Top U.S. counterterrorism official resigns as Iran security leader killed in strike

RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS". >>>> Reporter: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH TOM LLAMAS. "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH TOM LLAMAS. >>> GOOD EVENING, I'M. WITH TOM LLAMAS. >>> GOOD EVENING, I'M KRISTEN WELKER IN FOR. KRISTEN WELKER IN FOR TOM TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH THE. TOM TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH THE GROWING G FALLOUT FROM. WE BEGIN WITH THE GROWING FALLOUOUT FROM THE WAR WITH IRAN. GROWING FALLOUT FROM THE WAR WITH IRAN. A TOP P U.S. THE WAR WITH IRAN. A TOP U.S. COUNTERTRTERRORISM. A TOP U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICICIAL ANNOUNCES. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCES HE'S QUITTING IN PROTEST. HE'S QUITTING IN PROTEST. JOE KENT WRITING IN. PROTEST. JOE KENT WRITING IN N HIS RESIGNATION LETTER. JOE KENT WRITING IN HIS RESIGNATION LETTERER HE CANNOT IN GOOD. HIS RESIGNATION LETTER HE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSNSCIENCE BACK THE. HE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE BACACK THE PRESIDENT'S WAR WITH. CONSCIENCE BACACK THE PRESIDENT'S WAR WITH IRAN, SAYING THERE WAS. IRAN, SAYING THERE WAS NEVER AN IMMINENENT THREAT FROM THE. NEVER AN I IMMINENT THREAT FROM THE COUNTRY. THREAT FROM THE COUNTRY. THAT BOMBSHELL SETTING. COUNTRY. THAT BOMBSHELL SETTING OFF AN. OFF AN INTERNAL WHITE HOUSE BATTLE WITH THE.

BATTLE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS ALLIES ATTACKING KENT. ALLIES ATTACKING KENT. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO LASHING OUT. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO LASHING OUT AGAINST NATO ALLIES. ALSO LASHING OUT AGAINST NATO ALLIES FOR SO FAR REFUSING TO. AGAINST NATO ALLIES FOR SO FAR REFUSING TO HELP OPEN UP. FOR SO FAR REFUSING TO HELP OPEN UP THE STRAIT O OF HORMUZ. THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. HE NOW SAYS THE U.S. CAN DO IT ALONE. HE NOW SAYS THE U.S. CAN DO IT ALONE. OTHER MAJOR. CAN DO IT ALONE. OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENENTS IN THE. OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WAR TONIGHT. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WAWAR TONIGHT. ISRAEL KILLING IRAN'S. A. ISRAEL KILLING IRAN'S SESECURITY CHIEF IN A NEW STRIKE, AND. SECURITY CHIEF IN A NEW STRIKE, AND WE'RE TRACKING MAJOR. NEW STRIKE, AND WE'RE TRACKING MAJOR ATTEMPTS TO. ATTEMPTS TO ATTACK THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, ATTACK THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BAGHDHDAD, THIS SHOWING THE AIR. EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, THIS SHOWING THE AIR DEFENSES TAKING OUT A. THIS SHOWING THE AIR DEFENSES TAKING OUT A SUSPECTED IRANIAN.

SUSPECTED IRANIAN DRONE. WE'RE COVERING IT ALL, DRONE. WE'RE COVERING IT ALL, BEGINNING WITH SENIOR. BEGINNING WITH SENIOR WHITE HOUSE COCORRESPONDENT GABE. CORRESPONDENT GABE GUTIERREZ. >> Reporteter: TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SLAMMING HIS FORORMER. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SLAMMING HIS FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE. SLAMMING HIS FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL. DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM. NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER AFTER JOE KENT. COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER AFTER J JOE KENT RESIGNED IN PROTEST. H. OVER THE WAR WITH IRAN. >> I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE. IRAN. >> I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS A NICE GUY BUT. WAS A NICE GUY BUT ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS WEAK O ON SECURITY. ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS WEAK ON SECURITYTY. VERY WEAK ON SECURITY. WEAK ON SECURITY. VERY WEAK ON SECURITY. >> Reporter: KENT. VERY WEAK ON SECURITY. >> Repororter: KENT POSTING. >> Reporter: KENT POSTING IRAN POSED NO IMMINENT. POSTING IRAN POSED NO IMMINENT THREAT TO OUR NATION, IRAN POSED NO IMMINENT THREAT TO OUR R NATION, AND IT'S CLEAR WE. R. AND IT'S CLEAR WE STARARTED THE WAR BECAUSE OF PRESSURE. STARTED THE WAR BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM ISRAEL AND ITS.

BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM ISRAEL AND ITS POWERFUL AMERICAN. FROM ISRAEL AND ITS POWERFUL AMERICAN LOBBY. POWERFUL AMERICACAN LOBBY. RETIRED GREEN BERET, LOBBY. RETIRED GREEN BERET, CIA OFFICER AND A. RETIRED GREEN BERET, CIA OFFICER AND A LONGTIME TRUMP. LONGTIME TRUMP SUPPORTER. >> WHEN I READ THE. SUPPORTER. >> WHEN I READ THE STATEMENT, I THOUGHT. STATEMENT, I THOUGHT IT'S GOOD HE WAS OUT. HEHE SAID IRAN WAS NOT A. HE SAID IRAN WAS NOT A THREAT. IRAN WASAS A THREAT. IRAN WAS A THREAT. EVERY COUNTRY REALIZED WHAT A THREAT T IRAN. WHAT A THREAT IRAN WAS. >> Reporter: THE. WAS. >> Reporter: THE STATATEMENT ALSO DRAWING. STATEMENT ALSO DRAWING REBUKES FOR ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITITIC. REBUKES FOR ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC OVERTONES. ANTI-SEMITIC OVERTOTONES. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN DON BACON BLASTING KENT, POSTING GOOD. KENT, POSTING GOOD RIDDANCE, ANTI-S-SEMITISM IS AN. RIDDANCE, , ANTI-SEMITISM IS AN EVIL I DETEST. ANTI-SEMITISM IS AN N EVIL I DETEST. WE SURELY DON'T WANT. WE SURELY DON'T WANT IT IN OUR GOVERNMENT. BUT FORMER GOP.

BUT FORMER GOP CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE CALLING. TAYLOR GREENE CALLING KENT A GREAT AMERICAN HERO. KENT A GREAT AMERICAN HERO. TODAY THE PRESIDENT. HERO. TODAY THE PRESIDENT ALSO LASHING OUT AT. TODAY THE PRESIDENT ALSO LASHING OUT AT EUROPEAN ALLIES. EUROPEAN ALLIES. >> WE HELPED WITH UKRAINE AND THEY DON'T. >> WE HELPED WITH UKRAINE AND THEYEY DON'T HELP WITH IRAN. UKRAINE AND THEY DON'T HELP WITH IRAN. >> Reporter: WHO ARE. HELP WITH IRAN. >> Reporter: WHO ARE DECLINING TO HELP. >> Reporter: WHO ARE DECLINING TO HELP DEFEND THE CRUCIAL. DECLINING TO HELP DEFEND THEHE CRUCIAL STRAIT OF HORMUZ FROM. STRAIT OF HORMUZ FROM IRANIAN ATTACKS ON OIL TANKERS. IRANIAN ATTACKS ON OIL T TANKERS. >> WE DON'T NEED TOO. >> WE DON'T NEED TOO MUCH HELP, NO HELPLP ACTUALLY. ACTUALLY. WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULDLD HAVE SAID. WOULD HAVE THOUGHTHT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID WE'D LOVE TO SEND MINE. THEY WOULD HAVE SAID WE'D LOVE TOTO SEND MINE SWEEPERS, NOT A BIG.

WE'D LOVE TO SEND MINE SWEEPERS, NOT A BIG DEAL, DOESESN'T COST. SWEEPERS, NOT A BIG DEAL, , DOESN'T COST MUCH MONEY, BUT THEY. MUCH MONEY, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT. >> Reporteter: PRESIDENT. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO CONFIRMING HIS MEETING WIWITH. TRUMP ALSO CONFIRMING HIS MEETING WITH CHINESE. HIS MEETING WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING. PRESIDENT XI JINPING WILL BE DELAYEYED. IS IRAN A BIGGER. WILL BE DELAYED. IS IRAN A BIGGGGER FOREIGN POLICY. FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITY THAN CHINA NOW? PRIORITY THAN N CHINA NOW? >> IRAN IS A MILITARY. NOW? >> IRAN IS A MILITARY OPERATION TO ME. >> IRAN IS A MILITARY OPERATION TO ME. IRAN I IS SOMETHING THAT. OPERATION TO ME. IRAN IS SOMETHING THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY, IRAN IS SOMETHING THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY, LARGELY. WAS ESSENTIALLY, LARGELY OVER IN TWO OR THREE. OVER IN TWO OR THREE DAYSYS. THERE'S NOTHING THEY. THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW.. EVERYTHING IS KNOCKED. EVERYTHING IS KNOCKED OUT. >>>> GABE JOINS US FROM. >> GABE JOINS US FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. THERE E ARE NEW SIGNS OF. THE WHITE HOUSE. THERE ARARE NEW SIGNS OF THE IMPACT OF ALL OF. THERE ARE NEW SIGNS OF THE IMPACT O OF ALL OF THIS ON TRAVELERS AND.

THE IMPACT O OF ALL OF THIS ON TRAVELERS AND PEOPLE'S BOTTOM LINES. THIS ON TRAVELERS AND PEOPOPLE'S BOTTOM LINES. >> Reporter: YES, >> Reporter: YES, DELTA AIRLINES CEO SAID AIRFARES HAVE. DELTA AIRLINES CEO SAID AIRFARES HAVE ALREREADY GONE UP. SAID AIRFARES HAVE ALREADY GONE UP THE LAST TWO WEEKS. ALREADY GONE UP THE LAST TWOWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE RISING. BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF JET T FUEL. KRISTEN. COST OF JET FUEL. KRISTEN. >> THANK YOU, GABE. KRISTEN. >> THANK YOU, GABE. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, GABE. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> NOW TO THE. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> NOW TO THE STRIKES. >>> NOW TO THE STRIKES KILLING IRANIAN TOP. STRIKES KILLING IRANIAN TOP OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE. OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR BRUTAL CRACKDOWNS ON IRANIAN PROTESTERS, FOR BRUTAL CRACKDOWNS ON IRANIAN P PROTESTERS, AS IRAN IS LAUNCHING. TS. NEW ATTACKS ON ITS NEIGHBORS. RICHARD ENGEL. NEIGHBORS. RICHARD ENGEGEL. >> Reporter: HE WAS.

RICHARD D ENGEL. >> Reporter: HE WAS LAST SEEN IN PUBLIC ON. >> Reporter: HE WAS LAST SEEN IN PUBLIC ON FRIDAY DURING A. LAST SEEN IN PUBLIC ON FRIDAY DURING A GOVERNMEMENT RALLY IN. GOVERNMENT RALLY IN TEHRAN, PROOF TO IRANIANS THEIR. TEHRAN, PROOF TO IRANIAIANS THEIR GOVERNMENT WAS STILL. D. GOVERNMENT WAS STILL FUNCNCTIONING AND UNAFRAID. FUNCTIONING AND UNAFRAID. TODAY, ISRAEL KILLED. UNAFRAID. TODAY, ISRSRAEL KILLED HIM. TODAY, ISRAEL KILLED HIM. PRIME MINISTER. HIM. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU ANNOUNCING. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU ANNOUNCING IT, SAYING WE'RE. NETANYAHU ANNOUNCING IT, SAYING WE'RE UNDEDERMINING THE REGIME. UNDERMINING THE REGIME WITH THE HOPE OF GIVING THE IRANIAN. WITH THE HOPE OF GIVING THE IRANIAN PEOPLE A CHANCE TO. GIVIVING THE IRANIAN PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REMOVE IT. PEOPLE A CHANCE TO REMOVE IT. HE WAS A HARDLINER. REMOVE IT. HE WAS A HARDLINER WITH A $10 MILLION. HE WAS A HARDLINER WITH A $10 MILLION U.S. BOUOUNTY ON HIS. WITH A $10 MILLION U.S. BOUNTNTY ON HIS HEAD. U.S. BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD.. HE WAS CLOSE TO THE. HEAD. HE WAS CLOSE TO THE SUPREME LEADER AND.

HE WAS CLOSE TO THE SUPREME LEADER AND OVERSASAW MUCH OF. SUPREME LEADER AND OVERSAW MUCH OF F JANUARY'S CRACKDOWN. OVERSAW MUCH OF JANUARY'S CRACKDOWN WHEN STATE ENFORCERS. JANUARY'S CRACKDOWN WHEN STATE ENFORCERS KNOWN AS THE BESIEGED. WHEN STATE ENFORCERS KNOWN AS THE BESIEGED KILLED THOUSANDS OF. KNOWN N AS THE BESIEGED KILLED THOUSANDS OF IRANIAN PROTESTERS. KILLED THOUSANDS OF IRANIAN PROTESTERS. THE TOP BESIEGE. IRANIAN PROTESTERS. THE TOTOP BESIEGE COMMANDER WAS ALSO. . COMMANDER WAS ALSO ASSASSINATED. >> IT'S AN EVIL GROUP, ASSASSINATED. >> IT'S AN EVIL GROUP, KILLED MUCH MORE THAN. >> IT'S AN EVIL GROUP, KILLED MUCH MORE THAN 32,000 PEOPLE, AND THE. KILLED MUCH MORE THAN 32,000 PEOPLE, AND THE MAN WHO WAS. 32,000 PEOPLE, AND THE MAN WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. MAN WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT WAS ALSO KILLED. WAS ALSO KILLED YESTERDAY. >> Reporter: BUT IRAN. YESTERDAY. >> Reporter: BUT IRAN IS STILL FIGHTING. >> Reporter: BUT IRAN IS STILL FIGHTING G BACK, BACK, INCLUDING FIRING CLUSTER BOMBS AT. INCLUDING FIRING CLUSTER BOBOMBS AT ISRAEL. CLUSTER BOMBS AT ISRAEL. THIS TRAIN STATION WAS.

ISRAEL. THIS TRAIN STATION WAS HIT BY A CLUSTER BOMB. THIS TRAIN STATION WAS HIT BY A CLUSTER BOMB. YOU CAN SEE. HIT BY A CLUSTER BOMB. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE E BOMBLET. WHERE THE BOMBLET PENETRATED THE ROOF, CAUSED A LOT OF. PENETRATED THE ROOF, CAUSUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. DOWN ON THE STAIRCASE. DAMAGE. DOWN ON THE STAIRCASE. CLCLUSTER BOMBS ARE NOT. CLUSTER BOMBS ARE NOT VERY LARGE. DIDNDN'T DESTROY THE. VERY LARGE. DIDN'T D DESTROY THE STATION OR CAUSE. DIDN'T DESTROY T THE STATION OR CAUSE CASUALTIES. STATION N OR CAUSE CASUALTIES. BUT IT HAS A. CASUALTITIES. BUT IT HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT. BUT IT HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT BECAUSE THEY'RE VERYRY HARD TO STOP. BEBECAUSE THEY'RE VERY HARD TO STOP. FOR A MOMENT AS THE. FOR A MOMENT AS THE WEAPONS ARE DROPPING IT FEELS LIKE THE SKY. WEAPONS ARE DROPPING IT FEELS LIKE THE SKY IS RAINING HAND. IT FEELS LIKE THE SKY IS RAINING HAND GRENADES. IS RAINING HAND GRENADES. MORE IRANIAN BOMBS. GRENADES. MORE IRANIAN BOMBS RAINED DOWN ON. MORE IRANIAN BOMBS RAINED DOWN ON BAGHDAD, THE U.S. RAINED DOWN ON BAGHDAD, THE U.S. EMBASSY COMPOUND T TOOK.

BAGHDAD, THE U.S. EMBASSY COMPOUND T TOOK A HIT, NO SERIOUS. EMBASSY COMPOUND TOOK A HIT, NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DAMAMAGE. A HIT, NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DAMAGE. >> RICHARD IS LIVE IN. INJURIES OR DAMAGE. >> RICHARD IS LIVE IN TEL AVIVIV. >> RICHARD IS LIVE IN TEL AVIV. IRAN'S ATTACKS ARE. TEL AVIV. IRAN'S ATTACKS ARE SPARKING A NEWEW ALERT. IRAN'S ATTACKS ARE SPARKING A NEW ALELERT FROM THE STATE. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? DEPARTMENT. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> Reporter: ACCORDING. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO A CABABLE REVIEWED BY. TO A CABLE REVIEWED BY NBC NEWS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HASAS ORDERED. NBC NEWS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ORDERERED ALL EMBASSY AND. DEPARTMENT HAS ORDERED ALL EMBASSY AND CONSULAR FACILITIES. ALL EMBASSY AND CONSULAR FACACILITIES AROUND THE WORLD TO. AROUND THE WORLD TO IMMEDIATELY REVIEW THEIR SECUCURITY BECAUSE. IMMEDIATELY REVIEW THEIR SECURITY BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SPILLOVER. OF POSSIBLE SPILLOVER EFFECTS FROM THIS WAR. LET'S SHARE VIDEO WE.

EFFECTS FROM THIS WAR. LET'S SHARE VIDEO WE CAPTURED MOMENTS AGO, LET'S SHARE VIDEO WE CAPTURED MOMENTS AGO, IT SHOWS. IT SHOWS A CLUSTER BOMB EXPLODING OVER TEL. A CLUSTER BOMB EXPLODING OVER TEL AVIVIV. EXPLODING OVER TEL AVIV. THE TINY LITTLE DOTS, AVIV. THE TINY LITTLE DOTS, DOZENS OF THEM IN THE. THE TINY LITTLE DOTS, DOZENS OF THEM IN THE SKY, EACH IS ONE OF. DOZENS OF THEM IN THE SKY, EACH IS ONE OF THOSE SMALL BOMBLETS I. SKY, EACH IS ONE OF THOSE SMALL BOMBLETS I WAS TALKLKING ABOUT THAT. THOSE SMALL BOMBLETS I WAS TATALKING ABOUT THAT HIT THE STATION.