. >> and sunlen, several civilians were killed in today's attack. do we know more about those circumstances? >> sources in the region say it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. these three civilians were in a car that was right by that pickup truck that was targeted. it's worth recalling, of course, president obama about this time last year, in may of 2013, reorganized united states drone policy. you know, really addressing this issue of collateral civilian damage. now, he really defended the use of the strategy in counterterrorism efforts by the united states, but he said that it's effective, it's legal, but he added that it's not moral or wise in every instance. fred? >> all right. sunlen, thanks so much at the white house. >>> now to south korea where the death toll has risen to 36 in that horrific ferry disaster. nearly 270 people are still missing. earlier the country coast guard brought bodies to a port to be identified. some parents already have given dna samples to help with this process. the ferry was carrying 475 people

won't comment, as we just heard sunlen say. what's your instinct tell you? >> well, i'm sure it was a joint operation, fredricka, because often they have the intelligence and we have the missiles. so it's as simple as that. the u.s. has been using predator drones firing hellfire missiles more than a decade in yemen, and, again, that's not anything new. just when they get the right intelligence, have the right targets, they go for it's in this case sounds like a vehicle possibly with innocent people just happened to be traveling near the target vehicle at the time of the strike and some innocent people were killed also. >> how important, significant, is this strike, in your view? >> well i don't know. we don't know, we don't have confirmation hour important the individuals were that. in the vehicle. they were claiming to be targeting three higher ups, but we're not certain that that's been verified -- well, it's not been verified yet. we're not certain if they were in the vehicle, and that takes a while sometimes to confirm who actually was in the vehicles th

sunlen is following the story today. do we have any more detail about who was targeted? >> reporter: we still don't know if they were high-value targets. officials say the targets could have been a training camp or militants on the move in vehicles. yemeni government official confirms to muhammad jamjoom they were targeting what this official describes as the core of the strongest al qaeda affiliates. the attack today took place in abyan. not far from saturday's attack. that strike killed at least 15 al qaeda militants and 3 civilians. the strikes often happen in successive days. peter bergen says this is the ninth strike in yemen this year alone. >> president obama has launched incredibly aggressive campaign in yemen. that's because most people agree that the threat from al qaeda and jyemen is the most troublin to the united states right now. >> reporter: back to you. >> all right. thanks so much from washington. >>> the underwater robot looking for flight 370 is now on its eighth mission. ahead, i'll tell you what new obstacle the searchers will be facing the next coup

that's where sunlen serfaty is live tonight. >> reporter: multiple terminals have already been confirmed with a one reportedly as large as a mile wide. chief meteorologist requested everyone take shelter before walking off set himself. >> it was by far the biggest one i have ever seen. >> reporter: the storm packed plans up to 150 mi. per hour. arkansas gov. the mayflower be getting a firsthand look at the devastation. >> need to get the roast clear a spot as much as you possibly can for easier process. >> reporter: as the committee started to dig out the assessment is just beginning and mississippi. the when door-to-door looking for casualties. >> reporter: really is so interesting because this covers a large part of the midwest if for society if lance of flesh and the pass stiff fee is essential severe of the initial 13 it severe thunderstorms. >> reporter: i have to save that is only day one and 24 hours since the portals came through this town but people seem to be coping and rebuilding already. we do know that the mud is on the ground and national guard here to help people rebuild p