a book that you're ready to share with the world? get published now, call for your free publisher kit today! hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the escalating crisis in the middle east. i'm michael homes. there are international calls for restraint and deescalation as the consequences of the killing of iran's top commander multiply. crowds in tehran greeting soleimani's body. hundreds of thousands of mourners have been pouring into the streets of cities across iran. all part of three days of national mourning. iran taking yet another step back meanwhile from the nuclear deal announcing the country will abandon limitations on enriching

ukrai ukrai uranium and president trump reiterating his threat to yes, target cultural sides if tehran retaliates for the u.s. strike, something that would be against international law. it would be considered a war crime. also, iraq's parliament called for u.s. and other foreign troops to leave the country under scoring growing fears that the u.s. strike will trigger a regional war. president trump threatening sanctions on iraq, yes, iraq if u.s. troops are expelled. he says it costs billions to build an air base there the iraqis happen to build that by the way and says americans aren't leaving unless iraq pays the u.s. back for it. we are joined in baghdad with the latest. what a day it has been following this story and donald trump, let's start with the vote in the iraqi parliament, the push to

kick the u.s. out. and then president trump saying literally do that and i'll impose sanctions that will make the sanctions on iran look tame. he's not making many friends there at the moment, is he? >> no, michael. i mean, we'll have to wait and see what kind of reaction we'll get here in iraq but as you can expect, not many people will be happy to hear the u.s. president's threats. it was interesting before that tweet right after the vote, we were speaking to a number of members of parliament when we were at parliament during that vote and so many of them were describing the u.s. president's actions, his strategy or lack thereof as foolish, reckless. one member telling me after the u.s. spent 16 years in this country and they still do not understand iraq and iraq is they don't understand how much their salve ve sovereignty and dignity is so important. if you look what happened yesterday, it was quite a

dramatic day. the stunning move by the prime minister who came in and made the case for the united states and the collision forces to leave iraq, to end their presence here saying listen, we have seen over the past few months this rise in tensions between the u.s. and iran and explaining how iraq was stuck in between. it is in the middle as it was watching what he was really describing it as the united states forces here over stepping their mission, their mandate and it got to a point now where, you know, that proxy war was pretty much slowly turning into a confrontation especially with the recent events. they were really concerned this is going to turn out into an all out war with iraq being the battle field for this so he said listen, you've got two options. one, we either ask foreign forces to leave immediately or the second option is we look at some sort of an agreement to

regulate the presence to limit their mission here but he said, i'm asking you to make that decision but i believe it is best to ask them to leave because we will not be able to protect these foreign forces on our territory with all that has been going on. of course, that vote passed michael, but the most important thing here is the fact you had the majority of those in parliament or lawmakers and we had absent there the kurds and sunnis. it a very dangerous situation. you can see a divided country but iraq was left with no choice or political leadership was left with no choice but to make this decision. >> look, the kurds and sunnis didn't take part in the vote but they didn't vote against the idea which was also significant and just seeing lawmakers chanting basically death to america in iraq was quite something.

the other thing i want to ask you about, it seems significant in the wake of the killing, you have the iraqi prime minister saying he received a phone call from donald trump when those embassy protests ended asking iraq to play a mediator role between the u.s. and iran and said soleimani was coming for a negotiation. it makes the killing more extraordinary. >> we're just hearing this, michael coming from the iraqi prime minister yesterday who we know and recent months has visited saudi arabia and he did mention yesterday there were efforts underway that the iraq was trying to use that relationship, the alliance with both countries, with the united states, with iraq, iran and deescalate tensions to try to mediate and he said soleimani was supposed to meet with salman

knee at 8:40 in the morning, six hours or so after he was killed in that strike and he said that soleimani was delivering a message back in response to a message that was sent through the iraqi prime minister to the iranian leadership from the saudis trying to meetuate, trying to deescalate tensions and trying to change the situation in the region and that obviously hasn't happened. of course, we don't know the details of it. this is the first. we haven't heard confirmation they asked iraq to mediate perhaps here the iraqi prime minister trying to make the point of how, you know, there was a chance for some sort of negotiations that the iraqis had some sort of leverage and that is all gone right now. >> how do i say how angry iraqis are this happened on their soil. great to have you there.

appreciate it. thanks so much. we'll show you live pictures now coming to us from tehran as the three days of mourning for qasem soleimani, you can see the incredible crowds. this is happening right across the country. multiple cities you see crowds like this turning out. just hundreds of thousands and some estimates, millions of peoples turning out into the streets and it paints a picture and sends a message in the wake of this attack by the u.s. and in fact, for days now iran has been threatening to respond to the u.s. attack but hasn't specified exactly what it will do. now a top iranian official is giving some details on how the country might retaliate. here is what he told cnn's fred pleitgen in this and collusil e interview. >> translator: the response for sure will be military and against military sites.

let me tell you one thing, our leadership is officially announced we've never been seeking war and we will not be seeking war. it was america that started the war, therefore they should accept appropriate reactions to their reactions. the only thing that can end this period of war is for the americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflected. afterward, they should not seek a new cycle. >> what's your response to that that apparently iranian culture sites are a target of the trump administration? >> translator: basically he's a gangster and a gambler rather than a politician. he has no mental stability.

the u.n. has a resolution number 2347 that says actions against cultural centers are regarded as war crimes. for sure, no american military staff, no american political center, no american military base, no american vessel in the world will be safe. if he says 52 sites, we say 300. and they're accessible to us. >> how big a blow to your foreign operations was the assassination of qasem soleimani? >> translator: today, our will to defend our interest in the region has increased 1,000 times. we don't feel anything. we have a logic. a logic that says for any

commander whose flag falls, ten commanders will raise the fallen man's flag therefore we don't feel anything. >> at the same time, the trump administration and president trump himself still says he wants negotiations with iran, do you think there is any possibility of that at this point? >> translator: for several reasons we didn't want to negotiate with this incumbent u.s. administration. now after what's happened to mr. soleimani, there is no point for negotiations. it impossible. there is only one way trump must be tried in our court and must be punished for the crime he committed and then we can negotiat negotiate. >> all right. let bring in the director of the center for the sud did of the middle east at indiana

university joining us from indiana. good to see you again. difficult to know where to start. let's start with that vote in the iraqi parliament, the government work to end the u.s. presence on iraqi soil and then of course donald trump saying he would sanction iraq if that happened. all heads spinning. what do you make of the vote? does it represent? >> it's been quite a 72 hours since you and i last spoke. i think what the iraqi parliament has done is to inspect the government as you said to work in the presence of foreign forces to weed the americans in iraq. this is not enabling legislation that's been correctly pointed out in the media but it is a mandate that obligates the government to carry out the instruction for parliament. this is done at a time when parliament is well aware. in fact, it designated the current government as a caretaker government. not with standing that designation from last month, it

has given the parliament, the government instructions to do that. parliament is very serious about this until the absence of some negotiations and i understand that the am basketbabassador an minister will meet tomorrow and the absence of some diplomatic solution to the impasse, the government has it charge from parliament and will act accordingly. i think we are looking at the end of the american involvement in iraq at some point it is no longer an indefinite thing. >> when we talk about the iraqi prime minister, there was this. we just discussed this. he said he was going to be meeting with soleimani the morning he was killed and said solomon kne soleimani a message in response to the message we brought to

iran said that donald trump asked him to mediate if you like. does it sound like the killing of soleimani might have actually interrupted a potential mediation effort? >> it's possible. i don't know whether the king of saudi arabia sent a message through the iraqis to the iranians. it's certainly possible. we do know there have been some -- there has been some out reach between saudi arabia and iran and other venues. it certainly sounds extremely plausible that the president of the united states asked him to play such a role. the president has been seems to be desperate to get negotiations going since the quite would unilaterally withdraw from the nuclear agreement. there is plausibility and credibility to that. i know the incumbent iraqi prime minister, he's a very serious man. my judgment of him is that he would not say these things if they were untrue.

again, i don't know any of that but that's my judgment of him. it seems to me we might have been at a point where maybe some progress could have been made to deescalate but seems to me the president acted on an impulse and we are where we are. >> when you look at how that has changed the dynamic has changed the ground in the middle east, only a few months ago in iran you had wide spread protest against the government put down with brutal force and now you've got iranians protesting alongside the government, not against it and iraq you had protesters demanding iran leave the country. they burnt a consulate to the ground and here you have the iraqi parliament considering kicking the u.s. out. what is the u.s. standing in the region at the moment? >> extremely low. the fact you outlined are absolutely correct.

not only did they burn a consulate, it was burned in the holy city, the most important city in the shiite world. this was a clear message to the iranians. also remember there were demonstrations in iran anti-government demonstrations in iran which were even more brutally sup pressed while almost certainly bypassed soleimani. the action of the government of the united states seems to have totally unified the people of iran, as well. whenever their views about the government is, i don't suppose they want their official assassinated. remember, the real problem for the united states -- the two problems for the quite and iraq, that is not only did it assassinate a foreign official on iraqi soil, it also assassinated a senior iraqi security official with whom the

united states had been cooperating and planning the war again again against isis. it goes to how the quite is and consequences for this have been felt with demonstrations and turned from being anti iranian and i won't say anti american but proiraqi in favor of iraqs' dignity and sovereignty and we'll see if the demonstrations continue or if they dissipate. the demonstrations in iran, you know, have dissipated and we'll see if they have an effect on what's going on in lebanon, as well. i don't understand what strategic gain the united states has obtained. it must have felt good to kill a man that was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of americans but don't see the strategic gain on the brink of losses across

the middle east in my opinion. >> as some have said, a tactical win might not be a strategic win. director of the study of the middle east, always good to speak to you, thank you. >> pleasure, thank you. >> as tensions rise, some world leaders are expressing concern calling for deescalation as you might imagine. in a joint statement, emanuel mcelder macon said we call on all parties to exercise upmost restraint and responsibility the current cycle of violence in iraq must be stopped end quote. donald trump is back in the white house after spending more than two weeks at his florida resort. a lot of golf was played. we'll explore his administration strategy how to deal with the growing crisis with iran and if there is a strategy. and as tensions rise in the

region, we'll find out what it means for u.s. military families. many of whom were caught off guard with a sudden new deployment. you're watching cnn. we'll be right back. 1 in 5 people you meet wear dentures.

yeah. that many!

but right now, is not the time to talk about it. so when you're ready, search 'my denture care'. poligrip and polident. fixed. fresh. and just between us. president trump has been re resolute. we will continue to take if we need to. if we need to defend americans, we will do so. >> tough talk there from donald trump secretary of state mike pompeo also a noted iran hawk. he was defending the u.s. president's recent strike and there is no sign of course of backing down from any of that. just hours ago, mr. trump reiterating his threat to target iranian cultural sites as he was on his way back to the white house that would be a war crime. sarah westwood has the details. >> reporter: president trump returned to washington on sunday night against the backdrop of

uncertainty surrounding his senate trial and chaos in the middle east after the president decided at his mar-a-lago resort to take out the commander of iran's security and intelligence services and on saturday, the president threatened to hit iranian cultural site is if ira struck any american asset, that threat sparked a backlash among critics but the president doubled down on that threat as he headed back to washington on air force one. i want to read you part of what he told reporters during that conversation. they're allowed to kill our people. they're allowed to torture our people and use road side bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural site? it doesn't work that way:democrats if r their part expressed skepticism the intelligence administration sited as the reason for taking out this leader was urgent enough to warrant this level of military action and democrats expressed concern that the

administration has fought through the implications of this move. take a listen. >> i really worry that the actions the president took will get us into what he calls another endless war in the middle east. he promised we wouldn't have that and i think we're closer to that now because of his actions. >> meanwhile the future of the president's impeachment trial in the senate remains in a state of limbo while the president was at his resort for nearly two weeks surrounding the holidays, he was asking advisors and aids who should represent him during the senate trial. white house officials have not been able to make concrete decisions what that strategy should look like and who should play the exact top roles because speaker pelosi hasn't yet made a move. sarah westwood, cnn, the white house. >> as those tensions continue to rise, the u.s. is sending more than 3,000 troops to the region. catching some military families by surprise right after the holidays. cnn's natasha with more on that.

>> reporter: there is a definite sense of unease in the fort bragg community. it a tight knit group of people and some are experiencing their loved ones being deployed for the first time. the first brigade of the 82nd airborne division is designed to respond to situations like this. what they are trained to do, they signed up for this and have been prepared however that notice that came towards the end of the holidays is jarring and unexpected. it is a difficult time for them trying to seek answers overwhen it will be before they can see loved ones again and we're hearing that the families have been told not to speak publicly about the deployment or post about it on social media for security returns however fort bragg officials publicly talked to us about the process of deploying the soldiers and we've also spoken with a volunteer organization here called deployed love. they helped families during this time. sabrina, the executive director

has been feeling a lot of messages over the last few days. >> they are obviously reaching out saying i'm scared and i don't know what to expect. you have some training along the way but you never know what to expect when they don't hear from their spouse for a few days while in transition and so we're scared and need someone there to talk to. >> she also said that for the first time she's observing a lot of messages coming from parents of soldiers who perhaps are not as closely connected to the information loop here at fort bragg. so people across the country related to the soldiers deploying right now have a lot of questions and there's just a sense of concern and wondering how all of this is going to turn out. of course, she is trying very hard to coordinate social events for these families to get together and especially help those experiencing deployment for the first time. >> many in tehran paying their

respects to qasem soleimani. the iraqi prime minister said the top general wanted to ease tensions between tehran and saudi arabia. we'll be live with more on that ahead and australian authorities taking advantage of a spike as they race to evacuate. we'll be live in australia coming up. you try hard, you eat right... mostly. you make time... when you can. but sometimes life gets in the way, and that stubborn fat just won't go away. coolsculpting takes you further. a non-surgical treatment that targets, freezes, and eliminates treated fat cells for good. discuss coolsculpting with your doctor. some common side-effects include temporary numbness, discomfort, and swelling. don't imagine results, see them. coolsculpting, take yourself further. save $100 on your coolsculpting treatment. text resolution to 651-90 to learn more.

save $100 on your coolsculpting treatment. whatever happens out there you have the hilton app. will the hilton app help us pick the starters? great question, no. but it can help you pick your room from the floor plan. can the hilton app help us score? you know, it's not that kind of thing, but you can score free wi-fi. can it help us win? hey, hey! we're all winners with the hilton price match guarantee, alright? man, you guys are adorable! alright, let's go lose this soccer game, come on! book with the hilton app. if you find a lower rate, we match it and give you 25% off that stay. expect better. expect hilton.

they can save you these. in fact, if you had a dollar for every time they said it, you'd have a lot of dollars. which makes it hard to believe, especially coming from a talking lizard. pip, pip, cheerio! look, all i, dennis quaid, know is that esurance is built to save you dollars without skimping on service. and when they save, you save. the only way to know how much is to get a quote. chances are you'll save time, paperwork, and yes, dollars. when insurance is affordable, it's surprisingly painless.

live pictures from iran. the iranian capital as the three days of mourning continue for the killed iranian general. qasem soleimani. the mourners in the streets there are literally according to most reports, millions of people around the country taking part in these morning days. the body will be taken to the iranian capital square. cnn sam is in the region with more in the funeral processions for iran's revered military commande commander. >> reporter: a road outside baghdad at the place where iran's most famous warrior died.

he's starting his final journey home carrying the remains of qasem soleimani killed after decades of attacks, his coffin paraded through the most important place in islam. he earned early fame in iraq and s saddam hussein. his casket drew thousands in the streets before traveling onto the capital tehran. in that capital, a familiar chant of death to america from lawmakers outraged by the killing of the leader of iran's external military operations around the world. iran and iraq had prodemocracy

demonstrations against both governments and against iranian influence in baghdad. which were in iraq met with murder violence from the very sheer militia soleimani controlled. now on those same streets, he's being held as a murderer. >> this in itself displaced. man in which this has boom ranged on trump. there is a question how hard did they turn around in the manner of a few weeks for cracking down on protesters to get millions of people out in the streets with the commanders, the same forces involved in the crackdowns. the question here is that an external enemy. >> soleimani's death detracted from lebanon's long-running protests against the government. with a hasballah rally supported the sheer movement of the mentor in it campaign against israel. this was a decisive date that marks the beginning of a new phase and history not just for

iran and iraq but for the entire region he said. it's no surprise that sheer militia supported by iran and soleimani poured onto the streets across the middle east. politicians voted to order the u.s. and forces out of iraq in a parala m pa parliament session boycotted. in the yemen where iran supplied weapons to rebels, those same rebels reacted to the death of the principle backer with silence. iran has pledged to take revenge provoking president trump to tweet in part let this serve as a warning that if iran strikes any americans or american assets, we have targeted 52 iranian sites representing the 52 american hostages taken by iran many years ago some at a high level and important to iran and iranian culture and those targets and iran itself will be hit very fast and very hard. the usa wants no more threats.

that may be so. but across the middle east. the fear is that this fierce rhetoric so often becomes reality. sam kylie, cnn abu dhabi. >> reporter: the iraqi prime minister says he had come to baghdad to talk about deescalating tepgnsions between iran and saudis. cnn nic robertson is live for us in the capital. let's just talk first of all about what the level of concern is where you are about what is happening in the neighborhood. you have the effective number three in the kingdom meeting with the secretary of state that would indicate their concern. >> yeah, look, when the iraqi parliament votes to have u.s. troops remove and leave from the country, that is a concern for the united states key ally that shares a massive border with iraq next door because that is a

further destabilitization and expansion of iranian influence in the region. saudi has been on the front line of attacks from iran and its proxy. they are very concerned about the potential for escalation here. when we see crowned -- the crowned prince's brother, the number three in the country at the moment who has a title of deputy defense ministry with a former am basketball to eer amb washington today to meet with u.s. secretary of state mike pompeo, that tells you the level of engagement that the saudis want to have with the united states at this key time. other u.s. allies weren't aware of this strike on solomeimani coming up. there was suspension, a sense this was coming. the saudis will want to talk about deescalation and want to understand, you know, what are the u.s. red lines at the moment? are the u.s.' next moves on

this? and what is the support that saudi arabia can expect? he can the deputy defense minister. this will have technical, his visit to washington expected in london this week will have technical level in it, as well. this really is about suring up an understanding what the quite is -- united states is going to do because key allies don't want to be caught in the middle of a firestorm in another war. >> also wanted to touch on this and i'm not sure what you've been able to discern. the coming from the iraqi prime minister, first, he said he was scheduled to meet with him the morning he was soleimani was supposed to carry a message in response to the mediation going on. are you hearing anything about that? >> yeah, it very difficult to get further details on what the

iraqi prime minister was talking about. the message publicly that saudi arabia has been sending to iran has been the same message that the united states has been sending, which is destabilizing the region. desist in acting not as a proper sovereign state by trying to have proxies who attack your neighbors in the region. the saudis had multiple long-range ballistic missiles made in iran, fired by the iranian proxies and fired at the capital here over the past couple of years. to one h no one has been killed and attack on the refinery sophisticated during a missile attack. the saudis believe that was absolutely iranian backed. that is the international per zepg -- perception as well. the message is to seize and assist all of this. has that been a quieter backed

channel operating that perhaps gets to the sort of idea of a regional deescalation and growing tensions? that is certainly something the saudis want to achieve. they are not interested in having a war, but what that may have been, we just don't have any insight if indeed that was the message that sort of deescalate tensions or the more robust seize and assist message. >> good to have you on the spot there, nick. nic robertson, appreciate it. we'll take a short break again. when we come back, details emerging on a deadly terror attack in kenya. the target american troops. we'll have reaction from the u.s. military after the break. (groans) hmph... (food grunting menacingly) when the food you love doesn't love you back, stay smooth and fight heartburn fast with tums smoothies.

♪ tum tum-tum tum tums with tums smoothies. if your glasses aren't so will we. no we won't. use your 2020 vision insurance on your first pair and get 50% off a second pair. visionworks. see the difference. >i spend a lot of time sin my truck.y? it's my livelihood. ♪ rock music >> man: so i'm not taking any chances when something happens to it. so when my windshield cracked... my friend recommended safelite autoglass. >> tech: hi, i'm adrian. >> man: thanks for coming. >> tech: oh, no problem. >> tech: check it out. >> man: yeah. they came right to me, with expert service where i needed it. that's service i can trust... no matter what i'm hauling. right, girl? >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪

quitting smoking is freaking hard.st, like quitting every monday hard. quitting feels so big. so, try making it smaller. and you'll be surprised at how easily starting small... ...can lead to something big. start stopping with nicorette

an attack at a military base in kenya claimed lives and taken responsibility for the i tack military base used by special operations forces. the general issued a statement on behalf of the u.s. africa common saying quote, as we honor their sacrifice, let's harden our resolve alongside our african and international partners, we will pursue responsibilities for this attack and al ssays we prevent from maintaining a safe haven to plan deadly attacks against the u.s.

homeland east african and international partners end quote. >> reporter: in a brazen predawn attack, al qaeda affiliated group attacked an air field very near where quite troounited sta train their african partners near a camp called camp simba. one, the united states servicemen and two, contractors for the department of defense were killed in that attack. u.s. africa command tells us that to further contractors were injured and at the moment stable and being evacuated. now, it sits on the edge of the indian ocean and used to be a popular tourist place. it's also world heritage site but unfortunately, it's

approxima proximity to the border is prone to attacks. they repel the attack together with the american partners and discovered bodies and several aircraft were damaged according to the u.s. africa command to some degree including six contractor operated civilian aircraft and we know there were also rotary types of aircraft. now why has this happened? they have been ramping up attacks. last week they attacked a suicide truck bomb which killed over 85 somalis in the capital. the response of the united states africa command and somali partners was to strike at several bases for al shabob.

despite the attacks, drone attacks, air strikes are a menace in this place. it regional. not just in kenya. in kenya, as well, just last year, january 15th, 2019 they hit a hotel here killing 21 people. it -- everyone is baffled at the moment about how this attack could have happened and of course, we do not yet know if there were any kenya defense casualties but the minute niena remains. >> opposition lawmakers reelected leader of the national assembly. he was sworn in at a rival session outside the legislative palace with the votes of 100 lawmakers. he is also still recognized as venezuela ease interim president with more than 50 countries. non-of the socialist congress men took part of in sunday's opposition vote and said they

held their own vote. hours earlier installing their own assembly president. the group blocked opposition leader from entering the building during that vote. fire conditions in australia eased on sunday but could get much worse in the days ahead. we'll be live from the australian capital when we come back. ♪ ♪

♪ beautiful dreamer ♪ wake unto me ♪ beautiful dreamer awake unto me ♪ there's a booking for every resolution. book yours, at booking.com

major evacuations underway in australia where bush fires claimed 24 lives since september.

the pictures are devastating. we're seeing wide spread destruction of homes and livelihoods. 1200 homes have been burnt. hundreds of thousands of animals killed. the conditions eased in some officials warn it will likely get worse in the days ahead. australia's prime minister stressing climate change is contributing to the crisis. >> well, i should stress that there is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally and its effect on global weather patterns. and that includes how that impacts in australia. because i have to correct the record here. i've seen a number of people suggest that somehow the government does not make this connection. the government, our leaders have always made that connection and that has never been in dispute. what we are focused on is what our response is and we set that out very clearly, and that response as it always has, will continue to be upgraded to

ensure we meet and beat the commitments we have made. >> and pedram is following the weather. not that the government ignores the link. it's that it plays down the carbon emissions aspect of it, and that's where they're getting hammered down under. sorry, pedram, carry on. >> no, it's a good point. it's a very valid point, absolutely is. since we started covering this in the past couple months, seems like every seven or ten days mother nature gives us a few advantages. cooler trend of temperatures, firefighters get a brief upper hand, showers, a couple steps forward in a week or so we find ourselves going a few steps backwards and starting where we were earlier on in the month of november and december as well. the pattern looks as such we're getting some showers. potentially get better conditions for the fire fighting efforts. we get more of a marine

influence. not just tuesday, potentially into wednesday we keep the temperatures at bay. showers, light showers possible across this region. unfortunately we need far greater amounts. you notice five day accumulations is better than having nothing on the map. still seeing the potential for 15 to 20 plus millimeters along the coast there of victoria on into new south wales. at least some beneficial weather, just the next couple of days. unfortunately when you look at statistics, about 15 millimeters of rainfall is necessary to stop the spread of a typical wildfire. what's happening in australia far from typical by scope, by scale and, of course, you need far more than that and that is the concern you need at least 50 millimeters for a typical wildfire, to extinguish it in the case of australia. that number could be triple what is necessary, of course, that is nowhere near in the forecast. upwards of nearly 200 wildfires between the two areas. of course, you put this with what is considered out of control, some 60 fires across region considered out of control. you take the amount of land

consumed, nearly 6 million hectares of land, roughly the size of the countries offer switzerland and slovenia put together for our european audience. an incredible scenario playing out here. the next couple days some better weather across the region. >> well, fingers crossed. interesting to put it in that context, give people a sense of the size of this. pedram, good to see you. pedram javaheri there. there's no knowing when families can start rebuilding their lives in australia. so many locked in limbo with no hope in site at the moment. anna karen with the grim outlook from the fire zone. >> reporter: an erie glow hangs over eden harbor as residents walk through thick smoke in the middle of the day. this is where they come to seek refuge for what's now known as the border fire extra swept into victoria from new south wales wiping out townships in its wake. more than 200 blazes burning across southeastern australia. >> one comes through, you know,

the house, they can be rebuilt. preservation and loss more important to everyone around here. that's what we're trying to do. >> reporter: police have told residents to leave eden on the far south coast because they cannot protect them. communities on the outskirts have already lost homes, but some are refusing to go. >> it's my decision to bring the kids down here, a safer spot for them. >> reporter: louise warren and her husband decided to hunker down on her husband's fishing vessel and will ride the fire out at sea. have you seen anything like this? >> never in my life. >> reporter: some are moving to tug boats and some are staying in cars in caravans near the water. we can't see the fire, but we can smell it and fool it. this is not enough to put out the blaze. the fire is burning several kilometers in that direction across the bay, but the fear is

stronger winds will push it closer and threaten the township of eden. australia's largest naval vessel h.m.s. adelaide has arrived. as of late sunday, no sign of any of the australian defense force personnel deployed by the government. >> if this is our war, this fire is australia's war. it's been right down the great dividing range. now it's going right to the coast. and there isn't one idea from the ground. >> reporter: anger toward the government is palpable. the primary target, the australian prime minister, scott morrison. what would you say to the prime minister? >> get out. get out. you cannot lead this country. you are hopeless. you're a moron. get out. that's my message to him, go. >> reporter: his lack of leadership and government's inaction on climate change has angered many australians with national protests organized calling for his removal from office. >> there will always be

frustrations when you cannot in all cases completely counteract the forces of nature. there will undoubtedly be shortfalls and frustrations. undoubtedly. but what you do is you identify them and you seek to improve on the way that you address those challenges again in the future. >> reporter: for the communities in fire-ravaged areas, that's of little comfort. anna karan, new south wales, australia. >> that is the news for this hour. i'll be back after the break with natalie allen. join us then. (worried) i'm not picking it up. you pick it up! i'm not picking it up! i'll pick it up! they're clean!

(raps) 'cuz my hiney's clean. oh yeah i'm charmin clean. charmin ultra strong just cleans better. enjoy the go with charmin. whatever happens out there you have the hilton app. will the hilton app help us pick the starters? great question, no. but it can help you pick your room from the floor plan. can the hilton app help us score? you know, it's not that kind of thing, but you can score free wi-fi. can it help us win? hey, hey! we're all winners with the hilton price match guarantee, alright? man, you guys are adorable! alright, let's go lose this soccer game, come on! book with the hilton app. if you find a lower rate, we match it and give you 25% off that stay. expect better. expect hilton. because you get matched with i la plan tailored to you!m, whether you're a dine outer, take outer, veggie person, definitely- not -just -veggie person, bread lover, or cheese lover... ...all you have to do is answer personal assessment questions and get scientifically matched with a proven weight loss plan. find out which new customized plan can make

losing weight easier for you! the new program from ww. weight watchers reimagined. join for free + lose 10 lbs. on us. hurry! offer ends january 6th! they can save you these. in fact, if you had a dollar for every time they said it, you'd have a lot of dollars. which makes it hard to believe, especially coming from a talking lizard. pip, pip, cheerio! look, all i, dennis quaid, know is that esurance is built to save you dollars without skimping on service. and when they save, you save. the only way to know how much is to get a quote. chances are you'll save time, paperwork, and yes, dollars. when insurance is affordable, it's surprisingly painless.

>> announcer: this is cnn breaking news. >> hello, everyone, and welcome to our continuing coverage of the escalating crisis in the middle east. i'm natalie allen. >> and i'm michael holmes. welcome, everyone. >> well, there are mounting consequence for the u.s. killing of iran's top commander and calls from u.s. allies for restraint and de-escalation. >> yeah, right now huge crowds are filling the streets of teheran to mourn qassem soleimani hours after his body arrived in the capital. funeral processions taking place in cities all across iran. >> iran is taking yet another step back from the nuclear deal