>>> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT.

>>> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. HERE'S LESTER HOLT.

NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. HERE'S LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING.

HERE'S LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING. WE'RE COMING ON THE

>> GOOD EVENING. WE'RE COMING ON THE AIR WITH BREAKING NEWS

WE'RE COMING ON THE AIR WITH BREAKING NEWS OF MULTIPLE ATTACKS ON

AIR WITH BREAKING NEWS OF MULTIPLE ATTACKS ON U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ.

OF MULTIPLE ATTACKS ON U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ. IRAN'S STATE NEWS

U.S. FORCES IN IRAQ. IRAN'S STATE NEWS AGENCY SAYING THAT

IRAN'S STATE NEWS AGENCY SAYING THAT IRAN IS BEHIND THE

AGENCY SAYING THAT IRAN IS BEHIND THE ATTACKS.

IRAN IS BEHIND THE ATTACKS. LET'S GET RIGHT TO

ATTACKS. LET'S GET RIGHT TO NBC'S RICHARD ENGEL.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO NBC'S RICHARD ENGEL. HE IS LIVE IN IRAQ.

NBC'S RICHARD ENGEL. HE IS LIVE IN IRAQ. RICHARD, WHAT CAN YOU

HE IS LIVE IN IRAQ. RICHARD, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

RICHARD, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? >> SO THE IRANIAN

TELL US? >> SO THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL MEDIA SAYS

>> SO THE IRANIAN OFFICIAL MEDIA SAYS THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY

OFFICIAL MEDIA SAYS THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IS CLAIMING

THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY.

GUARD IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ALSO ARE PUTTING

RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ALSO ARE PUTTING OUT VIDEO, WHICH THEY

THEY ALSO ARE PUTTING OUT VIDEO, WHICH THEY SAY ARE SOME OF THE

OUT VIDEO, WHICH THEY SAY ARE SOME OF THE ROCKETS THAT WERE

SAY ARE SOME OF THE ROCKETS THAT WERE FIRED, APPARENTLY FROM

ROCKETS THAT WERE FIRED, APPARENTLY FROM IRAN AT A U.S. AIR

FIRED, APPARENTLY FROM IRAN AT A U.S. AIR BASE HERE IN IRAQ.

IRAN AT A U.S. AIR BASE HERE IN IRAQ. THE AL ASSAD AIR BASE.

BASE HERE IN IRAQ. THE AL ASSAD AIR BASE. MILITARY SOURCES SAY

THE AL ASSAD AIR BASE. MILITARY SOURCES SAY THAT THEY TOOK AT

MILITARY SOURCES SAY THAT THEY TOOK AT LEAST SIX ROUNDS OF

THAT THEY TOOK AT LEAST SIX ROUNDS OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS

LEAST SIX ROUNDS OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS ROCKETS INITIALLY THAT

WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS ROCKETS INITIALLY THAT SOLDIERS ON THE BASE

ROCKETS INITIALLY THAT SOLDIERS ON THE BASE TOOK SHELTER IN

SOLDIERS ON THE BASE TOOK SHELTER IN BUNKERS.

TOOK SHELTER IN BUNKERS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE

BUNKERS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO, YOU CAN SEE AT

IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO, YOU CAN SEE AT LEAST THREE PROJECT

VIDEO, YOU CAN SEE AT LEAST THREE PROJECT TILES AND HEAR THE

LEAST THREE PROJECT TILES AND HEAR THE DISTINCTIVE NOISE OF

TILES AND HEAR THE DISTINCTIVE NOISE OF WHAT SOUNDS LIKE JET

DISTINCTIVE NOISE OF WHAT SOUNDS LIKE JET ENGINES.

WHAT SOUNDS LIKE JET ENGINES. THIS WOULD BE A

ENGINES. THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT

THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION.

SIGNIFICANT ESCALATION. U.S. BASES IN THIS

ESCALATION. U.S. BASES IN THIS COUNTRY SOMETIMES COME

U.S. BASES IN THIS COUNTRY SOMETIMES COME UNDER ATTACK FROM

COUNTRY SOMETIMES COME UNDER ATTACK FROM SMALL ROCKETS, BUT NOT

UNDER ATTACK FROM SMALL ROCKETS, BUT NOT LONG-RANGE OR

SMALL ROCKETS, BUT NOT LONG-RANGE OR MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC

LONG-RANGE OR MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES FIRED FROM

MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES FIRED FROM IRAN.

MISSILES FIRED FROM IRAN. THE IRANIAN NEWS

IRAN. THE IRANIAN NEWS AGENCIES ARE ALSO

THE IRANIAN NEWS AGENCIES ARE ALSO SAYING THEY'RE ISSUING

AGENCIES ARE ALSO SAYING THEY'RE ISSUING THREATS, NOT JUST

SAYING THEY'RE ISSUING THREATS, NOT JUST CLAIMING

THREATS, NOT JUST CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING

CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING THERE COULD BE MORE

RESPONSIBILITY, SAYING THERE COULD BE MORE ATTACKS TO COME IF THE

THERE COULD BE MORE ATTACKS TO COME IF THE UNITED STATES RESPONDS

ATTACKS TO COME IF THE UNITED STATES RESPONDS AND THAT AMERICANS

UNITED STATES RESPONDS AND THAT AMERICANS THEY SAY ARE ADVISED

AND THAT AMERICANS THEY SAY ARE ADVISED TO RETURN TO THEIR

THEY SAY ARE ADVISED TO RETURN TO THEIR BASES AND RETURN HOME

TO RETURN TO THEIR BASES AND RETURN HOME FOR THEIR SAFETY.

BASES AND RETURN HOME FOR THEIR SAFETY. SO IRAN DEFINITELY

FOR THEIR SAFETY. SO IRAN DEFINITELY CLAIMING CREDIT AND

SO IRAN DEFINITELY CLAIMING CREDIT AND LINKING THIS

CLAIMING CREDIT AND LINKING THIS EXPLICITLY TO THE

LINKING THIS EXPLICITLY TO THE KILLING OF THE GENERAL

EXPLICITLY TO THE KILLING OF THE GENERAL QASSEM SOLEIMANI,

KILLING OF THE GENERAL QASSEM SOLEIMANI, SAYING THAT THIS IS

QASSEM SOLEIMANI, SAYING THAT THIS IS PART OF IRAN'S

SAYING THAT THIS IS PART OF IRAN'S REVENGE.

PART OF IRAN'S REVENGE. THEY ARE PUTTING OUT

REVENGE. THEY ARE PUTTING OUT HASH TAGS ON SOCIAL

THEY ARE PUTTING OUT HASH TAGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING DECISIVE

HASH TAGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING DECISIVE REVENGE, LESTER.

MEDIA SAYING DECISIVE REVENGE, LESTER. >> AND RICHARD, WHAT

REVENGE, LESTER. >> AND RICHARD, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE

>> AND RICHARD, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN PRESENCE AT

DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN PRESENCE AT THAT BASE, HOW MANY,

AMERICAN PRESENCE AT THAT BASE, HOW MANY, WHAT THE MISSION OF

THAT BASE, HOW MANY, WHAT THE MISSION OF THE TROOPS IS THERE?

WHAT THE MISSION OF THE TROOPS IS THERE? >> IT IS A VERY LARGE

THE TROOPS IS THERE? >> IT IS A VERY LARGE BASE, AND ACTUALLY,

>> IT IS A VERY LARGE BASE, AND ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW WE CAN HEAR

BASE, AND ACTUALLY, RIGHT NOW WE CAN HEAR SOME HELICOPTERS ABOVE

RIGHT NOW WE CAN HEAR SOME HELICOPTERS ABOVE US RIGHT NOW.

SOME HELICOPTERS ABOVE US RIGHT NOW. THERE WERE SOME

US RIGHT NOW. THERE WERE SOME EXPLOSIONS THAT WE

THERE WERE SOME EXPLOSIONS THAT WE HEARD HERE IN ERBIL

EXPLOSIONS THAT WE HEARD HERE IN ERBIL WHERE I AM IN NORTHERN

HEARD HERE IN ERBIL WHERE I AM IN NORTHERN IRAQ.

WHERE I AM IN NORTHERN IRAQ. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO

IRAQ. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT

WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAS.

FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAS. SO FAR NO WORD OF

WAS. SO FAR NO WORD OF CASUALTIES AT THE

SO FAR NO WORD OF CASUALTIES AT THE ASSAD AIR BASE, BUT I

CASUALTIES AT THE ASSAD AIR BASE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT A

ASSAD AIR BASE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF MILITARY

CAN TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF MILITARY SOURCES THAT I'M

LOT OF MILITARY SOURCES THAT I'M SPEAKING TO ARE VERY

SOURCES THAT I'M SPEAKING TO ARE VERY BUSY RIGHT NOW.

SPEAKING TO ARE VERY BUSY RIGHT NOW. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO

BUSY RIGHT NOW. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ANSWERING THEIR

THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE ANSWERING THEIR PHONES.

BE ANSWERING THEIR PHONES. THEY'RE CLEARLY

PHONES. THEY'RE CLEARLY WORKING THIS STORY.

THEY'RE CLEARLY WORKING THIS STORY. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS

WORKING THIS STORY. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN INFORMED AND IS

THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN INFORMED AND IS MEETING WITH NATIONAL

BEEN INFORMED AND IS MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS.

MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS. NOT SURE IF THIS IS

SECURITY ADVISERS. NOT SURE IF THIS IS OVER, IF THIS WAS AN

NOT SURE IF THIS IS OVER, IF THIS WAS AN INITIAL ASSAULT, IF

OVER, IF THIS WAS AN INITIAL ASSAULT, IF THIS WAS IRAN TESTING

INITIAL ASSAULT, IF THIS WAS IRAN TESTING THE WATER, BUT IT'S

THIS WAS IRAN TESTING THE WATER, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF

THE WATER, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION

CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ATTENTION HERE WITH A ROCKET

PEOPLE'S ATTENTION HERE WITH A ROCKET ATTACK THAT IRAN IS

HERE WITH A ROCKET ATTACK THAT IRAN IS CLAIMING FROM THE

ATTACK THAT IRAN IS CLAIMING FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD

CLAIMING FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD SAYING THAT IT IS PART

REVOLUTIONARY GUARD SAYING THAT IT IS PART OF REVENGE FOR THE

SAYING THAT IT IS PART OF REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF THE

OF REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF THE COMMANDER OF IRANIAN

KILLING OF THE COMMANDER OF IRANIAN BLACK OPS, QASSEM

COMMANDER OF IRANIAN BLACK OPS, QASSEM SOLEIMANI.

BLACK OPS, QASSEM SOLEIMANI. >> ANY WORD ON ANY

SOLEIMANI. >> ANY WORD ON ANY CASUALTIES?

>> ANY WORD ON ANY CASUALTIES? >> SO FAR WE HAVE NOT

CASUALTIES? >> SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY WORD OF

>> SO FAR WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY WORD OF CASUALTIES, ONLY THAT

HEARD ANY WORD OF CASUALTIES, ONLY THAT TROOPS WERE TAKING

CASUALTIES, ONLY THAT TROOPS WERE TAKING SHELTER IN THIS BASE.

TROOPS WERE TAKING SHELTER IN THIS BASE. IT IS A VERY LARGE

SHELTER IN THIS BASE. IT IS A VERY LARGE BASE.

IT IS A VERY LARGE BASE. IT IS QUITE FAR, ABOUT

BASE. IT IS QUITE FAR, ABOUT 200 MILES FROM THE

IT IS QUITE FAR, ABOUT 200 MILES FROM THE IRANIAN BORDER.

200 MILES FROM THE IRANIAN BORDER. THESE BASES ARE FULL

IRANIAN BORDER. THESE BASES ARE FULL OF PLACES WHERE TROOPS

THESE BASES ARE FULL OF PLACES WHERE TROOPS CAN TAKE COVER.

OF PLACES WHERE TROOPS CAN TAKE COVER. SO IT WOULD BE VERY

CAN TAKE COVER. SO IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE

SO IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THESE KIND OF MISSILES,

DIFFICULT FOR THESE KIND OF MISSILES, WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANY

KIND OF MISSILES, WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT

WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT GUIDANCE SYSTEMS AS

KIND OF SIGNIFICANT GUIDANCE SYSTEMS AS FAR AS WE KNOW TO HIT

GUIDANCE SYSTEMS AS FAR AS WE KNOW TO HIT ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT

FAR AS WE KNOW TO HIT ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT AS FAR AS WE NO, NO.

ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT AS FAR AS WE NO, NO. NO CASUALTIES AND