Tonight the dramatic escalation in the Middle East the US leading airstrikes in

Yemen and now the Houthi rebels vowing revenge. The US and allies

launching airstrikes on 60 targets in Yemen in retaliation for repeated attacks on ships in

the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis defiant. The new missile attack today, President

Biden calling the Houthis a terror group, what is he prepared to do if the attacks

don't stop.

Also tonight, the relentless winter weather sweeping across the country, a bomb cyclone blizzard

and whiteout conditions slamming the Midwest.

Travel chaos, more than 8,000 flights cancel or delay.

Danger on the roads, 18 inches of snow or more expected, we're tracking it.

President Biden breaking his silence about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin,

what he said about Austin keeping his cancer battle and hospitalization secret.

A first under the Biden administration, the Justice Department deciding to pursue the death

penalty for the gunman who killed 10 black people in a racist rampage at a buffalo

supermarket. The final countdown three days to Iowa, the weather disrupting

candidates events, will this be the coldest caucus ever and how one photo

taken by a customer made these dogs the hottest in town.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome.

A widening conflict in the Middle East may be a reality tonight.

The U.S. upping the adi against Iranian-backed

hoothe rebels for the first time launching airstrikes inside hoothe controlled parts of

...