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Israel Says, Iran's Intelligence Chief Killed in Strike on Tehran; Trump Lashes Out At European Allies for Rejecting Calls for Help; TSA Staffing Shortages Contribute to Delays at Airports. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired March 18, 2026 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Israel now says it killed another top Iranian official overnight. The U.S. is dropping 5,000-pound bombs now on Iranian missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz. We've got the latest.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight TSA line still enormous, at least an hour-long wait at the busiest airports in the world since 4:00 this morning, some airports considering shutting down with fewer TSA agents showing up each day, no end in sight.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. You can swim but you can't hide. A suspect on the run, or on the swim, caught after a high speed paddle.

I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan and Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: All right. Let's get to the breaking news this morning. The U.S. military has unleashed one of the most powerful non-nuclear weapons in its arsenal, and they've done it on Iran, 5,000-pound guided bunker buster bombs that can penetrate deep underground. The target, Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway, an oil shipping channel that has been effectively shut down since the war began, and, of course, after Iran began attacking ships.

And overnight these lights we're going to show you in the skies over Tel Aviv. You see that right there? They appear to be cluster munitions fired by Iran. Multiple locations were hit with falling debris. According to emergency services, at least two people were killed by missile shrapnel in Central Israel. There's also video showing a vehicle on fire on a residential street covered in debris.

Iran is retaliating after two of its top officials were killed in Israeli strikes, and the breaking news this morning is Israel says it has targeted and killed another top Iranian official, this time Iran's intelligence chief.

A fire burned outside the grounds of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad after it was targeted for a second night in a row, and the State Department has now ordered all U.S. diplomatic posts to immediately review their security amid this spillover effect of the war as they're describing it. That's according to a diplomatic cable sent worldwide and seen by CNN.

Let's get to it this morning. Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem for us. Oren, can you give us the latest, what you're hearing about this breaking news of Israel saying it targeted and killed the Iranian intelligence chief?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Kate, Israel said just moments ago that it had taken out another top leader of the Iranian regime. This time, Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib. And this comes effectively 24 hours after Israel assassinated Ali Larijani, the top security official in the country and viewed as the de facto leader who was making many of the security and political decisions ever since the assassination of the opening strikes of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

What's clear at this point is Israel continues to view anyone who holds a leadership position in Iran as a legitimate target, and they have said they'll continue to go after those targets here as we get near the three-week mark of this war.

Israel also saying, and this is specifically Defense Minister Israel Katz, that they will streamline the process of targeting Iranian officials. In a statement during a situational assessment in which they announced the killing of the intelligence, Minister Katz said, I have authorized the Israel Defense Forces to neutralize any senior Iranian official once an operational and intelligence opportunity arises without the need for additional approval.

So, Israel is accelerating here its attempt to go after Iran's leadership. Katz said there are surprises ahead for Iran. Well, we've already seen one of those, and that comes from the United States, a 5,000-pound GPS-guided bunker buster that was targeted at shipping missiles and hardened missiles in a bunker near the Strait of Hormuz, that critical waterway on your screen right there.

The problem here is that no matter how successful that strike was, Iran has still effectively closed it, not with the use of force, Kate, but with the threat of force. And that has been enough to effectively close one of the world's most critical waterways.

BOLDUAN: Also, I mean, obviously Iran has vowed and has continued to retaliate. And now this comes as the United States is telling embassies essentially worldwide to review their security operations.

[07:05:00]

LIEBERMANN: This has been one of the concerns pretty much since the very beginning here, where this is part of Iran's asymmetric strategy. It doesn't need to fight Israel or the U.S. toe to toe when it comes to war. It can lash out, it can attack through its proxies and it can threaten U.S. facilities and Israeli facilities, for that matter, worldwide.

We have already seen that when it comes to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, another set of projectiles targeting the compound there. Unclear, I believe, if it's Iran itself or Iran-backed proxies in Iraq, which have obviously worked hand in hand with the Iranian regime. But we have now seen several days of projectiles, some getting through there, that have struck the embassy compound in Baghdad. And, Kate, that could spread.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Oren, thank you so much for bringing us this breaking news this morning. I appreciate it. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Thank you, Kate.

Today, President Trump, it's expected to attend a dignified transfer as the bodies of U.S. service members return home. They were killed when their refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. It came, as the president says, the U.S. should reconsider its NATO membership and slammed allies for refusing to take part in the war.

CNN's Kevin Liptak joining us now. Is there any sign that the president will actually pull out of NATO?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Listen, I think anytime the president questions the U.S. commitment to NATO, it causes European leaders to sit up and take notice. He did say yesterday he didn't have anything specific in mind when he was asked whether he was rethinking the U.S. commitment to NATO, but he did suggest perhaps reconsidering the trillions of dollars spent on European security. He said he would not need Congress to go about that.

You know, I think it's pretty clear that the president is extraordinarily frustrated with these European nations, rebuffed his demands to send wars to the Strait of Hormuz. Lindsey Graham, clearly very close to the president, said that it was the angriest he had ever seen him, the president saying that this was essentially a loyalty test that these European nations had failed.

Listen to what he said on that front.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, we don't need too much help and we don't need any help, actually.

I think NATO's making a very foolish mistake. And I've long said that, you know, I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So, this was a great test because we don't need them, but they should have been there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Now, it appears reminding NATO is a defensive alliance. It provides for the collective defense of a member if it is attacked. The only time that clause was invoked was after 9/11 by the United States. Many of these European leaders questioned why they would come to the defense of the United States when, in this particular war, it was the U.S. and Israel that attacked Iran?

Now, ultimately, this was a relatively short-lived attempt at nation building by the president. He really didn't make any attempt to get buy-in from allies before the war began. Many of these countries wondered why they would get mired in a conflict that they neither began nor were consulted on beforehand. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes. Kevin Liptak, thank you so much, live for us from the White House this morning. John?

BERMAN: All right. These are live pictures of the security lines this morning at the airport in Atlanta. We are told they're just under an hour-long. That's already the new impacts from the partial government shutdown.

A new high this year for gas prices, we've seen a huge jump overnight. Now $3.84 a gallon, they've gone up every day since the war on Iran began.

And then we have disturbing video this morning, a crossing guard assaulted while assisting children outside of school.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

BERMAN: This morning, security lines at some of the nation's busiest airports, Atlanta, Orlando, JFK, they're already nearing an hour long. This is the growing impact of the partial government shutdown with TSA employees working without pay. Some have quit, some calling in sick.

The Department of Homeland Security says more than 50 percent of TSA workers in Houston called in sick this week, and more than 30 percent were reported absent in New Orleans and Atlanta.

Let's get right to CNN's Ryan Young, who has been spending a lot of time at the airport in Atlanta, the world's happiest place, I'm sure, Ryan.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A lot of time. I love this place though. Yes. Well, you know, it's a mix here, John. And, look, I got a lot of calls from friends asking, what about pre-check, because they've seen the other lines. The line behind me, John, that's the line for clear and pre-check. Look at how long it snakes around. People have never seen this line on this side. And it goes all the way down this way to wrap back around the carousels from luggage to come back to go another direction here.

So, we're going to walk you this way to show you the impact here right now. It's not the worst times we've seen because it's about an hour so far, but this is that pre-check line. A lot of people thought they could skip the big line on the other side here.

And as we kind of snake through here, John, we'll be able to show you what the regular line looks like. The regular line is just over here and it is just as bad. It is longer than yesterday.

Good morning. How are you doing? Thank you so much.

So, you see how this line right here snakes back this direction. Many people have been missing their flights already today. Sort of the same exasperation, upset, worried, not sure how long they're going to have to stand in this line.

You understand at this point why the traveling public is asking those questions, and we know yesterday there's a 36 percent call out here at this airport.

[07:15:00]

Not sure what the impact will be here today. It could be worse. But then on top of all that, we do know that some of these TSA workers have been getting food services as well.

So, when you mix all that together, John, it's a lot of exasperation and at this point, a reporter who's almost tired of walking these lines on a day-to-day basis. But you understand people are watching to whether or not they can figure out if they can make it to their flights.

BERMAN: Yes. I mean, Sara's been very worried about you because you know you're breathing, but you're getting your steps in. You are definitely getting your steps in.

YOUNG: It was all the walking. Yes, yes.

BERMAN: (INAUDIBLE) an airport there. It is interesting though that --

YOUNG: Oh, we're 15,000 yesterday.

BERMAN: The pre-check lines just as bad. The pre-checks lines are bad. There's really no way to get around it is what you're saying.

YOUNG: Well, yes, and that's the thing. People are asking that question because sometimes when you look up at the board, it says 63 minutes. The reality here is sometimes that 63 minutes is when you get to that front part of the line and then it takes another hour. So, the reality is about a two hour wait sometimes when you see some of these times posted and there's really no expectation for how long it's going to take based upon the surge. But you think if you arrive here with TSA pre-check, you're going to breeze through.

I will say yesterday when it was bananas here, people were getting through very quickly, but right now, this is a mess in terms of how many people are here right now and how long they're standing in line.

BERMAN: Ryan Young, you got a day ahead of you. Stay safe, my friend. I appreciate it. Kate?

BOLDUAN: I love Ryan Young. I love you J.B.

Let's talk about this coming up. A candidate running for governor in Florida is taking on OnlyFans as part of his campaign. What he hopes the so-called syntax will do and the backlash that he is now facing because of it.

And a big upset in the World Baseball Classic final. We'll bring that to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, it's a first time win for Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic, and quite a night and win it was.

Coy wire, there he is. What happened, Coy? Tell me everything.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It was awesome scenes there. You can see Team USA, they made the ultimate salute, Kate, by arriving in 36 authentic game-worn USA hockey Winter Olympics jerseys.

Now, Venezuela, they got on the board first. They were up 1-0 and Wilyer Abreu kept the party rocking in the fifth. Berman's Boston Red Sox, two-time Gold Glove winner, hitting the solo home run. Americans gave up 12 homers all tournaments, second most all-time.

Team USA's Bryce Harper made it interesting in the eighth. A two-run homer tying the game. He went 2-4, but all other U.S. hitters went 1- 26.

It all came down to the ninth, tied a two, and Eugenio Suarez smacks an RBI double the left center. Venezuela, let's taking the 3-2 lead.

And then the bottom of the ninth, Daniel Palencia on the mound and Red Sox Rookie Roman Anthony caught with a 100-mile-per-hour hitter. The celebration is on for Venezuela. He becomes the first ever South American country to win the World Baseball Classic Title, 3-2.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EUGENIO SUAREZ, DROVE IN WINNING RUN FOR CHAMPIONS VENEZUELA: We are together the whole time. We're not just teammate, we are all family. This team is awesome. We are family here. That's why we play with passion. We love because we feel that the jersey, we feel our country in front of us. That's why this is allowed for us as players, as a people, as a human beings, and as a Venezuelan. Now we are the champions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Venezuela seemed like the hottest team all tournament long.

All right, let's go to the NHL in our play of the day. Columbus' Charlie Coyle with one defender trailing him, another dude barreling towards him, he jumps to avoid contact, pulling off a one-handed assist to Matthieu Olivier. This dude is 6'3", 220 pounds. Blue Jackryd is smashed the Hurricanes 5-1 now with points in ten straight, exactly one month to puck drop of the playoffs, all 16 spots still up for grabs.

March Madness started with a bang. Texas and N.C. State in a first four matchup game tied with less than 10 to go. Tramon mark on the mark, a last second game winner. Longhorns Advanced 68-66. They have BYU next.

Howard up three over at UMBC with seconds to go and they would hold on, 86-83. They hadn't made it to March Madness nearly 30 years until Coach Kenneth Blakeney took over. They've since had three appearances and the Bison now finally get their first ever men's tournament win. They will face one seed Michigan next, Kate. Everyone looks for a Cinderella in this tournament. The Bison are saying, why not us? Those brackets are doing about 24 hours, girl. So you better get your picks ready.

BOLDUAN: On it, boss. Didn't I -- don't I beat you like and wipe the floor with you like every year?

SIDNER: Wow.

WIRE: I'm sorry, I think my audio cut out. Something happened.

BOLDUAN: And that's even what I do with the auto select. Just kidding. I love you, Coy.

I don't know what I feel. I come from a family of very, very, very big Michigan fans, but I do love a Cinderella story. What's a girl to do?

SIDNER: We will find out and you'll probably beat Coy in this. I'm just saying.

BOLDUAN: I mean, no matter what, that's obviously --

SIDNER: He's a football guy. You know, he knows his strengths.

All right, ahead, Attorney General Pam Bondi gets hit with a subpoena over the Jeffrey Epstein probe. The critical briefing happening tonight.

And the search is on for a man who ran up to an on-duty crossing guard and then punched her in the face right in front of a bunch of elementary school students. What's wrong with people?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:00]

SIDNER: We've got some new developments inside of Iran. Central Command says it dropped 5,000-pound guided bombs along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz to target anti-ship cruise missiles in Iran. Just yesterday, President Trump said it won't be long before the critical shipping passages reopened.

But it's not just missiles that are threatening the ships in the strait. It's also mines. Two sources tell CNN that Iran began laying mines in the strait last week. There are several different kinds of mines in Iran's arsenal. A drifting mine floats on top of the water, drifting with the current, and it detonates on contact with a ship. A moored mine is similar but is anchored to the seabed by a cable. It also detonates when a ship's haul hits it. And there's also the seabed mine or bottom mine. It sits on the sea floor and it uses sensors like magnets and acoustics to determine the location of a ship. These use a much larger amount of explosives causing an even bigger detonation.

Iran has also what are called limpet mines.

[07:30:01]

These are smaller and are placed on a vessel by a diver, and they explode after a set amount of time.