i think the international community should, if they want to prevent an escalation in our area, should really restrain hezbollah and iran. president biden says there will be a response to the attack this weekend on a us base injordan, but what are the pentagon's options? in the next hour, we are expecting a press conference in washington, where the secretary of state has been meeting the nato secretary general. we will take your life to that as soon as it begins. —— live to that. there are more than 6,000 american military personnel stationed in more than a dozen bases in iraq, jordan and syria.

together they have been targeted over 150 times, since october 7, by iranian linked proxies. yesterday the target was tower 22, a us outpost onjordan�*s north eastern border with syria. an enemy drone hit the living quarters on base killing three soldiers and injuring at least 3a others. according to cbs, the drone was flown in at the same time as a us drone was returning to base from a mission. reportedly the air defence system had been switched off to allow the american drone in, but that also let in the enemy drone which flew in on a much flatter trajectory. washington has blamed iranian—backed militant groups with president biden saying this weekend the us would choose when and how to hit back. i want to point out that we had a tough day last night. we lost three brave souls on an attack on one of our bases. we shall respond. in the last hour, the white house

national security spokesman, john kirby, said washington was not seeking a wider conflict in the middle east. we do not seek another war. we do not seek to escalate what we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves, to continue that mission and to respond appropriately to these attacks. as he said yesterday, we will respond. we will do that on our schedule, in our time and we will do it in the manner of the president's choosing as commander—in—chief. we will also do it fully cognizant of the fact that these groups, backed by tehran have just taken the lives of american troops. i think i will leave it there. the americans have blamed the so called axis of resistance. a coalition of groups controlled and run by iran's islamic revolutionary guard that are opposed to israel and the united states. iran denies it is able to control the "resistance" groups in the region. but senior republicans in washington are calling for a

direct response. among them, senator lindsey graham and senatorjon cornyn. who both have demanded strikes on tehran. to help us understand more about this attack is thomas witherington, an expert in electronic warfare and air defence at the royal united services institute think tank and former us envoy for middle east peace, frank lowenstein. frank, if i could start with you. address the issue of how much control iran has over these groups. we don't really know. what we have said definitively as iran is funding, training and supporting these groups but we have not established whether iran ordered this attack or intended it for to be the escalation we have seen, whether they intended american soldiers to be killed. we are evaluating that as

we assess our response. 50 be killed. we are evaluating that as we assess our response.— we assess our response. so the president — we assess our response. so the president has _ we assess our response. so the president has a _ we assess our response. so the president has a range _ we assess our response. so the president has a range of - we assess our response. so the . president has a range of responses on his desk, this is the first time american soldiers have been killed so one imagines it would have to be different to other responses to attacks on american bases so i've actually go and what should you are looking at? i actually go and what should you are lookin: at? ~' , ., actually go and what should you are lookin: at? ~ , ., , actually go and what should you are lookin: at? ~ , ., looking at? i think you will see a back very hard — looking at? i think you will see a back very hard against _ looking at? i think you will see a back very hard against iranian i back very hard against iranian militias in syria and probably iraq as well. we will be mindful that an escalation, that triggers his brother engagement on the northern border with israel will be a calamity for all efforts trying to bring the conflict to close. we will do so calibrating whether deterrent ends an escalation begins over the his brother issue. flan ends an escalation begins over the his brother issue.— ends an escalation begins over the his brother issue. can we deal with what happens _ his brother issue. can we deal with what happens over— his brother issue. can we deal with what happens over the _ his brother issue. can we deal with what happens over the weekend. l his brother issue. can we deal with i what happens over the weekend. was it a security lapse or a drone that is capable of penetrating american defences? it is capable of penetrating american defences? , , ., .,

defences? it is very hard to say with absolute _ defences? it is very hard to say with absolute certainty - defences? it is very hard to sayj with absolute certainty because defences? it is very hard to say - with absolute certainty because we only know — with absolute certainty because we only know what we have heard through reports _ only know what we have heard through reports from organisations such as yourselves — reports from organisations such as yourselves. 0ne reports from organisations such as yourselves. one of the interesting yourselves. 0ne of the interesting elements— yourselves. one of the interesting elements to this is the indication that the — elements to this is the indication that the attack seems to happen when some of— that the attack seems to happen when some of the counter drone system is protecting _ some of the counter drone system is protecting the base were deactivated for whatever reason. it seems they may have _ for whatever reason. it seems they may have been deactivated to allow a us drone _ may have been deactivated to allow a us drone to _ may have been deactivated to allow a us drone to land at that facility without — us drone to land at that facility without being engaged by defences. the iranian militia then took advantage of the gap to perform the attack _ advantage of the gap to perform the attack you — advantage of the gap to perform the attack. you cannot have hundred percent — attack. you cannot have hundred percent security against these types of threats — percent security against these types of threats. yes you can try and mitigate — of threats. yes you can try and mitigate them and reduce them but there _ mitigate them and reduce them but there wiii— mitigate them and reduce them but there will always be a trade—off. which _ there will always be a trade—off. which is — there will always be a trade—off. which is allowing more drain op —— drone _ which is allowing more drain op —— drone operations from your own site

to proceed _ drone operations from your own site to proceed on hindered which means you might _ to proceed on hindered which means you might have to degrade or reduce the protective measures you can employ — i heard one general say if you had looked at the radar returns, he would have seen the friendly drone come in, if it was right behind it you probably would not spot it, is that correct?— that correct? yes, that is a good oint. it that correct? yes, that is a good point. it depends _ that correct? yes, that is a good point. it depends what _ that correct? yes, that is a good point. it depends what radar- that correct? yes, that is a good point. it depends what radar you that correct? yes, that is a good - point. it depends what radar you are using _ point. it depends what radar you are using it _ point. it depends what radar you are using it is _ point. it depends what radar you are using it is an— point. it depends what radar you are using. it is an amazing sensor but it has— using. it is an amazing sensor but it has limitations according to the frequencies you use, a lot of complex— frequencies you use, a lot of complex physics which i will not bore _ complex physics which i will not bore your— complex physics which i will not bore your viewers with. two targets can appear— bore your viewers with. two targets can appear as bore your viewers with. two targets can appearas one. bore your viewers with. two targets can appear as one. if you think

you're — can appear as one. if you think you're seeing a single object but as you're seeing a single object but as you get— you're seeing a single object but as you get closer it is to objects so you get closer it is to objects so you had — you get closer it is to objects so you had the same problems and situations— you had the same problems and situations like this. we you had the same problems and situations like this.— you had the same problems and situations like this. we had better set this in the _ situations like this. we had better set this in the wider _ situations like this. we had better set this in the wider context - situations like this. we had betterj set this in the wider context which is the war in gaza. by all accounts from the qatari prime minister, progress was made and the foundations set for a longer humanitarian pause but he is warning that if there was a response to this attack over the weekend, it might complicate the issue further. will that be in the mind of the president?— that be in the mind of the resident? , ., ., _ ., , president? yes although kirby was clear we will _ president? yes although kirby was clear we will be _ president? yes although kirby was clear we will be responding - president? yes although kirby was clear we will be responding and i president? yes although kirby was| clear we will be responding and the negotiations are going on. the united states and israel and all our allies are pushing hard for this humanitarian ceasefire. there is no way to address the regional escalation issue without a ceasefire in gaza. ultimately we have no way to stop the iranians from doing what

they are doing, other than taking away the cause of it which is the war in gaza so that will add extra impetus to efforts to get the result if we can. . if we can. our chief international correspondent _ if we can. our chief international correspondent has _ if we can. our chief international correspondent has just - if we can. our chief international correspondent has just joined i if we can. our chief international correspondent hasjust joined usj if we can. our chief international. correspondent hasjust joined us in correspondent hasjustjoined us in the studio. i react another dangerous moment in the middle east? everyone wakes up now and wonders what it will be today, which red light will flash in the region? will there be a devastating attack on a vessel in the red sea shipping lanes, will there be a flare—up on the labour known as real border. suddenly yesterday we heard the death of the first american servicemen during this first confrontation since the israel gaza war erupted. this is how female the whole area is. notwithstanding american concern and efforts that

this was not a contagion, the reality is this whole war has extended far beyond the borders of israel and gaza. —— how feeble dial the whole area is. there is low intensity contact but also high—risk. we are seeing in iraq and syria, that attack on tower 22. the qatari prime _ syria, that attack on tower 22. the qatari prime minister aside from warning the united states over its response did say they would be bringing pressure to bear on tehran. did they have an open door to the iranian such that they would be able to perhaps dial this down a notch? that is an interesting facet of this moment that messages have been passed repeatedly to iran, president biden himself spoke of how he had sent a private message to iran. we do not cut out for years has been taking messages to iran for the united states. saudi arabia we

understand has also been playing a role because of their more recent rapprochement between the saudi kingdom and iran, of course long—time rivals between the sunni and shi'ite powers. people now today have been reflecting on the last major highly sensitive american retaliatory attack which was a drone strike on baghdad four years ago which killed a top iranian commander. alarm bells rang across the region, people said why was president trump given that as an option to kill such an important iranian official. in the end, eran did retaliate but there was a back door messaging to keep the calm and calm the fires. at the end of the day, neither iran nor the united states wants to engage in a wrecked confrontation in the kind of

escalation which would set this war in a different landscape. —— direct confrontation. in a different landscape. -- direct confrontation.— confrontation. with far greater risks. confrontation. with far greater risks- can _ confrontation. with far greater risks- can i— confrontation. with far greater risks. can i bring _ confrontation. with far greater risks. can i bring you - confrontation. with far greater risks. can i bring you in - confrontation. with far greater risks. can i bring you in on i confrontation. with far greater| risks. can i bring you in on that point, in terms of the politics, we should remember twice donald trump stepped back from attacking iran directly. they understand in the white house the implications of taking it directly to tehran. but what about the politics domestically in an election year? president biden wrist —— expected to deliver some response but if he goes too far it could go and backfire? yes. response but if he goes too far it could go and backfire?— response but if he goes too far it could go and backfire? yes, it is a tricky situation _ could go and backfire? yes, it is a tricky situation for _ could go and backfire? yes, it is a tricky situation for the _ could go and backfire? yes, it is a tricky situation for the president. | tricky situation for the president. 0n the left you have a lot of young people on the left who are outraged that our support of israel. and you had the community in michigan which will be the most important state in the next presidential election which has been very vocal. so he to factor

that in on the one side and on the other side, that in on the one side and on the otherside, lindsey that in on the one side and on the other side, lindsey graham and others on the republican side had been calling for direct strikes on iran. i think that is extremely unlikely. it is more likely to be a targeted response, heavier than in the past but not too much to further the past but not too much to further the escalator a risk and lebanon and elsewhere. we want to focus on the humanitarian ceasefire which seems to be making progress. [30 humanitarian ceasefire which seems to be making progress.— humanitarian ceasefire which seems to be making progress. do you see a slit in to be making progress. do you see a s - lit in the to be making progress. do you see a split in the republican _ to be making progress. do you see a split in the republican party - to be making progress. do you see a split in the republican party which i split in the republican party which could be dangerous. you have hawks like lindsey graham and others who are calling for action now but there is a large rump of the republican party that does not want to be drawn in and i wonder if that withdrawal makes matters more dangerous, if they see weakness? i makes matters more dangerous, if they see weakness?— they see weakness? i would echo frank's point _ they see weakness? i would echo frank's point he _ they see weakness? i would echo frank's point he made, _ they see weakness? i would echo frank's point he made, part i they see weakness? i would echo frank's point he made, part of i they see weakness? i would echo | frank's point he made, part of the problem when you look at a military option is there is no good option

and no easy options. 0ne option is there is no good option and no easy options. one can shudder to imagine what the wider implications strategically would be of a direct confrontation with iran but the other question the biden administration has to face is that there is every danger these sort of attacks like the one we saw on tower 22 over the weekend, heaven forbid, but they could run and run. you could have the occasional attack on us interests and forces directly throughout the region. at what point do you get to a threshold where it becomes almost inevitable there will becomes almost inevitable there will be some sort of direct confrontation? i think all of the parties are probably working hard to avoid that but it does indicate how difficult the military options are. as we look at these pictures from washington, we expect the secretary of state shortly, does russia

benefit from all this and indeed are they involved in some of this, they pushing on and get more involved? that is a very good question. we do not know for definite what the level of cooperation between russia and iran is at the moment. we know in the ukraine situation, eran is supplying military equipment to the russians. particularly in the form of drones. but anything from the moscow perspective, anything that ties up what they see as their main geostrategic rival alongside nato in the middle east or anywhere else vladimir putin feels he can only benefit from. the other problem is this detracts from what is happening in ukraine which is still a bitter war which is ongoing. this crisis has not abated since the attacks we saw in israel so the short answer is

russia does benefit but the extent to which there is hard collusion and hard negotiation between tehran and moscow about what they will do next, is just impossible to answer at this point. we will have to pause for a short break but thank you both very much for your time this evening. stay with me in the studio because we are looking ahead to this press conference in washington and we will bring you that live when the secretary of state appears. you are watching bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the families of the people killed in last summer's attacks in nottingham have met with the prime minister at downing street. they've been calling for a public inquiry into the killings of the students barnaby webber and grace 0'malley kumar, and the caretaker ian coates by valdo calocane. he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order last week. a total of four people have now been arrested in connection with the stabbings of two teenage boys. 15—year—old mason rist

and 16—year—old max dixon were stabbed to death over the weekend in bristol. the boys were attacked by a number of people on ilminster avenue in knowle west on saturday night. laurence fox has lost a high court libel case with two people he called paedophiles on social media. the actor—turned—politician was sued by former stonewall trustee simon blake and drag artist crystal. in an exchange on x, mr fox referred to the two as "paedophiles". high courtjudge mrsjustice collins rice said mr fox's labelling was "harmful, defamatory and baseless". you're live with bbc news. the nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg is in washington today meetings that were scheduled some time ago, but in light of the weekend's events injordan, are of course drawing much greater focus. this is secretary austin's first day back in the office,

after his new year treatment for prostate cancer. we are expecting a press conference in the next few minutes. this is the scene live in washington. we will continue to watch that as we bring in our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. what do you thinkjens stoltenberg will want out of this, he is arriving in washington at a tricky time, this border deal is going through congress, attached to ukraine eight, we have a problem with eight offering in europe with hungary standing against it, it is a particularly dangerous moment for you can attach to what's going on in the middle east? i you can attach to what's going on in the middle east?— the middle east? i think ukraine must be at _ the middle east? i think ukraine must be at the _ the middle east? i think ukraine must be at the top _ the middle east? i think ukraine must be at the top of _ the middle east? i think ukraine must be at the top of mr- the middle east? i think ukraine i must be at the top of mr stoltenberg mind. it is a relative success story for nato, coming on the back of their humiliating defeat in afghanistan where the taliban returned to power after two decades. suddenly, months later, the

full—scale invasion of ukraine. not only did the ukrainians stand up and fight and they defied the russian military might in a way nobody expected and then the nato military alliance came together as never before and it held for so long and the ukrainians kept making this startling progress, a military fairy tale against the russian military. but where the situation is now both on the ground and politically with there being voices in europe saying, hungary and slovakia, saying we cannot continue this funding. we cannot continue this funding. we cannot continue this funding. we cannot continue to provide this military support. and even more worrying obstacles from washington. ukrainians have made it clear and jens stoltenberg knows this, ukrainians cannot fight without nato's military support and most of all the support of the united states because for all of the goodwill on the part of some european countries and in particular the baltic states,

right on the border of russia, without american military and financial support, this losing fight will become even more. you financial support, this losing fight will become even more.— financial support, this losing fight will become even more. you look at the meetings _ will become even more. you look at the meetings today, _ will become even more. you look at the meetings today, you _ will become even more. you look at the meetings today, you had - the meetings today, you had secretary austen back dennis, secretary blinken, jens stoltenberg, you have bill barnes talking to the israelis and the egyptians, it is as spread of diplomacy going on at the moment to try and contain this. —— bill barnes. it is a mark of this fee but i'll atmosphere. these men have some decisions to make in the coming days and weeks. which have big implications now.— big implications now. president biden started _ big implications now. president biden started his _ big implications now. president biden started his presidency i big implications now. president i biden started his presidency wanting to get america out of foreign entanglements. former presidents had talked about the pivot to asia and america retreating from areas like

the middle east. but now you have president biden deeply engaged in the war in ukraine, where he cannot control the outcome is much as he tries with the eye watering amounts of military hardware and financial aid that the americans have sent to ukraine. then through his backing, indeed from the get go behind israel and now finds himself with an ally that does not listen to him. they say thank you for the support but it is known in private the us would like to find a way out of this war while still defending israel's war aims, and israeli terminology to destroy hamas entirely. even though the war cabinet do not think that's possible. so president biden finds deeply involved in wars which are not going the way he wants them to. with limited control because as we said earlier, although the foundations for the spores are in

place, some fairly positive steps forward by all accounts this weekend, the one sticking point is what happens to hamas at the end of that. —— for that pause. hamas cannot be left in place, the hamas side want the war to end but that is not going to happen and that is problematic for president biden in an election year.— problematic for president biden in an election year. extremely. there have been reports _ an election year. extremely. there have been reports president i an election year. extremely. there have been reports president bidenj an election year. extremely. there l have been reports president biden is communicating much more clearly to the israelis, we need to find a way out of this war. we cannot have this raging with staggering civilian casualties and untold suffering among ghazals when the americans are going to the polls in november. president biden is taking hits domestically. especially in this —— especially in michigan with the citizens of arab nationality. they are very angry about how president

biden is so staunchly behind israel and using the weapon of controlling the flow of arms, weapons and money to try and exert greater influence over this war but america is finding out that it simply cannot. at regarding these discussions, we are told they are making progress and the qatari prime minister is in washington next week at the atlantic council. he talked about a proposal by israel being a significant enough shape that egypt and qatar were giving it to hamas so that showed they were dealing with the details and making some progress in those talks in paris are continuing but sticking points are israel does not want to call a halt to the war whereas hamas says there can only be a deal once the war ends. there are reports saying hamas is backing away from that but prime minister netanyahu is categorical that the

war is not over and that hamas cannot have a seat at the table. i think they were talking about a phased release of hostages today. remember... it was a bridgehead, perhaps a two—month pause in the americans can build something out of that. , ., ., ., , that. yes, that would ease the pressure- _ that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that _ that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that is _ that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that is a _ that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that is a big - that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that is a big ask i that. yes, that would ease the pressure. that is a big ask of l pressure. that is a big ask of israel. as we speak they are intensifying their military operation, squeezing the population in khan younis. an l—shaped —— and israeli military spoken —— spokesman was talking about an operation in the south of gaza. they don't want to be stopped. a report in the washington post said 80% of the tunnels have not been destroyed and this is after many sections have been raised to the ground. ladle this is after many sections have been raised to the ground. we have both worked — been raised to the ground. we have both worked in _ been raised to the ground. we have both worked in gaza _ been raised to the ground. we have

both worked in gaza before - been raised to the ground. we have both worked in gaza before so i been raised to the ground. we have both worked in gaza before so we . both worked in gaza before so we have seen what unrwa do in terms of the dispersal of food and assistance. you will have seen the reports that six or seven people were involved, the ping from their phones was picked up in israel across the border on october seven. this is a significant problem now for the united nations but is there anybody else who can do the job they do and gaza? anybody else who can do the 'ob they do and gaza?— do and gaza? more than 80% of the o-oulation do and gaza? more than 80% of the pepulation and _ do and gaza? more than 80% of the population and gaza, _ do and gaza? more than 80% of the population and gaza, more - do and gaza? more than 80% of the population and gaza, more than i do and gaza? more than 80% of the population and gaza, more than 2 i population and gaza, more than 2 million people are classified as refugees and it is the job of unrwa to deal with the refugee crisis after the i948 arab—israeli war which led to the foundation of the state of israel so its specific responsibility is to educate and provide health care and jobs, to keep life ticking over in the gaza strip. there is no other agency

which has that wide sweeping mandate. what unrwa has been saying, it has gone right up to antonio guterres, they have said they would take the responsibility but they have also asked to bear in mind there are more than 30,000 people working with unrwa. this 12 they are investigating, one we understand has died. but they do not feel the population of gaza should suffer for this. locate population of gaza should suffer for this. ~ . , population of gaza should suffer for this. ~ ., , ., ., _ this. we are 'ust going to say doodb e this. we are 'ust going to say goodbye to — this. we are just going to say goodbye to our _ this. we are just going to say goodbye to our viewers i this. we are just going to say goodbye to our viewers on i this. we are just going to say i goodbye to our viewers on pbs and this. we are just going to say - goodbye to our viewers on pbs and we continue with our uk viewers. sorry to interop. the point the israelis have made was that unrwa which was set up to deal with the situation and displacement of the palestinians in the 1940s has perpetuated the refugee crisis. they impose on people this refugee status and the point israelis have made, we do not

need that any more, we can do this with unhcr and other agencies which do not deal directly with the refugees. is that our fair point? it is in the nature of the israeli palestinian conflict which has its own history, a history which has lasted for decades. what the palestinians would say, we will continue to be refugees until there is a palestinian state where we have a place to call their own. 0f is a palestinian state where we have a place to call their own. of course there are many who will never be able to return to their homes and this is one of the sticking points in the negotiations over decades. who has the right of return? these places are now in a state of israel so some people will never return home. 0thers so some people will never return home. others want to be able to set “p home. others want to be able to set up their lives in a palestinian state under palestinian control, not under israeli occupation. but it is true this current crisis has brought

out statements of israelis, you mention some of the programme, they have always seen unrwa as part of the programme are not part of the solution. accusing, notjust the palestinian authorities but also lebanon, jordan, syria or wherever there are palestinian refugees of using the palestinians in their battle against israel by keeping them in the state. to this day, palestinians who live in the camps in lebanon do not have the right to work injobs. so many of their rights are denied to them so their lives have been put on hold but a very long time indeed. today we had international human rights group saying this is very cruel, just at the moment when ghazals are desperate for humanitarian support, to suspend the funding. �*iz desperate for humanitarian support, to suspend the funding.— to suspend the funding. 12 countries now. to suspend the funding. 12 countries now- germany. _ to suspend the funding. 12 countries now. germany, uk— to suspend the funding. 12 countries now. germany, uk and _ to suspend the funding. 12 countries now. germany, uk and the - to suspend the funding. 12 countries now. germany, uk and the united l now. germany, uk and the united states. now. germany, uk and the united states- yes. _ now. germany, uk and the united states. yes, but _ now. germany, uk and the united

states. yes, but obviously - now. germany, uk and the united states. yes, but obviously the i states. yes, but obviously the charges are very serious. unrwa says they are taking them seriously but they are taking them seriously but the israeli foreign minister has called on the head of unrwa to resign. so yet again the issue has been weaponised although the charges are very serious the un says they are very serious the un says they are being investigated. they say it is being taken to lengths which i called for an amount to elective punishment. ii called for an amount to elective punishment-— called for an amount to elective ounishment. , ., ., , ., punishment. if you are 'ust “oining us ou punishment. if you are 'ust “oining us you mi punishment. if you are 'ust “oining us you win i punishment. if you are 'ust “oining us you will see we i punishment. if you are 'ust “oining us you will see we are i punishment. if you are just joining us you will see we are sitting i punishment. if you are just joining us you will see we are sitting on . us you will see we are sitting on pictures from the state department in washington, awaiting the arrival of the secretary of state and jens stoltenberg, the secretary of nato. discussions going on today about the situation in the middle east and the ongoing war in ukraine. 0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet is with me in the studio. just a quick word in terms of

everything that is going on at the moment, the coalition and the red sea, the response there might be to this attack injordan, nato will have to be plugged into that so presumably he has to be consulted on this before there is a response. when it was involved in afghanistan, that was its first major operation outside its theatre because of what happened with the attacks of september 11 in the united states, it offered its support and nato armies were deployed in afghanistan across two decades. so this is not a theatre for them to operate in the middle east. there are un peacekeepers involved in parts of their middle east but nato is nato is not involved. jens stoltenberg will have to be across it, if only for the reason that his major major partner, the united states, the determines the success and failure in signing don't

make so many nato missions, findings of distracted by this mission in the middle east —— in so many nato missions full to because of this politics in the united states, as you mentioned earlier, tying its two immigration, moves on immigration at the southern border in the united states, which hard—line republicans say should get more attention than far—away wars of. say should get more attention than far-away wars of.— far-away wars of. welcome back to our world viewers _ far-away wars of. welcome back to our world viewers if _ far-away wars of. welcome back to our world viewers if you _ far-away wars of. welcome back to our world viewers if you are - far-away wars of. welcome back to our world viewers if you are just i our world viewers if you are just joining us, lyse doucet is with me onset. we are watching pictures from washington. you will forgive me for staying on these pictures, it is, as lyse has been describing, such a febrile moment, notjust in the middle east and the red sea and jordan but also in ukraine as well, and jens stoltenberg, who was with antony blinken for these meetings, deeply involved in those discussions as well, so we are going to stay with us and hopefully catch the begin of this press comforts when it starts. so much to go through, that is why i am pleased you are here,

lyse, because we need to talk