. >>> we want to bring in our chief foreign correspondent richard engel who is following developmentsrom overseas. richard, we heard tough talk both sides, obvious disagreement, what do you make of it? >> well, there are some very real tensions, but is this the all-time lowest relations between moscow and the united states have been? of course not. there is posturing going on here. let's not forget the trump administration is facing multiple investigations into potential collusion with the kremlin. so that is part of the backdrop and very much suits president trump and his close advisers to try to talk rush to russia and create distance between them and the kremlin. also, on the other side, putin has his own domestic evidence. if there is one person that may have a bigger ego than trump, it is vladimir putin. putin has presented himself as someone who can never lose. and he has definitely put his eggs in the basket of bashar al assad fp so even if assad has become a liability to moscow and it's increasingly clear assad has become a liability, he can't back away because president trump

. >>> i'm joined by chief correspondent richard engel near the turkey/syria border right now. richard, where does this stand internationally, the whole picture if you can give it to us? >> let's start with the immediate aftermath of the strike. so far, as you said, it appears to be contained. syria doesn't seem like it is interested at all in retaliating militarily and there are hundreds of military troops in syria. there have been some condemnations from russia and syria, but barely muted with the syria government calling this foolish and russia sticking with its narrative that there were no chemical weapons used and that the u.s. couldn't get it alone and that this was illegal. but when russia is really angry, the world knows about it. russia seems to be able to move on with this. there's a meeting between russian president putin and secretary of state rex tillerson. for now it seems like it was a one-off, at least for now, it seems that russia is prepared to move on from this. >> we could have gone with flying planes over syria. you get hit with aaa fire, whatever, more skin

richard engel has the latest. >> reporter: these disturbing images taken just after the explosion. witnesses say it was a chemical weapons attack. in the video it appears to bear all the hallmarks. this boy, using all his strength just to breathe. first responders doused the victims with water and stripped off their clothes to wash off what they said was a chemical weapon. medics and volunteers in this rebel controlled part of syria rushed the injured to local clinics, they claim syrian president bashar al assad's regime fired with a chemical nerve agent banned, sarin. >> no one is doing anything to stop these death attacks. >> reporter: other victims were taken to a makeshift clinic built in a cave to protect it. there, a father kissed his daughter good-bye. nearby, this activist was recording what he was seeing, saying warplanes were still overhead, then -- hospitals are often targeted in this war that respects no conventions. amazingly, the activist survived. in 2013, the u.s. threatened war when more than 1,000 people were killed in another alleged chemical attack. president ob

richard engel has that for us. >> reporter: new images tonight of the biggest nonnuclear bomb in the u.s. arsenal splashing down on an alleged isis strong hold. the blast from the 21,000 pound 30 foot long so-called mother of all bombs spread over a mile in a valley in eastern afghanistan. >> this was the right weapon against the right target. >> afghan officials say at least 36 isis fighters were killed by the blast. but cautioned exact tolls after so much destruction are difficult to know. some locals seem to welcome the strike against isis, but said it was terrifying for them. >> translator: my house was shaking after the blast described a witness. i saw a big flame, and everywhere was burning. so why was it launched? u.s. military officials say the goal was to collapse an isis tunnel complex and clear away a hidden network of boobytraps so u.s./afghan forces could destroy everything in their path. >> they now know they're not safe in their caves and tunnels. i think it had a pretty dramatic impact on their moral. >> reporter: last month, isis fighters disguised as doctors raided

>> richard engel in our london newsroom. thanks, richard. >>> to the crisis unfolding on another front with word north korea may be planning another show of force this weekend. nbc news learned from multiple senior level sources that the white house is prepared to launch under certain conditions a preemptive strike to stop kim jong un from conducting another nuclear test. our senior correspondent cynthia mcfadden has the nbc news exclusive report. >> reporter: tonight multiple senior intelligence officials tell nbc news, the u.s. military is on high alert as tensions mount between the united states and north korea over what u.s. officials see as a possible imminent underground nuclear test. those intelligence officials tell nbc news that the u.s. has positioned two destroyers, capable of shooting tomahawk cruise missiles in the region some 300 miles from the test site. u.s. bombers are positioned in guam to undertake strikes on the korean peninsula, should it be necessary. earlier this week, the pentagon announced the "uss c

we have two reports starting with the syrian crisis and nbc's richard engel. >> reporter: a day after an alleged chemical attack by assad's regime, the victims are still struggling to breathe. quivering uncontrollably. doctors say it's consistent with exposure to a nerve agent like sarin gas. president trump said the images of the victims made a deep impression on him. >> a chemical attack that was so horrific in syria against innocent people including women, small children, and even beautiful little babies, their deaths was an affront to humanity. these heinous actions by the assad regime cannot be tolerated. >> reporter: it's a big reversal. just two days ago the administration seemed willing to accommodate assad. >> my attitude toward syria and assad changed very much. >> reporter: and after blaming former president obama for not taking action after drawing a red line on chemical weapons, today that changed too. >> i now have responsibility and i will have that responsibility and carry it very proudly. >> reporter: but confronting assad means challenging his biggest backer, russia.

nbc chief foreign correspondent richard engel has more. >> reporter: the u.s. military pulled out the big guns in the fight against isis, a 21,000-pound bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon the united states has ever used. its only known use before, this 2003 test. the massive ordnance air blast is better known by its mick name, the mother of all bombs. so big it's stored in the cargo hold and dropped out of the back of a plane. a u.s. aircraft dropped one of these monster bombs on an isis tunnel complex in eastern afghanistan. president trump suggested he didn't personally authorize the strike, left that to his commanders. >> we have given them total authorization. this was another very successful mission. >> reporter: the toll of the bomb both physical and psychological. >> the shock value of this weapon is simply unbelievable. it feels like an earthquake 15 miles away. it will collapse under ground, subterranean caverns with the isis fighters in them. >> reporter: but the 15-year war in afghanistan, the longest in u.s. history has proven having the mightiest

here is richard engel with details. >> images are horrific. they show bodies strewn on the ground, no obvious signs of injuries, just dead and injured people motionless in some cases, struggling to breathe. the hallmark of a chemical weapon attack. that's exactly what syrian activists say. in the morning there was an explosion in this town which is a small town in idlib province in syria. people immediately started to feel ill. they were sweating profusely, they were foaming at the mouth, they were struggling to breathe. they would douse people with water to try to wash off this suspected agent, take off the contaminated clothing, then rush them to clinics. inside the clinics medical officials said that this was a nerve agent attack, and said they believe that because the victims had tiny pinpoint pupils and there was a mass number of casual casualties. some of the facilities are makeshift and in one of these as victims were treated, there was another explosion. even as first responders and medics trying to give life-saving aid. the syrian gov

>> richard engel, thank you. >>> tonight a fugitive on the run has been captured after a massive manhunt launched following a manifesto sent to president trump threatening violence against the government and he was found with an arsenal. nbc's ron mott has details from wisconsin. >> reporter: the intense ten-damian hunt for joseph jakubowski came to an end on a farm raided caught on a surveillance camera allegedly stealing 18 weapons. jeffrey called in the tip last night. >> he had never said anything negative or anything that maybe would lead me to believe that he was going to do anything that would be bad. >> reporter: arrested without incident, officers recovered four handguns, a long gun, a samurai sword, boxes of ammunition, a helmet, vest, flammable lick winquids and a copy of the letter he mailed to the president as seen in this cell phone video. >> it was basically a tarp he was living in. he looked disheveled. he appeared that he hadn't slept in more than a dozen weapons still unaccounted for from the burglary, officials sounded the all clear for the community. his anti-governme

>> richard engel tonight, thank you. >>> at the same time we see changes in the white house of syria policy, we're seeing changes in the white house center of power. first came word of president's top advisor steve bannon booted from his seat at the table on the national security counsel and tonight comes word of a battle with trump's son-in-law jared kushner. we get the palace intrigue from kristen welker. >> reporter: the sharp divisions in the white house tonight evolving into an all out war according to a top west wing source. two sides pitted against each other, the president's controversial chief strategist steve bannon and mr. trump's son-in-law jared kushner. the turmoil coming to light after bannon was ousted yesterday with the new national advisor, h.r. mcelderry mastmcmastre putting his move. bannon tells nbc news the report is total nonsense and today the president downplayed staff shakeups. >> we've had one of the most successful 13 weeks in the history of presidents. >> reporter: what isn't in dispute, the bannon and kushner camps have been at odds. >> he is using war t

>> richard engel here in paris, thanks. >>> back here at home a controversy, in the middle of the night the city removed the first of four confederate memorials that have been at the center of a heated debate for years. nbc's gabe gutierrez has more on the uproar. >> reporter: it was the dark of night, workers in helmets and tactical vests tearing down a confederate memorial in new orleans. security so tight snipers were on rooftops. >> we are, of course, elated that this monument is coming down but of course this s towerless, that this is happening in the middle of the night. >> reporter: the liberty monument dated back to 1891, mchenry says it honored his great grandfather. >> attack on history. this is the history of our area. you can't change it by pulling down monuments. >> reporter: he says the statute is offensive and once used as a rallying point for the ku klux klan. >> we will no longer allow the confederacy to be put on a pedistole in our city. >> reporter: it's part of a southern state trend to move confederate symbols after the 2015 mass cure of nine black church goers in n

in the show when i thought we were about to be join the live by nbc chief foreign correspondent richard engelchard is live on the turkish side of the border between turkey and syria. just right now in the commercial break we have been told turkish authorities have told richard to take down his live shot. so, even though he's there, as far as i know, we cannot put him on camera. i believe, richard, we've been able to get you by phone. richard engel, are we with you? >> reporter: you are. i'm very sorry about this. we were up, ready to go, lights were on and then the police -- or intelligence services and chased us away. not because i was going to come on and talk to you about syria but because the situation is a little tense. there's a referendum coming up in this country that's a very important, very politically sensitive so they're very nervous about journalists talking about anything these days. i wanted to be part of your show because it's an incredibly important subject you were listening. i was listening to your intro and crying to myself if they were going to take me away and i couldn't

we'll see how that plays out. >> richard engel in our london newsroom. as part of our coverage. richard, thanks. to and degree to andrea mitchell, let's talk for a moment about history. this is the anniversary of the death of fdr, georgia, 1945, a man who used his sunny exterior to lift americans up through depression, world war, a titanic struggle for freedom over tyranny. from the president today, "the world is a mess. it's nasty. by the end of the trump yea the world will be a much better place." and notably for the time you and i have been alive and aware, "we may be at an all-time low in terms of our relationship with russia." other people, andrea, have written and spoken about the fact that it seems his clock started, history started when donald trump was elected because as a nonreader of history, he has been dealing with his business career and other realms as opposed to other people who come to office. i'm just wondering what your thoughts are on all of this. >> reporter: it's so interesting to be here, again, with vladimir putin rising triumphant as richard engel said wi

we've got richard engel, msnbc national security contributor david cohen joins us, the former deputy director of the cia under president obama. thomas is a staff writer with the "washington post" as well as an afghanistan veteran himself. and john finer is here, secretary of state john kerry's chief of staff. thank you all for being with us. we've got a great cast of characters. i want to start with you if i can. and can sean spicer's briefing ju wrapping up. we heard him talk about the idea of a trump doctrine. and i wonder if some of this might be in response to the reporting that's been out there. we have a politico story as you might know about a big staff meeting where they all got together and they said international affairs would present a messaging challenge. because the president lacks a coherent foreign policy and went on to say there is no trump doctrine which is not what we heard frye sean spicer. >> right. the next one says how some long time trump aides, people who have been with the president since the campaign, were a little ticked off. they believe he has a strong po

the latest from nbc's richard engel. anything, text me. do you play? to send money in just a tap, to friends at more banks then ever before. you got next? chase. helping you master what's now and what's next. does your makeup remover every kiss-proof,ff? cry-proof, stay-proof look? neutrogena® makeup remover does. it erases 99% of your most stubborn makeup with one towelette. need any more proof than that? neutrogena. tidy cats lightweight with glade clean blossoms. our newest odor fighting scent! gives you the power of choice plus... the power of pleasant. exclusively in lightweight! every home, every cat, there's a tidy cats for that. >>> in syria, nearly 100 people are reportedly dead including at least 25 children following a suspected chemical attack on tuesday. it happened in idlib. >> an attack president trump called heinous and an affront to humanity which cannot be tolerated. nbc's richard engel reports. >> reporter: a day after an alleged chemical president by syrian president bashar al assad's regime, the victims are still struggling to brea

certainly his generals may well, so, i think richard engel is entirely correct. preemptive strike might well result in a massive artillery bombardment of the city of seoul, for an example. and the north koreans have a considerable number of diesel submarines which if they put to sea could be a real threat to the region. so, you know, i think appropriately we're putting some military power behind an attempt to generate help from the chinese. but we've got to build a defensive missile system in japan, south korea, and the u.s. navy in the region. these people are going to put the u.s. at great peril. >> and would the people on the military side of this, the other four-star generals, because we heard from the president when he was asked whether or not he had ordered that big bombing in afghanistan. he said, you know, he's given a lot of power to the generals. we know before he struck in syria there were a series of meetings over a 72-hour period. what you said to me is that exactly what you would expect the people in charge now in the military side to say to him? >>

nbc's richard engel joins us from the french capital with more. richard, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. it seems like the whole world is on alert right now after the latest violence here in paris this week. terrorism has risen to the top the ageith just a few hours remaining before the polls open in paris and the concern is there could be more violence. security forces are fanning out nationwide to try to prevent it. last-minute preps at polling stations. campaigning is now officially over with hours to go before the first round of the most pivotal elections in recent french history. hanging in the balance is not just the future of france, but the euro, eu and nato. the leading candidates could not be more different. macon. on the center left. young european. he wants to make france more dynamic and boost the economy, but not radically change society. and marine le pen. she wants out of the eu. to drop the euro is a nato skeptic and cozies up to vladimir putin. her win would be a dark future for the eu and critical american partner and co

this is the time in the show when i thought we were about to be joined live by nbc foreign chief richard engelight now on the turkish side of syria. just right now in the commercial break we've been told that turkish authorities have told richard to take down his live shot. so even though he's there, as far as i know, we cannot put him on camera, but i believe we've been able to get you by phone. are we with you? >> you are. and i'm sorry about this. we were up and ready to go, the lights were on, and then the police or intelligence services came and chased us away, not because i was going to talk to you about syria. it was because the situation here is a little bit tense. there's a referendum coming up in this country that's very important, very politically sensitive here, so they're very nervous about journalists coming -- setting up shop and talking about almost anything. i really wanted to be part of your show because it's an incredibly important subject you're discussing. i was listening to your intro, and i was crying to myself. if they were going to pick me away and i couldn't contribut

the time in the show when i thought we were about to be joined live by nbc chief correspondent richard engelchard is live on the turkish side of the border. just right now we have just been told that turkish authorities have told richard to take down his live shot. so even though he is there as far as i know we cannot put him on camera. i believe that we have been able to get you by phone. are we with you? >> reporter: you are. i'm very sorry about this. we were up and ready to go and the lights were on and the police or intelligence services came and chased us away not because i was going to talk to you about syria, it was because the situation here is a little bit tense. there is a referendum coming up that is important and politically sensitive here. they are very nervous about journalists setting up shop and talking about almost anything these days. it is an important subject that you are discussing. i was listening to your intro and crying to myself if they were going to take me away and couldn't contribute to the conversation. it is so important that people realize you were suggesting

foreign correspondent richard engel is in istanbul with details. richard, what's the latest?porter: good morning, thomas. no indications that russia wants a war with the united states. moscow is signaling it does not want to see the u.s. do this kind of thing again. does not want to see more strikes against moscow's ally, the syrian regime of bashar al assad. acceptedi sending that message by sending a war ship to the midediterrane. washington and moscow were one step way from conflict. russia downplaying the cause which washington claims was used to launch chemical weapons. a human rights group says jets have resumed flights from there. u.s. officials say the strike on the base was effective. that at 7:40 p.m., two navy destroyers in the mediterranean, launched 60 cruise missiles. targeting the air base. it lasted three to four missi missiles. ones mis-fired into the sea. the west destroying aircraft and hangars and fuel and weapons depots. >> the strike was well planned and executed and more than a pinprick. it sends a message not only to assad that using chemical weapons a

richard engel, nbc news, paris. >> all right. it was a big weekend for nbc bay area employees and our parent company comcast as we all rolled up our sleeves. there's rob madaya joining employees for the comcast care bit. the first video was in san jose >> that's me doing scrubbing in san francisco. and there's some point forward action. find the open shooter and clean up the necessary there's any missed shot. >> a great opportunity in san jose and san francisco for us really to lend some hands, beautifying them and painting murals. rob is queen of the map and it's an event that's been going on since 1992. 100,000 plus employees get involved. >> nbc bay area and new jersey, our states so wonderful to see all the green shirts though your green, kari, is different today. >> yes. in san francisco it's misting and drizzling. the weather is not as nice as we had over the weekend. here's a look at the golden gate bridge. at times you can barely see any part of it. we've had the low visibility there and we still have the tourist taking i

nbc news foreign correspondent richard engel has more. >> repter: the u.s military pulled out the big guns against isis, the largest non-nuclear weapon the united states has ever used. only use before, this 2003 test. the massive ordinance air blast is better known by its nickname, the mother of all bombs. so big it's stored in the cargo hold and dropped out of the back of a plane. a u.s. aircraft dropped one of these monster bombs on an isis tunnel complex in eastern afghanistan. president trump suggested he didn't personally authorize the strike, left that to his commanders. >> we have given them total authorization. this was another very, very successful mission. >> reporter: the toll of the bomb both physical and psychological. >> the shock value of this weapon is simply unbelievable. it feels like an earthquake 15 miles away. it will collapse underground subterranean caverns with the isis fighters in them. >> reporter: but the 15-year war in afghanistan, the longest in u.s. history, has proven having the mightiest weapons doesn't guarantee victory. the u.s. still has more than 8,

richard engel just arrived moments ago in turkey. but i want to start with senator richard blumenthal who is heading into that classified briefing. what new information are you expecting from the briefing, what questions do you have? >> i have questions about the apparent lack of a comprehensive, cohesive strategy. certainly none yet authorized by congress or even articulated by the american people. i'm concerned as well about the risks of escalation, as well as the potential dangers to hundreds of americanroops in syria right now. i'm hoping for a policy and plan that is articulated and clear and linked to our own national security interests with limits and goals. >> in the fall of 2013, you urged swift military action to send a message to assad. how is it different this time? >> there needs to be now a cohesive and comprehensive strategy that involves steps against the russians. they are the aiders and abetters here, along with iran. and increased sanctions need to be brought to bear. that's one of the lessons of the last few years,

our own richard engel filed a harrowing, harrowing report on this attack tonight for nbc "nightly news." here's part of what richard filed. i will tell you, it is a bit intense. >> reporter: these disturbing images taken just after the explosion. witnesses say it was a chemical weapons attack and in the video, it appears to bear all the hallmarks. this boy using all his strength just to breathe. first responders douse the victims with water stripped off their clothes to wash off what they said was a chemical weapon. medics and volunteers in this rebel-controlled part of syria rushed the injured to local clinics. they claim syrian president bashar al assad's regime fired the banned chemical nerve agent sarin. >> the gas attacks are continuing every day and notice no one is doing anything. >> reporter: other victims were taken to a makeshift clinic built in a cave to protect it. there a father kissed his daughter good-bye. an activist said war planes were still overhead. then -- hospitals are often targeted in this war that respects no conventions. amazingly, the actvisit survived. >> th

richard engel in london. richard, thanks for that. also, again, this is a developing situation here, again, question of whether this response could be imminent if there is going to be a response. we just heard from the president, himself, we're just getting this tape in aboard air force one. let's listen to what president trump had to say in the last few minutes. >> i think what assad did is terrible. i think what happens in syria is one of the truly egregious crimes and it shouldn't have happened and it shouldn't be allowed to happen. >> do you think that assad should leave power? >> i think what happened in syria is a disgrace to humanity. and he's there and i guess he's running things so something should happen. >> okay. tough to hear, if you read the transcript at the bottom of the screen, the president, asked directly if assad should remain in power, he sidestepped it and said something should happen. he also said the chemical attack, "shouldn't be allowed to happen." comments coming in the last few minutes from the president. i

. >> nbc's richard engel reports from london that the outrage continues to grow. >>> a u.s. intelligence official tells nbc news it appears the latest atrocity in syria was in fact a chemical attack. details are still coming in, but russia, an ally of the assad regime, has a different explanation saying a, quote,,2y targeted releasing toxins in the air. the images are horrific and hard to watch. they show the telltale signs of a chemical weapons attack. no blood, only the dead and injured on the ground after quickly succumbing to what witnesses describe as a poison gas. this boy using all his strength just to breathe. first responders dousing the victims with water, stripping off their clothes to wash off the invisible contaminant. medics and volunteers rushing the injured to local clinics. they claim president bashar al assad's syrian army fired the banned chemical weapon sarin and trump said these heinous actions by the bashar al assad regime are a consequence of the past administration's weakness. >> a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons m

nbc's foreign correspondent richard engel has more and a warning that some of the video you're about to see is deeply disturbi disturbing. >> reporter: this was a chemical weapons attack and in the video it appears to bear all the hallmarks. this boy using all his strength just to breathe. first responders douse the victims with water, stripped off their clothes to wash off what they said was a chemical weapon. medics and volunteers in this rebel control part of syria rush the injured to local clinics. they claim syrian president bashar all assad fired serin. >> no one is doing anything to stop this. >> reporter: other victims were taken to a make shift clinic in a cave to protect them. there, a father kissed his daughter good-bye. nearby this activist was recording what he was seeing saying war planes were still overhead. then hospitals are often targeted in this war that respects no conventions. amazingly, the activist survived. in 2013 the u.s. threatened war on more than 1,000 people were killed in another alleged chemical attack. president obama had warned the use of chemical we

richard engel joins us now. what's the -- characterize this for us, if you will. >> this was a fairly limited strike. it was very specific. what we saw was these cruise missiles, tomahawk cruise missiles, more than 50 fired from the eastern mediterranean, on the same base that was used according to the u.s. military to launch the chemical attack, not likely to impact the regime. >> richard engel, thanks. continuing coverage on msnbc. we'll be back on the air as events warrant. for >>> once again, a special report from nbc news, just to recap, that a limited strike from the u.s. military force into syria, this is in response to what happened this week. we are awaiting word from president trump, as lester holt just mentioned, he is in florida and so at any moment we could bring from the president and we'll bring that report as soon as it happens. >> we'll follow this online but back to more local news. >> and happening right now, a local high-profile murder case causing a swarm today outside of the county jail in

nbc richard engel is live. richard, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. russia is signaling very strongly the washington not to carry out any more attacks against the syrian regime, sending the warship into the mediterranean, saying russia and the united states were one step away from conflict. russia is down playing the damage the military strikes caused to the base claimed to use to launch chemical weapons, u.s. officials say the strike on the base was effective. at 7:40 p.m. launched 60 cruise missiles targeting the air force base. one into the sea the rest direct hits litti hits hitting fuel and weapons doe -- depots. >> it sends a message to assad that using chemical weapons is something he cannot do with impunity. >> reporter: autopsies confirm nerve agents were used both syria and russia deny this. the town has been hit again by conventional airstrikes. the trump administration is suggesting it might go further. >> the united states took a very measured step last night. we are prepared to do more. >> reporter: but repeating what was a limited one-o

we have full coverage, beginning with nbc's richard engel. ir scope. and they appear to have been designed to avoid putting american troops at risk. cruise missiles were used, not american pilots, which means at no stage were american pilots exposed to potentially being shot down. u.s. navy warships in the eastern mediterranean launched 59 cruise missiles against a syrian military base. it was retaliation by president trump. for a horrific chemical weapons atta attack, the u.s. blamed on the syrian regime. >> no child of god should ever suffer such horror. >> reporter: now video released by the russian defense ministry, showing little damage on the base. and amateur video shows the attack under way. the pentagon says the cruise missiles destroyed syrian aircraft, hardened hangars, fuel depots, weapons storage and air defenses. the u.s. says it has radar that tracks the aircraft used in the chemical attack back to this patz. a base. the syrians calling the strike, blatant aggression. and the russians calling it an act of aggression against a so

nbc chief foreign can't richard engel is skploinijoining us fro istanbul. >> reporter: there are no indications russia wants a war with the united states. moscow is signaling strongly it does not want to see the u.s. do this kind of thing again, does not want to see more strikes against moscow's ally, the syrian regime of bashar al assad. sending a war trip to the mediterranean, the russian prime minister saying moscow and washington are one step away from the conflict. >> russia is down playing the damage caused to this base which washington claims was used to launch chemical weapons. russian images show it largely unaffected. a human rights group says jets have already resumed flights from there. u.s. officials say that at 7:40 p.m. two navy destroyers in the mediterranean launched 60 cruise missiles targeting the shayrat air base. one missile misfiring into the sea, the rest direct hits destroying 20 syrian aircraft, reinforced hangars, fuel and weapons depots. >> the strike was well planned, well executed, certainly more than a pinprick and sends a message not only to assad that using chemi

. >> joining me now is richard engel and steve crebbins.we have nikki haley saying, we may take action. meanwhile president trump at the rose garden said he will not say what he will or will not do, all he will say is he won't tell reporters or the american public, at least for now, what that may be. >> i'm not sure if that's a disconnect. i think we're both seeing in both of those comments, you're seeing a much more interventionist president trump. this is a -- when he was a candidate, he talked about walling off the united states, at least on the mexican border. an america first policy. now he's talking about how a crime against humanity cannot stand and that the united states won't tolerate it and how his position on syria and the assad regime has changed. the question is, what will he do about this? has he just changed his opinion in the long term or does he plan to take some sort of action, military or otherwise, especially having just criticized president obama for not having done any kind of military response when there was the last

richard engel in londolondon, kn welker at the white house. it's been 24 hours since the attack. talk to me now about conditions on the ground today and anything else we know about why this happened. >> well, today activists say in that same area there have been five more air strikes that activists are blaming on either the russians or the syrian regime. we're hearing more from medical personnel about the casualties. and doctors without borders just issued a statement a short while ago saying that they at affiliated hospitals have treated eight victims and say in a statement that the symptoms which include dilated pupils, muscle spasms, involuntary -- consistent, excuse me, with the exposure to neurotoxic agents. so they're saying that based on the symptoms of these eight patients that it appears to be consistent with a neurotoxin like ser ron gas. that is the same thing we were hearing yesterday from the local peer medics. not just a chlorine gas, not just a chemical released, industrial chemical released in the air but a banned chemical, a nerve agent. the russians have come ou

well, joining me right now from london with more is nbc correspondent richard engel. richard, there's something happening, and i'm wondering what we know at this point. what do you know? >> reporter: well, i've been speaking to senior u.s. military officials, and they say that something is seriously under consideration, that it could happen imminently, that a wide range of options are being presented to the president. this could develop very quickly, perhaps even in the next couple of -- next several hours. and that the president is leaning toward a more limited option, not a massive military campaign that would change the regime, not toppling bashar al assad, not a u.s. ground invasion. more like limited military strikes, potentially -- particularly strikes against the chemical weapons capability. so more of a measured response. you have to look at what the situation is like in syria. bashar al assad is a dictator. he's been condemned around the world for using these weapons, and now the u.s. says it has evidence, radar evidence, that links his aircraft to this attack

we begin tonight with richard engel in istanbul. >> reporter: russian state tv broadcasting from syria at the air base that is destroyed. footage shows some damage and defiantly fighter jets taxiying and taking off in broad daylight. local residents filming it on their cell phones. it's unclear if the aircraft were flown by syrian or russian pilots, but the message is clear the u.s. strike changed little. new images show the town hit by a chemical attack which the u.s. says was hit by that base it is a ghost town now, but there were more air strikes today. just so russia's point couldn't be missed, moscow is sending this war ship, the admiral, armed with its own cruise missiles to the mediterranean. the prime minister warned on facebook that washington and moscow were just on the verge of conflict. all of it is a sharp warning to president trump, don't attack russia's allies again. >> things that the russians are saying and the russians are doing is in many respects for their public's consumption. >> reporter: while the missile strikes were welcomed around the world, critics are increa

we get details from paris and our chief foreign correspondent richard engel. >> reporter: tonight just two candidates remain, the future of a united europe hanging in the balance. the polls favor emmanuel macron. a 39-year-old banker and strong supporter of the eu. a spokesperson told us they're not popping the champagne yet. >> we understand the challenge, and we really want to show to the world that it's possible for democracy to stand up against fascism. >> reporter: the candidate she calls a fascist is marine le pen. she would be the first female president. she wants to leave the eu and has modelled her campaign on president trump. many in france haven't liked what they've seen of the american president so far. >> i think for most people, the first 100 days of trump have been a failure, and have reflected negatively on the potential of marine le pen in france. >> reporter: le pen supporters aren't giving up, they're going on the attack, questioning macron's youth. his wife is 24 years his senior. they met when he was 15. she was his high school drama teacher. this is france, and vo

i'm joined by nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel. he's near the turkey-syria border right now. richard, where does this stand internationally, the whole picture if you can give it to us? >> reporter: well, let's just start with the immediate aftermath of the strike. so far as you said, it appears to be contained. there are no indications that russia is going to retaliate militarily. syria doesn't seem like it is interested at all in retaliating militarily, and there are hundreds of american troops in syria. there have been some condemnations from russia and from syria, but theve been fairly muted with the syrian government calling this foolish and russia sticking with its narrative that there were no chemical weapons used and that the u.s. couldn't go it alone, and that this was illegal. but when russia is really angry, the world knows about it. and it seems like russia is content to move on with this. there is still a meeting scheduled for next week in moscow between putin and rex tillerson, the secretary of state, that hasn't been c

for the moment, chief foreign correspondent richard engel standing by in london. and richard, question that kind of melds politics with what we're seeing in the military tonight. the world has watched the first 75 or so days of this presidency and this president. they have seen deeds and statements or the lack thereof. with that in mind, how will the world view this military action tonight? >> reporter: i think it was just enough for president trump to show that he's different than president obama. that he acted when his predecessor did not. but it is not going to get him into any real trouble. it was not a decisive action. it was more symbolic. it was a slap on the wrist, actually, and it's the kind of thing you can do -- it has a complete narrative. the u.s. military said earlier today that it has radar footage showing the aircraft taking off from this now presumably destroyed air base and flying about 70 miles -- 67 miles is the distance to the town that was hit. i wouldn't be surprised if at some stage we get to see that radar footage. and now that air base has

nbc's chief correspondent richard engel is live in london. you've had increedabdible repor. what is the latest out of syria on the suspected chemical attack? >> in this same area today, activists say there have been five more air strikes carried out either by russian aircraft or by syrian regime aircraft. doctors without borders say that some of the victims of this attack that have been treated in its partner facilities appear to show the symptoms that are, they say, consistent with those who have been impacted by a toxic nerve agent, a chemical weapon. the russians, however, the backers of president bashar al assad, have a different version of events. they say that no chemical weapon was, in fact, deployed. certainly not by the syrian government or by russia. they say what happened is the assad regime attacked, quote, a terrorist weapons depot in this area, and because of that explosion, toxins were released that were being stored there, causing these casualties. however, a u.s. intelligence official has told nbc news it appears to be -- may have been a deliberate chemical

with me nbc chief foreign correspondent richard engel, bob scales, the atlantic's washington editor at large steve clemens, and huffington post global editorial director howard fine man. great to have all of you here. general, second largest bomb in our arsenal, wal us through. what is this thing and how much damage c it do? >> this is a modern version of the vietnam era daisy cutter. it is 11 tons of explosive. it's not dropped from a bomber. it's dropped from the weird gate of a cargo plane. a para chute pulls it out, it separates from the parachute, and it's guided to the target by gps. >> so it's accurate. >> it's precision accurate. but the purpose of this is not fragmentation, not slhrapnel. it's to buildup an overpressure or blast, if you will. purpose of it is to collapse buildings, tear up rail junctions, collapse tunnels through the blast. it doesn't kill through shrapnel. so, it makes it unique in the arsenal. and the nation, we've got 13 of these left. they've been sitting in florida for, what, 15, 16 years. >> why use it now? >> well, first of all, this was a special opera

nbc news chief foreign correspondent richard engel has more tonight from paris. >> reporter: new video tonight showing the moments a terrorist struck on the iconic champs-elysees in paris. over a dozen shots can be heard sending pedestrians scrambling as the gunman opens fire killing a police officer before being shot dead. french authorities today identified him as karim cheurfi, a french national and a career criminal. authorities found a note supporting isis which claimed responsibility near his body. john finny from kentucky and his family were a few feet away from the shooter. he looked at you. >> dead in the eye like i'm looking at you now. kind of a still look and looked back and started shooting. >> reporter: the terror attack seemed time to influence the first round of french elections this sunday. president trump telling the associated press quote it probably helps the far right presidential candidate marine le pen because she's strongest on borders. and le pen shares the love. the policies i represent are the policies represented by mr. trump. le pen is anti-skeptic. she wan

nbc's richard engel has that story. >> reporter: around the world for 100 days the top story has beenent trump. and he's being watched with more than a bit of concern. >> quite a few people are saying, well, we're still here. i think there was a genuine fear. >> reporter: that's the bar, that's good? >> absolutely. >> reporter: we're still alive. >> there isn't all-out nuclear conflict, although it is openly talked about. i find that quite extraordinary. >> reporter: alister pruitt has been observing foreign affairs for over 40 years. >> there is a genuine real and tangible concern and it's based not so much on the idle threats of putting people in their place, it is based upon that perception of ineptitude. >> reporter: around the globe, we found a similar feeling, that president trump is careening from crisis to crisis without a foreign policy strategy. in south korea -- >> he's, like, starting fights with everyone. >> reporter: to the west bank. >> he just doesn't know what he's doing. >> reporter: to germany. >> he doesn't really think about what he does. maybe he thinks about it