and it's supposed to be one of the safest areas in southern afghanistan, but we are seeing now, the talibanage to enter that location too. >> very symbolic location. you'll be monitoring all of the developments for us at the moment. thank you. >>> still lots more to come here on al jazeera. ♪ >>> the eagles of death metal performance in paris just weeks after the massacre at the theater. >>> and the tiny caribbean island that is making giant leaps towards becoming completely energy sufficient. sure, tv has evolved over the years. it's gotten squarer. brighter. bigger. it's gotten thinner. even curvier. but what's next? for all binge watchers. movie geeks. sports freaks. x1 from xfinity will change the way you experience tv. >>> time now for a reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. the united states has announced plans for all of the countries involved in the syrian peace process to meet next friday in new york. >>> meanwhile turkey is to stop deploying troops to northern iraq, but is refusing to withdrawal forces that are already there. >>> and the u.s. republican presidential hopeful d

fighting with afghan forces and still going on in southern afghanistan. u.s. troops are not out in the field, but they are advising the afghans in helmand province and southern afghanistan as they battle the taliban there. boris, alison. >> barbara, thanks for that. my heart goes out to the families of the troops. >> tragic six families had to lose heroes so close to christmas. >>> dozens people injured and killed with the damage down of severe weather in the south and midwest. the damage done and what is still on the way. >>> deadly storms barrelling through the country. seven people killed, dozens more injured. we are tracking the damage and what you can expect today. >>> donald trump warning hillary clinton be careful. a war of words escalating in the race for president. >>> and tourists warned in china about a popular area. welcome back to "early start." i'm alison kosik. >> i'm happy to be here, alison. i'm boris sanchez. we are talking about seven people killed and dozens injured as a line of christmas storms from the gulf coast to the midwest. spawning

people in afghanistan, they believe the fighting moved from the southern afghanistan to the north side as we have seen in the heavy fighting coon do. now we are witnessing that these attacks in southern afghanistan are back. >> with the latest there on the attack thank you. >> the 19-year-old palestinian man has been shot dead during a raid in the israeli arm in h the west bank. residents say he was among a work of protestors demonstrating against the soldiers as they arrived to arrest two men at a refugee camp. the soldiers were attacked as what it described as routine activity. flashes have erupted since the man's funeral. this is a young man who was with killed in a overnight raid by the israeli army, in a refugee camp, following his funeral. pam tennians raced toward the confrontation, now this street has become a flash point over the last few months of these kind of confrontations. their anger, their frustration, at the occupation, when you speak to them many of them will tell you that the world has forgotten them. nothing seems to be on the table to try to push to end the occupat

last night taliban forces took control of a large section of the helmand province in southern afghanistane fighting continued today, major setback for afghan forces there. on december 9th taliban attackers killed 50 people including 38 civilians outside the kandahar air base, also in southern afghanistan. and then on december 12th six people were killed during an attack on the spanish embassy in kabul. so again, jenna, six american troops killed in today's terror attack outside the bagram air base, absolutely horrific situation, and it continues to develop. so, of course, if we get any more information, we'll bring it to you. jenna: john, thank you. jon: president obama once again defending his strategy against isis but in a wide-ranging interview he does admit some criticism of his policies are legitimate. as the president says he understands why americans are worried about the terror threat. but he puts some of the blame for that on the media. listen. >> the media is pursuing ratings. this is a legitimate news story. i think that, you know, it's up to the media to make a determination a

advisers to try and help afghans who are engaged in raging battles against the taliban in southern afghanistan. the development came a day after a taliban suicide bomber killed six u.s. troops near a kabul base, the deadliest attack on americans since august. rescuers in southern china continue to search for bodies from the rubble of a collapsed mountain of construction waste. more than 70 people are missing. questions are now being asked about why nothing was done regarding the safety of the site. state media reported that the district government which covers the area had identified problems with the construction dump months earlier. coming up, celebrating the coming of more sunshine. we'll take you to stonehenge where thousands showed up to celebrate the winter solstice. and making dreams come true is what the christmas season is all about. coming up, see what it took it give one critically ill "star latest blockbuster. >> this is iowa's news leader. this is kcci 8 news at noon. mollie: it's official. the winter solstice has arrived. today marks the shortest day of the year in the northern h

the taliban gain controls of a key district in southern afghanistan. a political shake-up in spain. the ruling party fails to win a majority. the key question today, how do they now form a coalition. >> our top story, sepp blatter and michel platini have been banned from football relating technology. it was said that they broke rules conflict of interest. sepp blatter was suspended in october. both men denied wrongdoing. and sepp blatter vowed in a news conference to appeal against the the verdict. >> suspended eight years. i will fight. i will fight for me and f.i.f.a. suspended eight years for what, so, therefore, immediately and i i - definitely not surprised that the notification of the digs was made to the media and later to those they should receive it is not surprising. communication in these ethics committee is an example how you shall not do it. >> paul rees is the sports news correspondence live outside the conference. paul, there must be people in f.i.f.a. wincing having lost the conference. they presumably closed this down, they do not want mr blatter to fight on to win,

and of course this comes just a couple of days after the taliban launched a huge assault in southern afghanistankandahar where they fought with afghan security forces for 24 hours. very unsecure, we're told not to move ash the city at all. there are embassies nearby, also residents, police have cordoned off the area. people concerned -- everyone is communicating on social media to be worried about secondary explosions. we have had sieges like this before where gunmen have gotten inside compounds, and sometimes it takes hours to get them out. a large number of afghan security forces on the scene at the time. >> that's jennifer glasse reporting for us. >>> back here in the u.s. a former oklahoma city police officer is now facing life in prison after being convicted of sexual assault, including rape. he was crying as the jury read the guilty verdict on thursday. he was convicted of raping women while on duty. al jazeera's john henry smith has more. >> reporter: on his 29th birthday he found out he would likely spending the rest of his birthdays behind bars. a jury found the ex-oklahoma city police

in may 2012, members of a navy seal team abused detainees at an outpost in southern afghanistan. internal report says three navy seals dropped heavy stones on the detainees' chests, stomped on their heads, and poured bottles of water on their faces in a modified form of waterboarding. one of the detainees was beaten so badly that he eventually died from his injuries. four u.s. soldiers reported witnessing the abuse, but navy commanders chose a closed disciplinary process usually reserved for minor infractions. the seals were cleared of any wrongdoing. two of the seals implicated in the abuse of the detainees and their lieutenant have since been promoted. bowe bergdahl has received far different treatment. his arraignment this week came after army general robert abrams ordered him court-martialed on charges of desertion and misbehavior against the enemy. abrams' decision came despite the recommendations of two independent army experts. the army officer who led the bergdahl investigation, major general kenneth dahl, testified that imprisoning bergdahl would inappropriate -- would b

everyone has been on high alert after the attack in southern afghanistan. this happened inside what place call the ring of steel. check points that check every vehicle and watch people coming in and out of the city, and in a very, very central area, not just embassies, but also lots of residents and businesses, the very heart of kabul, really. >> jennifer obviously a very bold attack as was the one on the airport, any reason why we're seeing these attacks so close to each other, or just coincidence and proof of a resurgence in the taliban. >> reporter: i think it's the taliban flexing their muscles, showing they can attack. showing they are resilient, and the fact they can attack not only in kandahar, that attack left 70 people dead, and that went on for more than 24 hours -- i think it's a combination of a resurgent taliban showing they can attack when and where they want. and afghan security forces really trying to find their feet. kabul is a huge city. it seemed like a small number of attackers, but they got into a very strategic area of the city, and ha

personnel there are not a full combat force >>> the number of people killed in a taliban attack in southern afghanistan has risen to more than 70. a gun battle at kandahar airport lasted more than 24 hours between afghan forces and taliban fighters. all ten of them died in the siege. hostages were also killed. the attack coincided with a conference in pakistan where the afghanistan's leader urged peace talks to recommence >> reporter: the government has launched an investigation to try and find out how the taliban got into the airport clacks. it is a home to a large military base as well as the civilian airport. security is tight. a number of check points just to get into the complex itself. the taliban had released a video showing its fighters in military uniforms saying they got past the check point in military vehicles with foreign number plates and identification. the government questioning their version of events in launching its own inquiry into what exactly happened. this fight went on for more than 24 hours, quite fierce fighting, a number of explosions that damaged the airport terminal buildin

turning to southern afghanistan where the fight against the taliban is proving overwhelming. one official took to facebook to beg the central government for help. imoku moli reports. >> afghan soldiers and police are outgunned. >> translator: we are fighting to remove the taliban from this area. therefore we need support from one army to help us. right now the area is controlled by taliban. >> reporter: this is helmand province. once controlled by the taliban. it is also the place where most of the world's opium is produced. on sunday the province's deputy mayor used facebook to plead with the afghan president, posting, your excellency, helmand is standing on the brink and there is a serious 92 need for you to come. since last night sangen district center is almost completely under taliban control. >> although billions of dollars or hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to develop an afghan national army, that army seemed to lack strategic leadership and this is why you see the taliban taking advantage of this. >> the taliban appears to be crisscrossing the country,

also to come on the program, the taliban gained control of a key district in southern afghanistan. political shakeup in spain, the rule party fails to win a majority. the key question now is how does he form a coalition. >>> i'm in port-au-prince, a country with more than 2,000 people in slavery. we'll highlight the work of one radio program tackling the issue head-on. >>> fifa banned seth blatter and michel platini for eight years. ethics judges said a payment made by platter to the european football chief platini in 2011 broke the rules. both men have said they'll peel against the verdict. we have more from fifa headquarters in zurich. >> seth blatter once again the center of attention, the 79-year-old swiss fighting to get into a press conference as he fights for his very future in football. on monday, the suspended fifa president platini were given eight year bans over a $2 million payment made by blatter to the frenchman in 2011. the swiss isn't going quietly. >> i would file for me and i will fight for fifa, suspended eight years for what? >> for years, two big figures at fif

not only afghan forces are operating from the main quarter for african security forces for southern afghanistan american forces are based there. it is a very important location, and it is supposed to be the safest compound in kandahar province. >> thank you. >>> the american rock band that was performing during last month's attacks in paris has made an emotional return to the city to perform at a, u-2 concert. >> would you welcome the eagles of death metal. the bad performed to a packed arena, playing a rendition of patti smith's people have the power, along with u-2 as well as their song, i love you all the time. 90 people died at the convert hall where the band was playing. >> there was emotion, a lot of emotions. >> bad thing happened three weeks ago, and -- and to see them live, making rock and roll, it was kind of strange. >> translator: it's kind of a relief for people. for everybody. and life continues. music is a way for people to relate to each other. >>> still to come on al jazeera, hitting rock bottom, the mining company anglo american announces plans to cut 80,000 jobs from its glob

specially sangin it's a very important trading route in southern afghanistan and it's very well knownor its opium production. and it's opium trade. now people livelihood is growing poppies. and afghan government tried to introduce new project, at familiar projects so that the people could grow alternate to poppy. but people feel that the poppy is the only way of living. and making the living. so afghan government would go to irradicate and people would push back the government so that's why taliban got the support from people and their farms have been protected from being irradicated. >> let's leave it there, thanks, abdul, a live for us in kabul. >>> the united nations security council has given its full support to a new national unity government in libya. the 15 nation council hopes the backing will not only weaken isil but also curb mass migration to usual. kristen saloomey reports. >> reporter: the u.n. security council threw its support behind libya's fledglings government of national accord. four years after the death of muammar qaddafi helped plunge the country in to chaos it w

in the interim he reestablished himself as a warlord in southern afghanistan one who pledged his allegianceate in a group of insurgent fighters. over the years u.s. or says -- thankfully they killed him but only at risk to themselves. another such dangers example is the story of a guantÁnamo detainee who was recently transferred to the united kingdom. this was done without the concurrence of then chairman of the joint chiefs of staff martin dempsey. why did general dempsey disagree with this transfer? i have asked the pentagon and i'm still awaiting an answer. but it is no secret that he was a dangerous terrorist before he was captured was a noncompliant detainee while it guantanamo band would likely continue to cause trouble if freed. i traveled to bk recently and british intelligence and law enforcement officials told me that they are stressed to the breaking point trying to handle british fighters returning from syria and iraqi battlefields. on top of that barack obama has added significant pressure and strain on our relationship. the roof and armor cases are nearly two. 653 detainees ha

it's the main military base for the southern afghanistan, for nato and also for afghan forces.to this residential compound, residential for the afghan military any has to cross a couple of checkpoints to get in there. it's now a big question how come nine taliban fighters, if we believe there are nine, with that much gun and ammunition could enter through this compound and take hostage the family member of the afghan security forces. >>> a 19-year-old palestinian man has been shot dead during a raid by the israeli army in the west bank. residents say he was amongst a group of protesters demonstrating against soldiers as they arrived to arrest two men at a refugees camp in bethlehem. clashes have erupted since his funeral. from west jerusalem here is stefanie dekker. >> reporter: the confrontations that ensued in bethlehem between the israeli army and palestinian youth followed the funeral of the 19-year-old. this is a young man who was killed in an overnight raid by the israeli army in a refugees camp close to bethlehem following his funeral 10s of palestinians marched towards

themselves >>> taliban forces have taken hostages after storming an airport compound today in southern afghanistan. they are still locked in a gun battle. residential blocks and t. there are eight taliban fighters. this is the second major attack in the past 24 hours. nigeria attacked boko haram. it comes as it intense to transfer boko haram-- intends to transfer prisoners. >> reporter: these are some of the 900 hostages who have been involved in fighting in boko haram near the border of nigeria. >> translation: i come from the state. i was taken away and in prison. >> reporter: soon they will be on their way home. >> translation: we have to repatriate them to their countriess. it is to get necessary support, including food. >> reporter: thousands have already been deported. it is concerned about the fighters hiding among them. dozens of its citizens have been killed and attacks blamed on the armed group. many of been taken by boko haram over the last five years, many of them have been forced to join the armed group. there has been a growing frustration over the last few months. for the girls and

security is supposed to be tight at the largest military base in southern afghanistan. >> translator: were 14 taliban fighters engaged with afghanistan forces. we have killed all of them. four of the attackers with explosive vests blew themselves up, the rest were shot dead by the afghan army. one soldier who was my bodyguard, was murdered. >> reporter: the taliban says these are the attackers in afghan government uniforms. in september, taliban fighters commanded by their leader took control of kunduz city in northern afghanistan and held it for about two weeks. although his leadership has been challenged, the attacks suggest his forces are coordinated. this came as the president was at a regional conference in pakistan, aimed at restarting peace talks with the taliban. but the head has now resigned. he says as they were meeting to talk about peace, the taliban was launching attacks in afghanistan. >>> well, now, strong winds have helped clear the air in beijing, and a red alert has been lifted for the chinese capitol. schools have reopened and limits eased on car use. our correspond

watching that situation, southern afghanistan, hour by hour. alisyn?>> barbara, thank you very much for the reporting. appreciate it. we all want to go now to the search for answers after a woman allegedly intentionally mows down pedestrians on the vegas strip, killing a mother of three, injuring 37 others. the suspect is a 24-year-old woman, facing multiple charges, including murder. what we still don't know is exactly why. why did she do this? cnn's ryan young is live in vegas for us with the latest. how close are we to getting that big answer? >> good morning, chris. a lot of people want to know the answer to that. what we do know right now is this woman was homeless for about a week in the las vegas area. from what the sheriff tells us she was trying to get sleep at several different properties when security guards kept booting her out of those locations. she came down here to the las vegas strip and started hitting people on the sidewalk. dozens of people were witnessing this. in fact, three people are still in critical. you talk about the mother

this attack and in southern afghanistan, the traditional stronghold of the taliban.of attacks down there, u.s. advisers being sent down there in the last several weeks to try to help out there. very very tough beginning. >> barbara starr, thank you very much. >>> up next he's the only person to be arrested in the aftermontana of a terror attack in san bernardino. the friend of the shooter who bought the rifles used in the attack is appearing in court. why enrique marquez is a serious flight risk. >>> also disaster on the vegas strip. what we learned about the driver who veered her car on to a crowded sidewalk just feet from the casinos. it was no accident. >>> and we continue to monitor the breaking news out of orlando, florida, where people are still trapped on a seaworld ride well over an hour now. we'll continue to monitor this for you. gracious host, no matter who shows up. do you like nuts? coughing...sniffling... and wishing you could stay in bed all day. when your cold is this bad... ...you need new theraflu expressmax. theraflu expressmax combines... maximum

and in southern afghanistan, government troops freed 60 prisoners from the taliban overnight, supportedu.s. intelligence and surveillance. the operation took place in helmand province. most of those freed were afghan police and army officers. and, back in this country, president obama is now poised to sign a five-year transportation bill worth $305 billion. it won final approval last night in the senate. the first in six years. the bulk of the money-- more than $200 million-- goes toward maintaining aging roads and building new ones, especially in major freight corridors. the bill also funds mass transit systems, plus amtrak and other rail programs. lawmakers opted not to raise the federal gas tax. still to come on the newshour: my conversation with the u.s. ambassador to the united nations; the conclusion of our special series, nigeria's "pain and promise;" mark shields and david brooks on this week's news; and spike lee on his new film, "chi-raq." >> woodruff: the civil war in syria entered a new phase in recent months. millions of refugees have been displaced, as more countries-- lik

in other news the taliban gained control of a key district in southern afghanistan. political uncertainty grips spain as no party emerges a clear winner after that crucial election. after an accounting scandal, toshiba is expected to report a 4.5 billion dollar large. they're likely to cut nearly seven thousand jobs. top stories so far today. f.i.f.a.'s ethics committee has banned blatter and platini. blatter arrived in zurich and is expected to hold a news conference shortly. we will keep those pictures in case. he was suspended in october. f.i.f.a. says his explanation of a payment made to the vice president, mr platini, in 2011 wasn't convincing. both had denied any wrongdoing. let's talk to our correspondent as we monitor those pictures out of zurich. when they decided to say no, enough is enough, they didn't pull their punches on this one. >> reporter: no. frankly, we had been hearing the sort of details of this a few days in advance. the fact that both platini and blatter about a month ago had asked for this process to be suspended while platini runs for the f.

now, the number of people killed in a taliban attack in southern afghanistan has risen to more than 70. a gun battle at kandahar lasted 24 hours. 14 attackers were killed in the siege. hostages also died. the attack coincided with a conference. afghanistan's foreign minister called for a resumption of peace talks. let's go to kabul. are the authorities any closer to understanding how the taliban was able to gain access to a high security site? >> no, they decided to launch an investigation, as the kandahar airfield, the largest in the base, home to 2,000 n.a.t.o. forces is a secure airfield, a number of checkpoints to get in. if you take a commercial flight tighter on the military side. they are looking into how those attackers got in, but with so many weapons, that fighting went on for 24 hours tuesday night into wednesday. among the 70 dead are women and children. because the area where the taliban are fighting is home to families of military officers and retired military officers, and to give you an idea of how close the taliban got, the body guard of the afghan core commander is on

forces have carried two air strikes over southern afghanistan helping locals to push back the taliban. they're trying to keep control of helmand province. the afghan army has been called in after local police were surrounded by fighters. our correspondent live in kabul. has there been any progress made? >> reporter: well, earlier today we spoke to the district chief of sangin and he told us that in the past 24 hours more than 20 afghan security personnel were killed in clashes with taliban in sangin and he said a number of them were wounded. he said that there are civilian casualties but could not confirm at this moment as the fighting was ongoing. we understand that extra reinforcement of afghan army arrived to helmand, especially to sangin and these reinforcement arrived from the neighbouring provinces. also to assess the after began army to tackle-- after began army to afghan army. the deployment of troops to helmand and the troops would only take a part in an advisory role to the afghan army. now, afghan army are in the frontline battling the taliban fighters. we heard that there

security is supposed to be tight, at the largest base in southern afghanistan. >> there were 14 fightersngaged with forces. they killed all of them, four of the attackers blew themselves up the rest were shot dead by the afghan army. as a result, one army soldier was guarded. >> the taliban says these are the attackers and afghan military uniforms. and officials aren't sure that's how they got into the complex, and have launched an investigation. in h september, fighters commanded took control of do you know due city in northern afghanistan, and held it for about two weeks. >> although the leadership has been charged the attacks suggest his fighters are resourceful and coordinated. the assault came as he was at a regional conference, aimed at helping restart peace talks with the taliban. >> but the head of the intelligence has resigned. they say the president shouldn't trust pakistan. he says he was meeting with the pakistanis to talk about peace, the taliban was launching attacks and other areas of afghanistan, where afghan blood was spilled. al jazeera, kabul. >> 21 police in the phili

accounts that in may 2012, members of a navy seal team stationed at an outpost in kalach, in southern afghanistan, abused detainees that had been rounded up as suspects after a bomb exploded at a military checkpoint, killing one member of the afghan local police unit the seals had been training. according to a report by the naval criminal investigative service, which the "times" acquired through a foia request, three navy seals dropped heavy stones on the detainees' chests, stomped on their heads, and poured bottles of water on their faces in a modified form of water-boarding. one of the detainees was beaten so badly that he eventually died from his injuries. amy: but what happened after the incident has many military justice experts questioning whether navy commanders worked to cover up the case. four u.s. soldiers working with the seals at the outpost reported that they witnessed the abuse, but navy commanders chose to deal with the matter in a closed disciplinary process, one usually reserved for minor infractions. the seals were cleared of any wrongdoing. two of the seals implicated in the ab

of course this comes just a couple of days after the taliban launched a huge assault in southern afghanistan people were killed in that assault. >> so you are saying it is quiet now, but the situation is still far from stable as far as you know? >> reporter: that's right, very unsecure, we're being told not to move around the city at all. there are embassies nearby, lots of people work there, offices, and also residences. everyone is communicating on social media, to be worried about secondary explosions. we have had sieges like this before, where gunmen have gotten inside complexes and sometimes it takes hours to get them out a large number of afghan security forces are on the scene at this time. >> all right. jennifer glasse reporting for us from kabul on an explosion and some sort of gunfire or attack near the spanish embassy that the taliban has claimed responsibility for. thank you. >>> now to zimbabwe where the conference of the ruling parties is being held. the disasterous economy is a major talking point. another is a question over who will succeed the ruling president. >> reporter:

the airfield, a major coalition outyou post in southern afghanistan. less than 10,000 u.s.troops remain in that country where we are directing antiterrorism missions and training afghan security forces. >>> let's talk about consumer news now. yahoo is not selling its stake in chinese company yet. it is worth $30 million. instead, yahoo will create a accept is rat company for the ref of the assets including their internet business. there is still a lot of uncertainty about what the future holds for the ceo and her plan to revive the company. >>> two of america's biggest and oldest companies could be joining forces. dow chemical and dupont are in talks to merge. creating the second largest chemical companies in the world. >>> americans are racking up the most credit card debt since the financial crisis. card hub says the average household with debt will ring in the new yeary owing more than $8,000 -- new year owing $8,000. >>> how your pocket change can help this little girl have a merry christmas e. the second security scare at a local college. >> after the break, >>> they a

last night taliban forces took control of a chunk of land in southern afghanistan where fighting continues today. >>> man accused of helping the san bernardino shooters now in court as we told you at the top of the hour. enrique marquez's bail hearing is happening right now. it's expecteto enter a plea on terror charges so what is he going to say? our legal panel willebate how much trouble he's in, coming up. >>> plus, a dam just 20 miles from new york city proving to be vulnerable to some sort of an attack because iranian hackers were already able to infiltrate it. how nervous should we be about this during christmas week? right back. >>> welcome back to "the real story." fox news alert, a new trial date has been set for the baltimore police officer charged in the death of freddie gray. it will take place june 13, 2016. this after jurors deadlocked resulting in a mistrial. he's the first of six police officers tried for gray's death that happened back in april. >>> time to go back in session now. friend and alleged accomplice of the san bernardino shooters in court today. enrique marquez

among them women and children, then afghan commander, who is the most senior commander in southern afghanistanter the press release, announced that only nine were killed, and now we are hearing from hospital sources that the number of killed could be about 70 and women and children are among them. that simply tells you how miscommunication are among afghanistan security officials in this country. and how people are losing their faith in their security forces. >> as far as what has happened just in the past four, five, six hours or so, is it that the people who guard that compound -- because it is a big, well fortified, well guarded compound, is it that they did something strategically tactically wrong, or the taliban are so well organized they were able to absorb what happened yesterday, go away, regroup, and then come back for the fight? >> reporter: well, what happened yesterday was a kind of surprise for many afghans, because afghans were thinking after the strong fighting in the north, the taliban changed their strategy. now taliban is focusing more in the north of the city, and they could

afghanistan. also it's the main base for nato and u.s. forces that are operating in the southern of afghanistan. in this particular compound which is the residential compound, it is inside the airport and getting into there you have to cross at least two or three check points. it raises questions that how come not one or two, at least we believe that 11 or 12 taliban attackers with a.k.47 grenades and suicide vests could manage to enter the compound and to get hold of the location >>> thank you very much. lots of questions, obviously. live for us there. the attack comes as regional leaders are meeting in pakistan's capital for a conference aimed at supporting afghanistan in the fight against armed groups. the opening of the meeting on tuesday, afghanistan's deputy foreign minister said the only way to defeat them is to have a global and united strategy. the two-day gathering will also focus on energy, infrastructure and investment deals for afghanistan. >> this vision of a peaceful stable and prosperous afghanistan which is in the best interests of the region is far from becoming reality unless

of captioners] >> afghan troops have been trying to push the group out of the province in southern afghanistans have been aiding the afghans in that strike. >> a major policy fight erupted between president obama and the democratic candidates who hope to follow him into the white house. >> administration officials confirmed that the department of homeland security is now preparing to carry out a series of raids in january to deport hundreds of migrant families. this will be the first large scale effort to remove people who fled violence in central america last year, and came to the u.s. illegally. all of the democratic candidates are criticizing the administration's decision. a spokesperson for hillary clinton said: bernie sanders called the reports disturbing and said: >> in the republican nomination race, senator ted cruz is facing a barrage of negative ads in iowa. polls showing him leading the gop field so a super pac supporting florida senator marco rubio is now hitting cruz with this: >> our leaders must keep america face but when ted cruz had the chaps to fight anti terror policies, he

rising taliban violence in afghanistan from the north all the way down to heldman province in southern afghanistan>> in the terms of isis there seems to be an operation rose colored glasses going on. we heard hillary clinton over the weekend saying, quote, we are now finally are where we need to be in the fight against isis. president obama too telling npr that the plan's good, the only problem has been that the messaging has been a little off and the media has been overhyping the threat of isis. is the fight on the ground against isis? is it going well? >> well, there is one place that everybody is really taking a look at, a place where there has been disaster in the past but now the u.s. hopes the iraqis will have some success. [ gunfire ] all eyes are now on ramadi. iraqi officials say their troops are launching a major offensive to retake the city center. residents have been warned to leave in advance of expected heavy fighting. 10,000 iraqi troops surround the city and are already fighting in outer neighborhoods, but now they are moving towards the center where officials believe up to 500 isi

iraqis took that city, and now afghan forces are holding out against a taliban assault in southern afghanistanelmand p province. the forces are running out of weapons an supplies despite the plea for more help from the afghan government, and all of this after six americans were killed yesterday in a suicide bomb attack. with me now, pentagon correspondent barbara starr and military analyst retired lieutenant general mark hertling. barbara, i want to get the latest on the circumstances in afghanistan, if i can. i know that they are trying to get us the information about those who were killed. i can show our audience the "new york post" this morning the "new york post" led with nypd cop to be kill and this is the first to be identified, and when we will find out more about the other five killed in afghanistan? >> well, some information may come out in social media and newspapers and their families, but the rule at the pentagon is that they will make a public announ announcement with an official press release 24 hours after the last family member of all six is noti notified. they take this busine

in afghanistan's southern providence fighting intense as taliban claims success in capturing the headquartersvernor office and other government buildings, the governor there says it left afghan soldiers and local citizens begging for food and like the latest suicide attack that killed a half dozen u.s. troops outside of bagram base it's more evidence the taliban is back. kabul has been the focus of what the pentagon calls high profile attacks and counts the deadly motorcycle suicide bombing as the 29th such attack by the taliban in or around the afghan cap till since the beginning of the year 27% increase over the same period last year. at the same time the taliban has shown it can also take key terrain outside of its traditional stronghold as it did back in late september and early october when it briefly held the northern city of konduz. >> it under scores it's a tough fight and far from over and also a dynamic fight. >> reporter: ash carter was in afghanistan last week to meet with top commander who candidly admitted to reporters the afghan security forces are still struggling. >> the u.s.

he reestablished himself as a warlord in southern afghanistan. one who pledges allegiance to the islamic state and let a group of insurgent fighters. earlier this year, u.s. forces have to face up again. thankfully, they killed him, but only of risks to themselves. other dangers, a guantanamo bay detainee who is recently transferred to the united kingdom. this was done without the conference of then chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, martin dempsey. why did you know dempsey disagree with the transfer? i have asked the pentagon and i'm still waiting for an answer. it is no secret that he was a dangerous terrorist before he was captured. he was a noncompliant detainee while i guantanamo bay, it will likely continue to cause trouble is freed. i have traveled to the u.k. recently. british intelligence and law enforcement officials told me that they are stressed to the breaking point, trying to handle british fighters returning from syrian and iraqi battlefields. on top of that, humans burden brought obama has added a thoseess terrorists -- cases

. >> there is fierce figiging in southern afghanistan this morning in a province where thousands of americans once fought the taliban. since sunday, seven americans have been killed in other parts of the country. we now know the identities of two of the victims. margaret brennan is at the pentagon with the dangers americans still face in afghanistan. margaret, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. well, the deaths of these american, six service men and one u.s. aid worker are a stark reminder that the war in afghanistan is still raging, long after president obama's declaration that the u.s. combat mission has ended. >> it was just too hard. >> reporter: it was the call that this family never wanted to get. >> i said let me know what is i'm really sorry ogive you the bad news, your daughter'sshot. >> reporter: they inform him that his daughter li, a 35-year-old, u.s. aid worker, warms shot from behind on sunday by a neighbor that afghan authorities say has ties to terrorists. >> it's not a safe place. this last time my dad, he, everyone was against her going. >> reporter: lisa's sister, sai

question about what ultimate the toll will be from all of this >>> in afghanistan the taliban has taken control of a district in southern helmand. the entire province was on the brink of falling. it is getting stretching the afghanistan forces. >> reporter: in afghanistan's southern helmand province, fighting is intense as taliban has success in claiming the police hours, government office and other buildings. it has left soldiers and citizens begging for food. like the last suicide attack that killed half a dozen troops outside bagram air base, it is just proof that taliban is back. high profile attacks, including the motorcycle bombing as the 29th attack of the taliban since the beginning of the year. a 27% increase over the same period last year. at the same time the taliban has shown it can also take key terrain outside of its traditional strong holds as it did back in late september and early october when it briefly held the northern city. >> the taliban's advances in some parts of the country, even temporary, unare score this is a tough fight which is far from over. it is also a dynamic fight. >> reporter: ash car