April 13, 2024 - PBS News Weekend full episode

JOHN YANG: Tonight on PBS News Weekend, Israel considers how to respond to Iran's attack as President Biden and other world leaders scrambled to contain the confrontation.

Then Amna Nawaz's reports from Ukraine, as Russia steps up pressure against Ukraine's dwindling defenses, and the drought ravaging Southern Africa is threatening millions with hunger.

WOMAN (through translator): Our food situation is difficult.

We only eat once a day because we have nothing in the fields not a single grain.

Everything has dried up in the drought.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: Good evening, I'm John Yang.

The day after Iran use drones and missiles to carry out its first ever direct assault on Israel, diplomacy took center stage today.

Leaders from the White House to capitals around the globe are scrambling tonight to try to keep this unfolding and perilous conflict from spiraling out of control.

Tonight our coverage begins with Nick Schifrin.

NICK SCHIFRIN (voice-over): Above the holiest sites and one of the world's holiest cities rockets lit up the night sky and Israeli air defense blocked an unprecedented Iranian attack across all of Israel.

The Israeli Defense Forces said it thwarted 99 percent of more than 300 drones and missiles, the majority launched from Iran, but some also came from Iranian back proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

American officials say the U.S. shot down at least 75 of them almost all in Jordanian airspace.

Israel said the only missiles that entered Israeli airspace where ballistic including one that wounded a seven-year old girl, Israel reported no deaths and only minor damage to an Air Force Base.

Iran said they were responding Israel's killing senior Iranian generals inside Iran's Damascus consulate and called the attack tit for tat.

GEN. MOHAMMAD BAGHERI, Joint Chief of Staff, Iran (through translator): From our point of view, this operation is over and there is no intention to continue the operation.

But if the Zionist regime takes any action against the Islamic Republic, our next operation will be much larger.

NICK SCHIFRIN (voice-over): By the light of day, Israelis returned to normal but the region is anything but and Israel's leadership says the incident is very much not over.

REAR ADM. DANIEL HAGARI, Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson: We are still on high alert and assessing the situation.

Over the last few hours, we approved operational plans for both offensive and defensives action.

NICK SCHIFRIN (voice-over): But the U.S. is counseling restraint.

President Biden and the leaders of the world's seventh largest industrialized nations warned Iran's attack could lead to quote uncontrollable escalation.

They vowed to deescalate.

And then a phone call, Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. would not take part in Israeli retaliation.

National Security Spokesman John Kirby repeated that message this morning.

JOHN KIRBY, WHITE HOSUE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER: It's going to be up to the Israelis to decide what the next step is here.

I will just say this President Biden since the beginning of this conflict has worked very hard to keep this from becoming a broader regional war to keep the tensions from escalating.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Senior administration officials said today the G7 group of countries could impose new coordinated sanctions and other countries could join the U.S. in labeling the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group, that is the diplomatic focus John that the U.S. wants of course with the major focus we are waiting for the major response were waiting for Israel's military response.

JOHN YANG: Nick, let's start by looking back at last night.

But there's this really remarkable effect of Israel blunting this attack.

The United States did have moved some U.S. assets into the region.

How important were they in this operation?

NICK SCHIFRIN: President Biden himself said it was absolutely essential over the last 10 days Israel in the United States have been working coordinated on this response, a senior administration official said, and that included moving fighter squadrons into better positions.

And those fighter squadrons shot down more than 70 drones.

The U.S. also moved an additional destroyer into the region to join a destroyer already there.

And that helps shoot down four or six of those 100 plus ballistic missiles fired by Iran toward Israel.

We know of no previous occasion in U.S.-Israeli history in which the U.S. launched jets during an attack on Israel or fired missiles from boats during an attack on Israel.

Strategically, the reason that is so important, John, is that a senior administration official said that if this attack had succeeded, there would have been, quote, uncontrollable escalation and a broader regional conflict.

The U.S. assesses that this attack was absolutely designed to kill Israelis and inflict widespread damage.

And the fact is, it didn't.

And if that had happened, the assumption is that Israel and Iran perhaps might be at war already.

JOHN YANG: Looking forward, as Israel does ponder what to do next.

What are the factors they're weighing and what's the United States telling them?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Israeli media already reported that there was a quick Cabinet meeting last night in which Israeli leaders considered an immediate strike, but that the Biden-Bibi phone call and Netanyahu-Biden phone call seems to have tamped down the possibility of that, and Israeli officials today are saying they will strike whenever they deceive -- they deem it proper to strike.

There are military -- many military options for Israel, of course, inside Iran itself, whether that's Iranian government, IRGC, the nuclear sites even but a senior administration official said two important things today, one, Israel's made clear to us they are not looking for a significant escalation with Iran.

If that is accurate.

That means that they are not looking to strike directly against Iran, at least at the moment.

And two, a senior administration official said very bluntly, we would not be part of any response they do.

That is a long standing U.S. policy, but still to say that is really to send the message to Israel, if you're going to do this, or especially if we're going to attack Iran, you would be on your own.

And part of what the administration says trying to do is, quote, slow things down.

And that, as you said, at the top is a focus on diplomacy.

The U.S. hopes to isolate Iran through some of those sanctions and perhaps terrorism designations as well.

And the flip of that is less isolation, they hope on Israel.

You seen in the last few hours, the European Union diplomats, the U.N. diplomats who have been very critical of Israel over the war in Gaza, support Israel, and it's -- and it's - - and then condemn Iran, in no uncertain ways.

And so that is where we are today with us focus on diplomacy, President Hertzog of Israel saying, quote, We are not war seekers, but we'll see how Israel chooses to respond.

JOHN YANG: Nick Schifrin, thank you very much.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: Let's bring in Aaron David Miller.

He's a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He's played a key role in U.S.-Middle East policy for every president from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush.

Aaron is as Israel ponders its next move, how significant is it that this attack is administration officials are saying this attack was on the high side of what they were expecting.

And yet Israel was really able to blunt it that it caused a relatively little damage.

AARON DAVID MILLER, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: I think it's an extraordinary testament, frankly, to technology.

Iron Dome and arrow three, which is the latest arrow and iteration plus extremely significant amount of help from U.S. aircraft and Israeli aircraft.

I mean, 350 crews, ballistic, and pilotless drones.

It's sort of a milestone, I would think in Modern Warfare, given the effectiveness of these really layered defenses.

So I think that's, that's quite extraordinary.

JOHN YANG: And it's been reported that President Biden advised Prime Minister Netanyahu last night to take the win and do nothing.

What do you think of that advice?

AARON DAVID MILLER: You know, I think the President does not want to see an escalation, let alone something that could trip into a real regional war, which would be exchanges over a sustained period of time between Israel and Iran with ballistic missiles.

A major flare up turned into a major war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah can cover most of Israel with its high trajectory weapons and I suspect Mr. Biden also understands it in a scenario like that prospects of U.S. involvement are pretty high.

So, he's given the Israeli prime minister the best he advice he can pocket to win.

You're now occupying the moral high ground tensions between the U.S. and Israel have essentially ease nobody's talking about conditioning military assistance, or restricting that little an ending it to Israel.

All of that, I think is is being taken seriously by the Israeli war candidate.

JOHN YANG: You know, Iran said last night, that this sort of closes the door on the Syrian tat strike that started this that they were responding to, if Iran isn't going to do more, what about their proxies?

What about the Houthis?

What about Hezbollah?

Are they likely to step up?

AARON DAVID MILLER: I think those attacks will continue.

But I do believe in Iran has only -- has a vote, but the Israelis have a vote as well.

So, it's well and good for the Iranians to say we're done.

But they're not the only party involved in this.

I suspect that pro-Iranian militias, at least for the short term won't give the Israelis any pretext or excuse for responding.

But I do think and the war cabinets divided on this, I think everyone, including the five, including men against believes the responses necessary, the timing of that response, I think is up in the air.

And the scale of that response is up in the air.

So, I think Israel will capitalize now on the fact that they've got an enormous -- the G7 statement was extraordinary in terms of its support for Israel, no concern over Israeli strikes, and a strong statement that it that also appeared to isolate Iran.

So I think the Israelis will ride that for a while.

But at some point, I think there will be an accounting and it probably will be directed at Iranian assets in Iran.

JOHN YANG: What does all this do to the war in Gaza, and especially the negotiations to try to get the hostages back?

AARON DAVID MILLER: I think there it's a serious tragedy on the part of the hostages and their families.

Hamas had no real incentive.

They believe that pressure on Israel, Israeli withdrawal of forces from Gaza was working in their favor.

They were delaying hoping to get a better deal.

And frankly, I'm not sure the Netanyahu government fell all that much urgency given the fact that any deal free hostages is going to result in an asymmetrical number of Palestinian prisoners freed which is going to stress Mr. Netanyahu's own coalition.

But I think Hamas now will wait to see how much chaos and confrontation and confusion will result from this potential Iranian Israeli fight.

And I suspect there'll be no deal on hostages and probably no operation against Rafah either, but Gaza still will be the focus because of its proximity problem.

And these rallies of hostages.

And they're still determined, I think to eliminate the senior leadership.

JOHN YANG: Aaron David Miller, thank you very much.

AARON DAVID MILLER: Thank you John.

JOHN YANG: Talks aimed at the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and a pause in fighting have stalled.

Israel says Hamas rejected the latest proposal.

Hamas is holding firm and its demand for a permanent ceasefire and for Israel's total withdrawal from Gaza.

In Gaza, hundreds of Palestinian families move north along the coast, despite warnings from the Israeli military, that it's still an active war zone.

More than a million Gaza residents have taken refuge in southern Gaza.

And today the Israeli military said it will call up to fresh reserve Division's for future operations in Gaza.

Last night's attack has spurred House Republicans to try to quickly pass military aid for Israel.

On Fox News House Speaker Mike Johnson also left the door open to adding long stalled money for Ukraine to the measure.

The Senate approved aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and February, but opposition from some ultra-conservative Republicans as blocked it in the House.

In Sydney, police said the man who stabbed six people to death at a crowded shopping mall suffered from mental health issues and appears to have had no particular motive.

Five of the six people killed by Joel Cauchi were women.

He wounded dozens of others before police shot him dead.

And artists and author Faith Ringgold has died.

She created richly colored and detailed Canvas panels that she called Story Quilts.

They depicted the joys and burdens of black life, especially the lives of black women.

As a social activist, she protested the lack of works by black and female artists in the collection of American museums.

Faith Ringgold was 93 years old.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, the view from Ukraine with says it needs more munitions and manpower and it's war with Russia, and millions across southern Africa are facing hunger in the midst of extreme drought.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: Ukraine has been at war with Russia for more than two years now and there are signs that this year could be pivotal.

Ukrainian officials say they need more munitions and support as Russia appears to be gaining ground.

News co-anchor Amna Nawaz is on the ground and keep tonight beginning a week long reporting trip.

Amna what's the state of the war now?

AMNA NAWAZ: John, good evening from Kyiv.

You know the dire conditions that Ukrainian officials have been warning for many months now do now seem to be here, with some even expressing concern that Ukraine is potentially at risk of losing this war this calendar year.

Now two forces are essentially colliding right now.

The same time Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of ammunition and artillery the same time they have a desperate need for additional air defenses.

Russia has also been ramping up its air offensives it is targeting Ukraine's energy systems with a precision and aggression we have not yet seen in the war, and Russia continues to make advances in the east.

Now we know those Russian forces already occupied much of that Eastern Donbas region.

They've made advances in the recent months back in February, they claimed the key city of Avdiivka, some say they are now on the cusp of claiming another key city of Chasiv Yar.

And of course, they're also now relentlessly pummeling the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine's northeast, that is Ukraine's second largest city, it would be a major prize for the Russians, and majorly demoralizing for Ukrainians.

So John, Ukraine is now facing challenges on these three fronts and advancing Russian force their own critical shortages, and of course, exhausted troops after more than two years of fighting.

John.

JOHN YANG: On the shortages of munitions can be solved by getting more aid from other countries.

But how -- what's Ukraine doing about the exhausting troops sort of filling that manpower gap?

AMNA NAWAZ: And that manpower gap is real.

It's been the source of much debate and many controversial proposals.

President Zelenskyy has now lowered the draft age from 27 to 25, potentially meaning that thousands of more young men could be pulled into that fight.

But you know, John, right now in the capital city here, it sometimes feels like those frontlines of the war can really be a world away.

I mean, life here unfolds at a sort of normal ish everyday pace.

People go out for walks, they walk their dogs, they go to work, they sit outside at cafes and sip lattes.

But that war looms large and it does occasionally and regularly pierced through that sense of normal state.

There are of course burned out Russian military vehicles from early in the war on display in the city center here right behind me.

There are memorials to the war dead lining the city walls.

And of course, there are air sirens that do regularly go off blaring across the city and forcing everyone to try to find shelter nearby.

We experienced one or yesterday ourselves.

John, I met one young Kyiv resident who could be entering that draft range soon his name is Oleksii he works in real estate.

His best friend is serving on the front line right now.

But I asked him about the war and whether he feels pressure to join up.

OLEKSII MELASHCHENKO, Kyiv resident: I feel guilty.

I feel guilt is that I'm sleeping in the warm bed.

I can take a shower, but from my side I'm trying to help.

Yeah.

I know that it's not enough.

And even when you died, it's not enough.

But it is what it is.

And -- AMNA NAWAZ: Is there any part of you scared that you might get drafted and have to go fight?

OLEKSII MELASHCHENKO: My mom of course is scared, my girlfriend is scared.

AMNA NAWAZ: And you?

OLEKSII MELASHCHENKO: Of course I'm scared.

Of course.

AMNA NAWAZ: John, of course with another Russian offensive expected this spring, young men like Oleksii could be called to join the fight.

So, many questions remain here in Ukraine.

And John will be putting all of those questions directly to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when I sit down with him for an exclusive interview tomorrow.

We'll have more on that on the NewsHour tomorrow night.

John.

JOHN YANG: We look forward to that tomorrow night and all your reporting in the week ahead.

Amna Nawaz in Kyiv.

Thank you very much.

AMNA NAWAZ: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: There's a growing hunger crisis across southern Africa brought on by an extreme drought.

That's devastating farmers in the food supply.

Ali Rogin has more.

ALI ROGIN: A sweeping drought has devastated Southern Africa, forcing Zimbabwe's president to declare a state of national disaster.

It is the third country to do so in recent months joining Malawi and Zambia.

The El Nino-induced drought has scorched crops and left millions hungry in the region.

Zimbabwe was once an agricultural powerhouse that exported grain to surrounding countries.

But over the last few decades, it's been heavily dependent on aid agencies for food to survive.

ZANYIWE NCUBE (through translator): Our food situation is difficult.

We only eat once a day because we have nothing in the fields not a single grain.

Everything has dried up in the drought.

We also have problems with sourcing water.

ALI ROGIN: But as aid groups faced budget cuts and broaden their operation to other conflicts, the crisis in southern Africa is expected to worsen.

Tendai Marima is a freelance journalist based in Zimbabwe and joins me now.

Tendai, thank you so much for being here.

We just mentioned some of the top line weather conditions that are contributing to low crop yield.

But let's talk a little more in depth about the factors that are playing into these conditions being so bad in southern Africa right now.

TENDAI MARIMA, Freelance Journalist: The situation that is affecting Southern Africa has to do with the late rainfalls that came, normally in a season the rain would begin in about October or November, and right up until April, but what we saw this year was that the rains were delayed, and they only came very late in December.

And it was just like patches of rain.

And then after that we had some very dry months.

And this is when Zambia declared that they had been a national disaster because over 50 percent of the planted crops had failed.

And for sure, a lot of harvest across different countries have been devastated.

ALI ROGIN: Do experts agree that El Nino, the weather pattern that is global is driving these cycles that we're seeing?

And if so why does it seem to be affecting Southern Africa so intensely at this moment?

TENDAI MARIMA: I think with Southern Africa, from what climate scientists tell us is that it'll be two years of the El Nino phenomenon.

And then one year possibly of the La Nina phenomenon, which is a situation where there's too much rain.

And this is what we've seen happening over the past few years.

In 2019, we had cyclones that were affecting Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe and South Africa.

And from that a total of 1000 people died because of those extreme floods.

And now what we're seeing is that where we've come again, to a drought period, this is El Nino part.

And what they're anticipating is that there won't be much rain, and the lean season is likely to last well into 2025.

So from about September 2025 is when people can possibly hope that they might be changed, but it's uncertain at this stage.

ALI ROGIN: And incredibly long amount of time.

We mentioned that Zimbabwe and the surrounding countries were at one point, regional bread baskets, and now were heavily dependent on aid to combat the suffering of civilians in situations like this.

Can you just tell us about how stark that reversal of fortunes has been over the past couple of decades?

TENDAI MARIMA: it's been incredible to witness.

Because I remember, as a child growing up, I think one of the worst droughts that Zimbabwe experienced was in about 1992.

I was still quite young then.

But I do remember, you know, there being food handouts and things, but the country was able to recover.

But when we got into the 2000s with all the other political things that happened in the country, and also, because most of the commercial farms, the large commercial farms that used to produce a lot of food for domestic consumption, and also for export, these were white owned farms.

And these were taken over during the land reform period, that it left the country without the farming resources and without the financial resources to be able to continue farming effectively.

Whereas other countries in the region, they may have things to prefer, or at least have plans in place to protect themselves from the shocks of the drought.

But for a country like Zimbabwe, it's in a dire state.

And the situation is very severe because at least 2.7 million people are facing hunger.

ALI ROGIN: In terms of some of the contemporary domestic issues that are playing out in Zimbabwe in March, the government forcibly removed American aid workers from USAID.

The president is also under U.S. sanctions right now for corruption and human rights abuses.

How do those issues affect aid workers ability to help civilians right now?

TENDAI MARIMA: it costs the dark cloud over the level of support that USAID will be able to provide to the country.

You know, security has heightened around food distributions.

Another concern is possibly with the delivery of food aid, right, because things such as cooking oil, because it's a fortified kind of cooking oil that USAID distributes to communities, things such as that also the cornmeal that USAID distributes.

Things have to be shipped.

And it takes about six weeks for WFP and USAID to be able to get food into the country.

So if there are all these sort of tensions, it raises questions, how much longer will it take, given the situation that there is suspicion from the state of the role that USAID is playing in the country although they have stated that their intentions are purely humanitarian, and it is the largest donor to Zimbabwe the government still has a suspicion so you know, It rains a lot of questions to say who will suffer if the suspicion then delays what is meant to be for the people.

ALI ROGIN: Tendai Marima, freelance journalist based in Zimbabwe, thank you so much for joining us.

TENDAI MARIMA: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: And that is PBS News Weekend for this Sunday.

On Monday, the very latest on the situation in the Middle East and omnibus, it's down one on one with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Monday on the NewsHour.

For now, I'm John Yang.

For all of my colleagues, thanks for joining us.

Have a good week.