questions as to why the United States or Israel had not bombed Kharg Island, particularly given its economic strength for Iran. It is a place -- it is kind of a sensitive area, and its clearly something that the U.S. could have targeted.

President Trump had been asked questions about this. He kind of evaded the answer earlier today. Now, here's what he said, because there is so much oil infrastructure in this area. He specifically says, I have chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island. However, should Iran or anyone else do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.

There is a reason why this is so important. Earlier today, I was talking to White House officials. They said there was going to be actions as early as this weekend, as early as this evening, that were going to show how the U.S. was working towards trying to get these ships through the Strait of Hormuz, getting the Strait of Hormuz opened again. That is clearly what they were referring to was these explosions in Kharg Island, a place that had seemed like it was going to be off limits.

Clearly, here, he is saying, open up the Strait of Hormuz or else you're going to see more bombs dropping and more strikes in the area. Now, we did also hear from President Trump just seconds before he sent that Truth Social post saying that those navy escorts were going to start happening soon.

I was told by White House officials they were going to have to clear that area. They have to make sure it was safe for the military. They were going to have to get the resources there.

But he did say the word soon and one of the more interesting things we heard him say is that he has officially taken any sort of timeline off the table. He was asked specifically about his four to five weeks comments, and he said that he couldn't give a timeline anymore. So, I know that we have been reporting that the administration had been saying this, but this is, you know Donald Trump here officially saying that that four to five week timeline is off the table and instead replacing it with a big question mark.

HILL: Yeah, very important. A number of very important developments there. Kristen, really appreciate it.

Jeremy Diamond is OUTFRONT live in Tel Aviv.

Jeremy, what more are you seeing there? We were just talking about, you know, these additional cluster munitions.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yeah.

[19:05:00]

That's right. Iran has fired multiple rounds of ballistic missiles towards Israel today, including this evening. We saw multiple impacts in the Tel Aviv area in what appeared to be Iran's latest use of these cluster munitions. These are munitions that release some 24 smaller bombs dispersed over several miles of territory, often hitting residential areas.

And that's what we saw tonight. A couple of fires broke out on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. There were no casualties. However, as a result of this fire yesterday, also, a ballistic missile made a direct impact in northern Israel, but also no fatalities. Dozens of people however, were lightly wounded.

And this is coming as we're continuing to see Israel and the United States striking Iran very, very hard. As you mentioned the United States saying that this was one of the most severe days of U.S. airstrikes in Iran. And Israel is also ramping up its strikes that those stunning images that we saw today of this pro-regime rally in Tehran, an Israeli airstrike in the distance even as senior Iranian officials were attending this rally quite a remarkable show of defiance, when you think about it from those senior Iranian officials, considering the fact that they are being targeted by Israeli intelligence, and by its military and this also kind of goes to show.

You know, the kind of asymmetric warfare that were starting to see between Iran and on the other side, the United States and Israel, because while the U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth today talked about Iran having no air defenses, no air force, no navy we are still seeing that Iran has the ability to still disrupt life here in Israel with those daily ballistic missile fire attacks, and also being able to do things like blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which has gone on now for multiple, multiple days.

And the United States still doesn't seem to have a plan yet, or at least a timeline for being able to get U.S. Navy ships to start escorting those tankers through that strait. Global markets clearly rattled and disrupted, and the global economy most importantly disrupted by all of this.

HILL: Yeah, absolutely, Jeremy, I really appreciate the reporting as always.

Joining us, OUTFRONT now, retired Navy Captain Lawrence Brennan, who served on a U.S. aircraft carrier during the Iranian hostage crisis.

Nazila Fathi is a former New York times correspondent based in Tehran who was forced to flee. She still has family there.

And Brett McGurk served in senior national security positions under four presidents.

Brett, President Trump, this just happening in the last several moments, posting that the U.S. has now struck Kharg Island, saying, and I'm quoting here, this Truth Social post totally obliterated every military target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island.

Talk to us about the significance of this moment and that threat to that. Kristen told us about of the president basically saying, hey, I left a little bit in terms of oil infrastructure, but if you don't do what I say, we'll come back.

BRETT MCGURK, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: So, Erica, Kharg Island, you see it on the map there. It's about 25 miles off the coast of Iran, very northern part of the gulf. It is the vow for Iran's oil economy. And of course, they're almost wholly dependent on their oil economy for their own government revenues.

The gulf is very shallow. And Kharg Island, that small island there, it's about eight by nine square miles. It has the deepwater ports where tankers can pull in, get filled up and then go through the Strait of Hormuz and onward to where they might delivering their oil. Of course, Iranian oil is illicit oil, it's under U.S. sanctions.

But that is basically -- without that, those terminals and without that island being operational, Iran cannot export its oil and that's why it's so significant. I take this as the U.S. saying okay, you guys are trying to use this pressure point, which the new supreme leader declared it yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, we have -- we have pressure points, too, on you. So, you know, knock this off. That's what they're trying to say.

But I also see, Erica, with the deployment of a U.S. Marine Force, the possibility of more military operations on that island. I think that's highly risky. The Iranians can respond to that. But clearly, bottom line, this conflict is not coming to an end anytime soon.

Certainly, four to six weeks was said at the beginning. That's basically the CENTCOM plan. I think it might go on a little bit longer than that.

HILL: And the president, as Kristen was just reporting, taking that off the table.

And when we look at -- when we look at this moment and the Kharg Island piece of it now that is being brought in, Brett walked us through the significance of this. But the fact that, as he pointed out, we have potentially this unit of 20 -- up to 2,500 marines and sailors going in. They are also well-versed in combat operations.

CAPT. LAWRENCE BRENNAN (RET.), EXPERT IN MARITIME LAW AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Yes.

HILL: With all of this playing out tonight, is that how you would envision perhaps these forces being used is perhaps needing to go to Kharg Island?

BRENNAN: Perhaps, but I'd be reluctant to put boots on the ground in this area for a number of reasons. The Iranians can come down, and they can block the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a particularly unpleasant place to operate in any time of the year, particularly at night.

[19:10:04]

Having been there during the Iranian hostage crisis on a nuclear aircraft carrier, it's a problem. And you know, boots on the ground. I've been through this a number of wars served with a bunch of people who spent a fair amount of time in Hanoi as visitors under very unpleasant circumstances, and were great heroes. But if we start putting boots on the ground, how do we ensure that they're protected? How do we ensure that they get out if we have to?

So that's -- that's the initial problem, I see.

HILL: It raises a lot of red flags for you.

BRENNAN: Oh, absolutely.

HILL: And when we look at where things stand, Nazila, this -- this moment, can you put in perspective to us? You know, Brett laid out how significant is from a military perspective. But, Nazila, lay out for us what this actually means to Iran.

BRENNAN: Well, yeah --

NAZILA FATHI, FORMER JOURNALIST FORCED TO FLEE IRAN: I think this is entering the war to a different level. This is going to be a new chapter in this war. Kharg Island is the main point where Iran is exporting its oil. And if they can't export oil or if they lose control over the island, it's going to hurt the Revolutionary Guards Corp in a major way.

And I think considering what happened today inside the country and the statements that we were hearing from Iranian officials, they are trying to deflect attention from such realities today. Tehran came under quite intense bombing. There was a bombing right in the middle of the demonstrations where some of the leaders showed up. And all we heard from them was that Iranian leaders are there among their own people. While the bombs were dropping, the country's infrastructure is getting destroyed.

People are -- the ordinary Iranians are the ones who are paying the price for this. But the reality is that the country's oil flow is under question, if -- depending on how much Kharg Island has been damaged. And then the big question about the power vacuum, the statement that came out yesterday has raised more questions than giving answers. There are questions about the supreme leader's -- the new supreme leader's whereabouts, his condition, why didn't he deliver the speech himself, and why didn't have -- he have someone he could trust who could deliver it?

So, these are really big questions, and I'm afraid we are entering a totally different chapter now.

HILL: In terms of this totally different chapter, Brett, but as you were just saying, this signifies to you far beyond four to six weeks, right? And the president saying, basically taking the timeline off the table. How important are the next -- is this weekend? I would even say these next couple of days, what is that going to tell us in terms of the trajectory here?

BRENNAN: I think -- I've been saying since the beginning that the military plan is about four to six weeks. I think that was a decent assumption. There was some thought earlier this week that given the economic pressure, perhaps President Trump would just declare victory and cut it short. I now think the way this is developing, that's actually not going to happen.

And look, Iran -- Iran decided to play this card of the Strait of Hormuz and the supreme leader said, we will use it as a -- as a pressure card -- pressure valve. And that -- that is going back all the way to the Carter doctrine, Erica. We have a doctrine that outside powers or other powers, including Iran, cannot seize this territory. And if they do it, it -- it's a vital interest of the United States, and it will be repelled by military force.

So, this is a -- it's a very serious issue. I am not surprised now that the United States is now moving to perhaps organize a naval coalition with coalition partners.

I have to say that is extremely difficult work. I did this in the red sea. We developed a coalition of almost 20 countries. The U.K., Denmark were very effective there to try to open a passage called the Bab El Mandeb Strait, which was under fire from Iranian weapons fired by a group in Yemen called the Houthis. But it's still hard work.

Even with that coalition, shippers did not have the confidence to make that passage, just given the threat. So, this is hard, difficult tedious work. It will take weeks.

But -- I mean, I do think it's important to try to get control of this so that Iran cannot hold this -- hold this pressure valve. As the new supreme leader declared it assuming it was him yesterday. It's very important.

So bottom line, we're not -- this is not ending anytime soon. I'll just go back to my first point

HILL: Yeah. Captain Brennan, when we look at this as we were talking about this, these additional forces up to 2,500 marines and sailors, are you surprised at all that they were not in place sooner? BRENNAN: I'm surprised that they weren't in place sooner. And I'm

surprised they're going in now. I'm not sure that putting people on the ground at this time is in the long term benefit of the United States and the West -- well, the world.

And 2,500 is a lot of people, but it's not a lot to do, much to defend themselves. And then we're going to wind up putting more people more ships, more aircraft, and we're going to have problems that we don't anticipate and -- I mean, that's the thing about any military operation, it's the unanticipated disaster. You know, whether it happens to your side the other side or both sides at the same time. And that's usually -- it's usually a mutual problem.

So, this is -- this is hard. You know, Iran is about as far away in the world as you can get from the United States both east coast and the west coast. And, you know, it's not a -- it's not a pleasant political, geographic or environment. So let's see what goes on. I mean, we've -- we've been very unlucky in the past

HILL: Appreciate it. Thanks to all of you.

OUTFRONT next, the breaking news. The FBI just revealing the man who rammed his truck with explosives into a Michigan synagogue died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. We're also learning now. Several members of his family were killed in an Israeli airstrike just last week.

Plus, a Trump fundraising email using a photo from last weeks dignified transfer, which was, of course, to honor six fallen U.S. soldiers. That email also promising if you make a donation, access to the president's private national security briefings.

And new reporting tonight on Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with the former duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, a man she described as the, quote, "brother I have always wished for".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:20:31]

HILL: Breaking news, CNN learning, the man who rammed a truck into a Michigan synagogue with over 100 children inside that temple. Israel was known to the federal government before yesterday's terror attack. Sources telling our John Miller, the attacker appears in federal databases as having ties to known or suspected terrorists connected with Hezbollah in Lebanon. We're also told he had several members, family members, killed in an Israeli airstrike just last week.

Now, all of this coming as CNN has also obtained new video which shows him purchasing thousands of dollars worth of fireworks three days ago.

Whitney Wild is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New details tonight about 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, the attacker, who investigators say drove a truck filled with explosives into a synagogue and preschool and setting it on fire.

JENNIFER RUNYAN, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: The bed of the truck, we found large quantities of commercial grade fireworks and several jugs of flammable liquid we believe to be gasoline.

WILD (voice-over): Law enforcement sources tell CNN. Ghazali appears in federal government databases with connections to, quote, "known or suspected terrorists connected with Hezbollah in Lebanon, though he is not listed as a member of Hezbollah himself.

Survivors recount the attack on Thursday, which the FBI is calling a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.

CASSI COHEN, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, TEMPLE ISRAEL: I was just standing near the hallway where the car came in, and I heard a loud crash and I saw some debris from the car. I heard a bang, which was a shot, and barricaded the door and hid under my desk.

WILD (voice-over): The Department of Homeland Security says Ghazali was a Lebanese born U.S. citizen who was seen purchasing fireworks just days before the attack. He lost four members of his family to an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon according to the mayor of the village where they lived. He revealed the family details to CNN producer Charbel Mallo.

The airstrikes 30 miles from Beirut killed Ghazali's two brothers, two of their children, and also injured his parents and sisters in law.

Michigan's governor said more than 100 children, aged five and younger were at the school attached to Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township when the building caught fire.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D), MICHIGAN: Yesterday's attack was antisemitism. It was hate, plain and simple. We will fight this ancient and rampant evil. We will stand together as we do it and we will call it out.

WILD (voice-over): A security guard was hit after the suspect rammed the building, but is expected to recover.

He exchanged gunfire with security officers employed by the synagogue, according to the FBI.

RUNYAN: Reports from the medical examiner's office show a self- inflicted gunshot wound to the head

WILD (voice-over): The FBI Friday searched the suspect's home in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. He was born in Lebanon and entered the U.S. in 2011 with a spousal visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016 and last visited Lebanon in 2019, according to law enforcement.

He was flagged in DHS systems for threshold targeting based on records of prior contact with suspected Hezbollah members and contacts that were found in his phone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILD: Erica, officials here say that the children were in a separate part of the building. Just another example of how much worse this could have been had it gone the way the attacker wanted. We are also learning that 605 law enforcement responded in total, Erica.

HILL: Wow. Whitney, we really appreciate it. Thank you.

OUTFRONT now, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Attorney General, it's good to have you with us.

As Whitney was just going through, sources telling CNN the suspect appears in these federal government databases as having ties to known or suspected terrorists connected with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Was he on the radar of law enforcement at all in Michigan, to your knowledge?

DANA NESSEL (D), MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL: No, not to my knowledge. But I think it's important that we talk about the fact that there have been some significant changes made in our federal partners in terms of the kind of work they're doing. And we've worked for a long time side by side with the local state and the feds in terms of combating domestic terrorism in our state. But many of the federal agents that we've worked with for a long time, many of them don't work for the FBI anymore at all.

And many of those who do have been transferred and their duties have gone from domestic terrorism to immigration. And unfortunately, pursuing people who are much less dangerous to our communities. And I don't know if that had an impact on why we didn't know about this particular individual. If they did have ties to Hezbollah, but it's deeply concerning to me, and it has been for a long time.

[19:25:07]

Things are a powder keg in southeastern Michigan right now. We have a very large Arab American population, one of the largest outside of the Middle East. We have a significant sized Jewish population and things have been difficult since October 7th.

But when we had the cease fire, the temperature was starting to go down a little bit. But now, with the war, things have really escalated. And I'm concerned that of the casualties we're going to see here, it's not just the loss of life of our military members or the increase of price of gas at the pump. It's going to be a significant increase in domestic terrorism here in Michigan and across the United States.

HILL: In terms of that, I know you had said in the hours after the attack yesterday, you believed there was a line here between the war in Iran and this attack, as you're laying out. Are you -- when you talk about your concerns, is part of that concern also about whether you'll have the information that you need to perhaps thwart some of these potential attacks?

NESSEL: Yeah. Absolutely. We rely on the FBI for that information and we rely on DHS, and our federal partners are the ones that would have that information. It's just not simply possible for the Michigan state police or the department of attorney general here in Michigan to be able to have that kind of information. And we typically, if we find out that someone has those kind of ties, we refer that to the federal authorities because they are best suited to be able to handle that.

So, we need this information federally. I don't know what happened in this set of circumstances, but I intend to find out. And it has me just deeply concerned and I hope, I hope that our federal partners are evaluating this and wondering what, if anything, they could have done differently.

HILL: You talk about this being a powder keg when it comes to potential threats inside the United States, here's what the president had to say about that today.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't worry about it because if you did, you wouldn't be able to function. Okay? So, you can't worry. You have to do something. And we watch everything at a level that it's never been watched. Our country has never been watched over like this ever before.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HILL: This attack on temple Israel is personal for you, and not just because it's in your state I know it's my understanding you have multiple family members who belong to this congregation. When you hear comments like that from the president, what are you hearing in those words?

NESSEL: The same thing I generally hear from the president, which is he just doesn't care about the loss of life, whether it happens overseas, whether it happens here in the United States, whether it happens here in Michigan. It's just not of great importance to him. It doesn't matter.

And you know, he should have seen the fact that with this war that there would be a significant rise in domestic terrorism and it just there was no calculation of any kind. Just the same way that it seems like they're just sort of flying by the seat of their pants in terms of the way they're executing the war to begin with.

But, you know, this war is not just being fought overseas in a way its being fought at home as well. And I think were going to see a significant escalation in domestic terrorism here. And I think the federal authorities are simply not prepared for it.

HILL: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, we appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.

Also with us, John Miller, who's been breaking, of course, a lot of the reporting on this Michigan case. And Greg Ehrie, former FBI counterterrorism agent who ran the bureau's Newark office. I want to ask you about that reporting, but I just -- I have to touch

on the fact that you were both nodding your heads as the attorney general was talking about the lack of communication with the federal government and federal agents and people who are no longer in their jobs, and you were also nodding along at her concerns that there will be an increase in attacks and incidents in the country.

Can you talk to me, John, about what has changed as the attorney general alluded to, that may be having an impact in these exact moments?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: It's a bullseye. The thing that local law enforcement depends on from the federal government and the terrorism realm in in whether that's domestic or foreign, is that the Department of Homeland Security, I&A, intelligence and analysis section, keeps going through the government intelligence from the FBI, from CIA and other agencies, and getting non-classified versions of it and pushing that out to local law enforcement.

And under Secretary Kristi Noem, after the DOGE efforts, everything else, there was a proposal to cut I&A from 1,000 people to under 300. It's a vast cut for an important intelligence shop.

Now, Jewish groups, among them several groups and local law enforcement protested those cuts.

[19:30:03]

They were reduced from that draconian level. But still the cuts, the people who have been forced out have made those products fewer and farther between and later.

So, their main -- their main artery for intelligence has been cut off and their FBI partners have been pushed into immigration enforcement to the point that it has been hard sometimes for them to keep up with their day jobs, even terrorist cases.

HILL: And it's important to reiterate that. So, we know where we stand as a country.

In terms of your reporting today, John, so we're learning more about this person, the fact that he spent thousands you have this thousands of dollars on fireworks three days before this, the fact that ties to people associated with Hezbollah were found that this was in a database. What more did you learn?

MILLER: Well, his trip to the fireworks store was on March 10th. He walked in and he said, I am buying fireworks for my family. We're going to do an eat celebration celebrating the end of Ramadan. We want it to be -- they said he was friendly, he was jovial and he asked all the same questions that most regular fireworks' buyers ask, what's the brightest? What makes the loudest noise? What's the most powerful?

So, they had no reason to suspect he was there for any other reason than what he stated. He went to the truck, he came back. He said, my family says we need more. And that's how it got to $2,250 worth of fireworks.

And when you hear the account that was given today of the shootout, the engine catching fire, and then the conflagration that went up as the rest of the truck caught fire, we now know what that was and what a first responders described as what looked like mortars. We now know what those were.

HILL: Yeah. Greg, you had said that the U.S. right now is going through probably the most volatile, the most dangerous time in decades, more so than 9/11 and the aftermath. Why?

GREG EHRIE, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, NEWARK FIELD OFFICE: Absolutely. When you compare this to a 911 style attack that was a surprise. There are no surprises here we are on heightened security like we've never been in decades. And that's because we know that there's the potential for what we're seeing today and further retaliation or further acts of violence by somebody who is either self-inspired or a nation state trying to conduct an operation, which we have seen happen in the United States.

So that heightened security, the problem as John has pointed out, is you need to be everywhere at once that intelligence capacity has got to be at -- it's just critical function.

HILL: So, given where we stand, where do you believe the focus is right now? I mean, do you agree?

MILLER: I do agree, and I think as Greg started his message there, we knew this was coming.

HILL: Yeah.

MILLER: The first word out from the federal government was with the war in Iran, you can expect some reaction. You can expect the most likely scenario being attacks by lone wolf operators, you know, who are acting on their own. I think that is what we have been seeing.

HILL: Uh-huh.

MILLER: But there's a contagion effect where one attack happens and that may not spur someone who wasn't thinking of doing an attack. But for someone who's already got one in mind, it may accelerate their actions. And I think we're seeing a bit of that too.

HILL: Yeah.

EHRIE: I think absolutely. And it goes back to the old saying, we're looking for a needle in a stack of needles. But in this intelligence capacity that we have here in this individual case, what we're learning is how was this individual not on the radar?

HILL: Yeah.

EHRIE: We knew there were prior ties. We knew that this war got conducted. Why is the bureau, why are the DHS -- the federal authorities not saying, let's identify everybody we've seen in our holdings and check on them and see what they're doing right now and maybe connect those dots before something happens.

HILL: Perhaps that's changing now. But, yeah, I really appreciate it. Thank you both.

OUTFRONT next, the breaking news continues. There is new video just in now of massive blasts in Beirut. Our team there also traveling to one building, hard hit and another strike which killed five children.

Plus, a special report tonight on just how close the former duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson was with Jeffrey Epstein. Ferguson at one point suggesting Epstein could hire her to be his, quote, "house assistant".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Breaking news, President Trump announcing just moments ago that the U.S. military has, in his words, totally obliterated every military target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island. Now this is a crucial piece of land in the Persian Gulf, referred to as Iran's oil lifeline. Trump also just admitting the U.S. and Israel could have different objectives when it comes to ending the war with Iran.

This as another front of the war shows no signs of slowing down. Israel intensifying its attacks on Lebanon, one apparent strike now being blamed for killing nine members of a single family, including five children.

Isobel Yeung is on the ground in Lebanon, where that airstrike hit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISOBEL YEUNG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You can see quite a lot of damage here. The cars this big building up here. We're in southern Lebanon, actually, just outside of the area that the Israeli defense forces announced that individuals should evacuate from yesterday.

But you can see this building here was struck pretty hard. We're told that it was a yogurt factory by the neighbors here. You can see these kind of vats that they say were used to make yogurt. And what we know is that nine people were killed in this strike, including five children.

I mean, what the Israeli defense forces are saying is that they are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, and we don't know in this case if that was the situation. But what we can see is that -- I mean, the destruction from here is pretty large.

And we're told that the children were playing just on the outskirts of the property here, in this factory and home with their grandparents and that they were killed, the burials are happening today. It's really heartbreaking. You can see family members behind me who were just walking around trying to look for remnants of their family's belongings.

[19:40:02]

The children's bodies were told in pieces, and they're going to take a while to identify the DNA so that they can actually do a burial. You can see up here, there's school books. The children's rucksack.

We're told by the IDF that they are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. And obviously we don't know in this scenario if that's the case. But we do know that this area that was struck was pretty huge just in this one little village and enough to kill nine people in one strike

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And our thanks again to Isobel Yeung for that report.

OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Adam Smith. He's the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Congressman, it's good to have you with us.

I want to start with the newest information into us here. The president just posting a short time ago, just before the top of the hour that the U.S. military had, in his words, obliterated every military target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island. This is considered Iran's lifeline.

What's interesting, too, is this happened this post coming just hours after Fox had published an interview with Trump where he was clearly irritated by a question about that island.

Here's that moment.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX NEWS HOST: Are you thinking about taking Kharg Island where 90 percent of the Iranian oil goes through? And what do you think about -- do you remember that interview and that that school of thought?

TRUMP: Brian, I can't answer a question like that and you shouldn't ask. And you shouldn't be even asking it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HILL: And when it comes to this also, I should note in this truth social post said that he spared the oil infrastructure from being wiped out but threatened to reconsider that decision if ships can't pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

What does this tell you about where the war is headed?

REP. ADAM SMITH (D-WA): Well, I think we need to focus on the report a little bit that you showed right before this of the devastating attack in Beirut that killed those nine people and five children. The cost of this war is expanding, and the civilian deaths, obviously, we've lost 13 service members, the devastation to the global economy.

We have a full-scale Middle East war that Donald Trump kicked off. And the cost is enormous. And it tells me with the Kharg island attack, that this is all very far from being over. President Trump uses words about obliterated all the time, but we are still a long way from achieving the objectives that he set out. And there's no clear path to achieve those objectives.

Now, Kharg Island, specifically, if we were to shut that off, that is a lifeline for Iran. I'm told it's somewhere between 80 to 90 percent of their oil goes through that spot if they could not use it, it would have a devastating economic impact on Iran. It's a strategic asset without -- without any question

HILL: So that's a strategic asset. How much? I mean, is it an asset that the U.S. should have gone after sooner, in your view?

SMITH: Well, I mean it depends on what we're trying to do here. I mean, supposedly what we're trying to do is reduce Iran's military capacity, right? And that's targeting their missiles. This is not part of their military capacity. This is part of their economy.

Second thing about that is supposedly, we're trying to get rid of the regime in favor of the Iranian people. So, you don't want to completely destroy their economy so that the Iranian people starve, that that could push them back in favor of the regime and against that.

So -- and that all gets into the issue of what exactly is Trump trying to accomplish here. He talks about diminishing the military capacity but we don't have a clear idea of how far that has to go. How much does it have to be reduced by? And then second, he supposedly wants to change the regime so that they don't just rebuild it and you don't have the same hostile people in charge there's no path for achieving that objective right now either.

HILL: And there's a lot to follow. We also have this new reporting, of course, that from the U.S. side that some 2,500 potentially marines and soldiers could be on their way now to the region.

I also want to ask you about this which I was struck by when it came out earlier today. President Trump's political action committee is using an image of Trump at Saturday's dignified transfer to honor the six U.S. soldiers who were killed in this war, the first six who were killed. This is being used in a fundraising email.

And in addition to that image, the email promises access to the president's private national security briefing, urging recipients to claim your spot with a link to donate.

Now, neither the White House nor the RNC returned our request for comment about the email it was first reported on by PatriotTakes. But I'm curious your reaction to that email, that fundraising email?

SMITH: Well, the entire way that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are talking about this war is disgusting, even independent of the military problems that I just outlined. What are we trying to accomplish? The costs are high. Are we really headed towards any particular goal? And can they clearly articulate that?

But they are treating this like some kind of video game, like some kind of thing that we should just be proud of the fact that we're blowing stuff up and using it for political advantage.

[19:45:03]

That is not the way the United States of America should go to war. And I know people like, I don't know, it's just -- it's really frustrating to watch this. You know, the old saying about, you know America will cease to be great if they are no longer good. If you have to do something military -- militarily to protect the national security interests of those countries, then you do it.

But historically you do it solemnly and with a full understanding of the cost. And if you don't understand the cost, you are more likely to keep doing it past the point where that cost outweighs the benefit. So, the degree to which they trivialize the cost, try to politicize the cost, make this into like, were like, were rooting for a basketball team or something, that really undermines the credibility of our country. And it also makes it more difficult to make intelligent decisions about whether or not the benefits of this war are worth the cost.

I don't think they are. I think its clear that they're not this makes it clear that the president and his leadership aren't even really analyzing that question in a somber, intelligent way, as they should

HILL: Congressman Adam Smith, appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.

SMITH: Thanks for the chance

HILL: OUTFRONT next, new details on the close relationship between the former duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein. Ferguson calling him a special friend and a legend. This was after Epstein was already a convicted sex offender.

Plus, more breaking news tonight. A federal judge blasting the Trump administration for investigating Fed Chair Jerome Powell accusing the administration of providing, quote, no evidence whatsoever that Powell committed a crime.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:50:43]

HILL: Tonight, the House Oversight Committee says it is requesting an interview with a prison guard who was on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died. It comes as we're learning much more about Epstein's associates, including Sarah Ferguson, the duchess of York, and the ex- wife of former Prince Andrew.

MJ Lee is OUTFRONT with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTEPRISE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Almost 15 years after her highly publicized divorce from former Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson privately leaned on a man she described as the brother I have always wished for, for career advice, moral support and money, Jeffrey Epstein.

According to CNN's review of the Justice Department's Epstein files, Ferguson, widely known as Fergie, exchanged dozens of messages with Epstein between 2009 and 2011, including while he was serving jail time for procuring prostitution from a minor.

In one instance, in April 2009, Epstein laid out in an email to Ferguson his vision for a company that she could run called Mother's Army. Fergusons response was effusive. "My dear, spectacular and special friend Jeffrey, you are a legend and I am so proud of you," she wrote to the convicted child sex offender, who still had months left of his 18-month jail sentence. Ferguson added thanks for being such a great friend and signed the email with lots of love and several X's.

Within a week of Epstein's release from jail, Ferguson was eager to see the financier in person she made plans to visit him with her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, who were 20 and 19 at the time. It's not clear whether that meeting materialized. The Epstein files show that Ferguson, who has not been accused of crimes related to Epstein, frequently turned to her friend for financial advice.

In the fall of 2009, as one news story branded Ferguson as the duchess of debt, Ferguson messaged Epstein, "I urgently need 20,000 pounds for rent today. Any brainwaves?"

Several months later, Ferguson asked Epstein whether there was any chance she could borrow $50,000 or $100,000 USD to help her get through the small bills that were pushing her over. Epstein responded that he could not help, citing current restrictions.

While he didn't elaborate, Epstein was serving out a year of house arrest at the time.

REPORTER: This is the headline that started it all this time. Fergie sells Andy for 500K.

LEE (voice-over): Ferguson was again engulfed in scandal later that year, caught on video appearing to accept money in exchange for access to her ex-husband Andrew, turning once again to her friend Epstein in her moment of desperation, she even encouraged Epstein to hire her to be his house assistant. "I am the most capable and desperately need the money please, Jeffrey, think about it," she wrote.

But less than one year later, Ferguson disavowed Epstein publicly, telling "The Evening Standard" in an interview, "I abhor pedophilia." She vowed that she would repay the money that Epstein provided to pay Ferguson's former employee, and to have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.

But not only did Ferguson fail to cut ties with Epstein, in private, she asked her friend for forgiveness. "I know you also feel hellaciously let down by me, and I must humbly apologize to you and your heart for that," Ferguson wrote to Epstein in April 2011. "You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. I did absolutely not say the P word about you." That summer, Ferguson set out on a P.R. tour to try to revamp her public image, including a reality TV show.

SARAH FERGUSON, EX-WIFE OF ANDREW MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR: I'm 51 and I have no self-worth, and I'm determined to find it.

LEE (voice-over): "By July of 2011, Ferguson and Epstein appeared to mend any hard feelings. I knew you were always on my team. That was right," Epstein wrote. She responded, "I am on yours and you on mine, with great love and strength."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEE: CNN did not find any direct correspondence between Ferguson and Epstein after 2012 in the Epstein files and Ferguson has not been accused of crimes related to Epstein and the appearance of one's name in the Epstein files does not suggest wrongdoing. We've also reached out to Fergusons representative for comment.

Meanwhile, at least six companies linked to the former duchess are shutting down in the aftermath of the release of the Epstein files -- Erica.

HILL: MJ, appreciate it. Thank you.

OUTFRONT next, a federal judge delivering a devastating blow to the DOJ's investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:59:21]

HILL: Breaking news a major defeat for President Trump. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocking Justice Department subpoenas targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In a blistering 27-page opinion unsealed today, Judge Boasberg writing, there is, quote, a mountain of evidence suggesting the investigation was being used to pressure Powell to lower interest rates or resign. And there's no evidence tying Powell to a crime.

The judge's opinion, citing Trump's own social media posts as evidence including this one, which reads he is too late and actually too angry, too stupid and too political to have the job of Fed chair. Trump has, of course, repeatedly bashed Powell and the Fed for refusing to lower interest rates. The Federal Reserve so far is declining to comment on the judge's order.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight. I'm Erica Hill.

"AC360" starts right now.