the white house says manned and unmanned aircraft struck three targets in iraq and four in syria. these are new pictures released by us central command of b1 bombers taking off to carry out the air strikes. president biden has issued a statement, saying... the strikes are in retaliation for the drone attack on sunday that killed three us soldiers and injured dozens more. iran denies involvement, calling the accusations if baseless, and saying it was not involved

in the decision—making of resistance groups. now, the us said it did inform the iraqi government about the strikes before they happened, but an iraqi spokesperson said... the spokesperson added the outcomes will have severe implications on the stability of the region. more now on the official view from baghdad. i heard from other iraqi officials here in baghdad that the prime minister also has asked tehran to contain and put more pressure on groups that are following the attacks

carrying out attacks on us bases, mentioning to iran that these attacks are jeopardising these attacks are jeopardising the iraqi government's effort to reduce the number of american forces in this country as part of the coalition forces and also even finish their mandate, because the war against aces has finished. this is what the iraqi militia are also emphasising, that they want the us forces or us combat forces as they say to leave iraq, and despite that, the us says that they don't have combat forces here, but it is still complicated. that is why these iraqi militia repeatedly attacked us bases, not only before the war in gaza, but also they intensified their attacks after the war in gaza. in addition to the strikes, the

usjustice department in addition to the strikes, the us justice department announced charges against seven people, including a senior official within iran's islamic revolution. the us alleges the defendants were involved with selling iranian oil to china, russia and syria in order to fund the force. the usoc says it seized more than 500,000 barrels of sanctioned fuel and it seized more than $108 million from the group. we have been having some reaction to both strikes in iraq and syria from us politicians. speaker of the house, republican mikejohnson house, republican mike johnson said...

for some analysis on the strikes, early i spoke to retired army coloneljoe pacino who was a spokesperson for us central command and served several deployments in the middle east, and also to robert

ford. he is now a seniorfellow at the middle east institute in washington. you mightjust washington. you might just break washington. you mightjust break down for us in layperson�*s speak just what break down for us in layperson�*s speakjust what has happened tonight. we are hearing 85 targets in two different countries, all kinds of aircraft involved. is this a large—scale attack, what can you tell us? large-scale attack, what can you tell us?— you tell us? this is effectively - you tell us? this is effectively a - you tell us? this is effectively a largerj you tell us? this is - effectively a larger version you tell us? this is _ effectively a larger version of what we have been doing since late october. we have been striking their ammunition depots, we have been striking the sheer militia groups that are funded by iran. we have been hitting their storage units, their bunkers, their bases, in a rock, primarily in syria, a little bit in a rock, and then here we connected the two, we did more strikes we also hit the resupply lines that go between the two. so it is a little bit of a larger version of what we've been doing, if you think about it, along with a range of options presented to the white house, this is in the middle to lower

range, in terms of the level of violence. ~ range, in terms of the level of violence-— violence. we should say us central command _ violence. we should say us central command for - violence. we should say us| central command for people violence. we should say us - central command for people not familiar with that is the military division in this region, so you are very familiar with the region with the activities and so on, how effective do you think what has happened tonight will be? hot happened tonight will be? not ve . so happened tonight will be? not very- so if _ happened tonight will be? not very- so if you _ happened tonight will be? iirrt very. so if you think about, 85 sounds like a lot, 0k, relative to what we've been doing, which is a few here and there but think about it this way. the abu kamal base, one of the bases we hit in syria, the base in eastern syria, these bases have hundreds of complexes within them, and we have also been signalling for five days, boy, we're really going to hit you hard and we really don't want a war with iran, we are really going to hit you hard, we're not going to hit iran. 0k, well, that gives them hard days to harden —— five days to harden these targets, bury their ammunition. with a kind of drones they have got can you not about cutting edge,

high—tech trains commuting about the kind of handmade drones being used in ukraine, they can resupply these things in three weeks. they will be back to full supply here in weeks, maybe three, four, five weeks. ., , ., weeks. 0k. robert ford, ifi can weeks. ok. robert ford, ifi can turn— weeks. 0k. robert ford, ifi can turn to _ weeks. 0k. robert ford, ifi can turn to you, _ weeks. 0k. robert ford, ifi can turn to you, you - weeks. 0k. robert ford, ifi can turn to you, you are - weeks. 0k. robert ford, if i i can turn to you, you are busily very familiar having served in iraq and syria in the diplomatic corps, how will this be received fair, particularly in iraq, which has that relationship with the us, and these attacks are now happened on its soil? i these attacks are now happened on its soil?— on its soil? i think there will be some _ on its soil? i think there will be some iraqis _ on its soil? i think there will be some iraqis that - on its soil? i think there will be some iraqis that will - on its soil? i think there will be some iraqis that will be l be some iraqis that will be happy about this but don't like these errani and backed militias. they are responsible for a lot of human rights violations, especially against the protest movement from three years ago. but at the same time, the governing sheer islamist —— shia islamist coalition, many of them will use these american attacks as a way to highlight american violations of iraqi sovereignty, and they will push

harder in bilateral negotiations that have only started about the future of american forces, and they will insist that the americans withdraw.— insist that the americans withdraw. ~ ., , . ., withdraw. would you expect to see some _ withdraw. would you expect to see some kind _ withdraw. would you expect to see some kind of— withdraw. would you expect to see some kind of military - withdraw. would you expect to see some kind of military level response? we see some kind of military level response?_ response? we will see a track which the _ response? we will see a track which the iraqi _ response? we will see a track which the iraqi government i response? we will see a track. which the iraqi government has energised to get the americans to withdraw their forces, and i think the kernel is exactly right that within a week or two, it will again start seeing small—scale attacks against american operating bases in syria and possibly in iraq, and sort of in a return to where we were, six, seven days ago. what do ou were, six, seven days ago. what do you think _ were, six, seven days ago. what do you think of _ were, six, seven days ago. what do you think of i _ were, six, seven days ago. what do you think of i think— were, six, seven days ago. what do you think of i think is - do you think of i think is absolutely _ do you think of i think is absolutely right. - do you think of i think is absolutely right. i - do you think of i think is absolutely right. i think| do you think of i think is - absolutely right. i think part of what _ absolutely right. i think part of what iran wants here is what the ambassador is talking about, _ the ambassador is talking about, part of what iran wants here _ about, part of what iran wants here is— about, part of what iran wants here is a — about, part of what iran wants here is a discussion in baghdad, in washington, dc, to

-et baghdad, in washington, dc, to get these — baghdad, in washington, dc, to get these american troops out. what _ get these american troops out. what iran— get these american troops out. what iran is looking for, one thing — what iran is looking for, one thing to— what iran is looking for, one thing to think about, the withdrawal really looms large over — withdrawal really looms large over the _ withdrawal really looms large over the reason, withdrawal really looms large overthe reason, it withdrawal really looms large over the reason, it really does. _ over the reason, it really does. so _ over the reason, it really does, so there is a thinking in a round — does, so there is a thinking in a round that let's start a conversation in dc. there is an america — conversation in dc. there is an america first movement. 0k, conversation in dc. there is an america first movement. ok, the conversation, what we have all the sitting ducks sitting here injordan, in iraq, in syria, what— injordan, in iraq, in syria, what vital— injordan, in iraq, in syria, what vital national interest they— what vital national interest they represent? and what iran wants— they represent? and what iran wants is— they represent? and what iran wants is a _ they represent? and what iran wants is a withdrawal of those american _ wants is a withdrawal of those american troops. then they can really— american troops. then they can really believe the region around, which is what i want. how— around, which is what i want. how does _ around, which is what i want. how does that all feed into sort of starting point of this current conflict, which was those attacks on october seven and israel's response to them? i think iran has hijacked that palestinian movement, this war in gaza. iran does not care about the palestinian movement, never has. the revolution of 1979. the palestinian movement is a largely sunni movement, and this is a movement that

iran does not care about. the people of iran largely don't care about. you don't see any protest in palestine inside of iran. they have hijacked that and they are using that to cause all kinds of disturbance in the region, shutdown commercial shipping in red sea, and what iran has done here, they have created a low—grade war with the west. it is the kind of war they want, because they have subcontracted all the fighting to these shia proxy groups that we just hit. we haven't hit anything that iran truly cares about.— haven't hit anything that iran truly cares about. robert ford, do ou truly cares about. robert ford, do you agree — truly cares about. robert ford, do you agree with _ truly cares about. robert ford, do you agree with that - truly cares about. robert ford, do you agree with that or- truly cares about. robert ford, do you agree with that or what| do you agree with that or what we might see next?— we might see next? well, i think as — we might see next? well, i think as we _ we might see next? well, i think as we said _ we might see next? well, i think as we said we - we might see next? well, i think as we said we will. we might see next? well, i think as we said we will be | think as we said we will be hack— think as we said we will be back where we were just a week or two— back where we were just a week or two ago. _ back where we were just a week or two ago, but i would say this— or two ago, but i would say this also, _ or two ago, but i would say this also, i think it is important for viewers to understand. iran is not 100 feet— understand. iran is not 100 feet tall, _ understand. iran is not 100 feet tall, iran has a lot of vulnerabilities itself, not the least — vulnerabilities itself, not the least of— vulnerabilities itself, not the least of which is its economic situation, _ least of which is its economic situation, but even these militias _ situation, but even these militias have caused huge resentment inside iraq, and in

addition, _ resentment inside iraq, and in addition, they feed best in neighbouring states that have themselves problems of mis—governance, and ethnic divides _ mis—governance, and ethnic divides. lebanon, for example. syria _ divides. lebanon, for example. syria for— divides. lebanon, for example. syria for example. iraq for example. the militias are not going — example. the militias are not going to _ example. the militias are not going to go and take over jordan, _ going to go and take over jordan, they are not going to id jordan, they are not going to go and — jordan, they are not going to go and take over saudi arabia. those — go and take over saudi arabia. those countries have themselves vast resources, and a sort of unity, — vast resources, and a sort of unity, which has long been tacking _ unity, which has long been lacking in places like iraq and lebanon. _ lacking in places like iraq and lebanon, and it is important for the — lebanon, and it is important for the united states, as we look— for the united states, as we took at _ for the united states, as we look at the situation, to decide _ look at the situation, to decide how big our american interests _ decide how big our american interests in keeping small american forces in places like iraq _ american forces in places like iraq and — american forces in places like iraq and syria, what is their mission _ iraq and syria, what is their mission and is the intent to leave — mission and is the intent to leave them there indefinitely? 0r leave them there indefinitely? or is— leave them there indefinitely? or is the — leave them there indefinitely? or is the intent to have a strategy— or is the intent to have a strategy whereby at some point they can — strategy whereby at some point they can be withdrawn? we have

been _ they can be withdrawn? we have been in — they can be withdrawn? we have been in iraq now since 2003. it's been in iraq now since 2003. it's 21— been in iraq now since 2003. it's 21 years. been in iraq now since 2003. it's 21 years— it's 21 years. and would you answer the _ it's 21 years. and would you answer the question - it's 21 years. and would you i answer the question yourself? what do you think? i answer the question yourself? what do you think?— what do you think? i think if the mission _ what do you think? i think if the mission is _ what do you think? i think if the mission is to _ what do you think? i think if the mission is to achieve - what do you think? i think if| the mission is to achieve the enduring _ the mission is to achieve the enduring defeat of isis, of dyess, _ enduring defeat of isis, of dyess, i_ enduring defeat of isis, of dyess, i think we have gone about— dyess, i think we have gone about as _ dyess, i think we have gone about as far as we can go. american _ about as far as we can go. american special forces cannot eliminate — american special forces cannot eliminate isis, and really in the — eliminate isis, and really in the end _ eliminate isis, and really in the end only indigenous forces, whether— the end only indigenous forces, whether in iraq or in syria, are — whether in iraq or in syria, are going _ whether in iraq or in syria, are going to be able to do that, _ are going to be able to do that, and the americans have spent — that, and the americans have spent years, years training these _ spent years, years training these forces. 0ne spent years, years training these forces. one thing we should _ these forces. one thing we should learn is that the americans's efforts cannot supplant those of local actors. what — supplant those of local actors. what is — supplant those of local actors. what is your view, joe, do you see that palatka blood pressure to do that? i see that palatka blood pressure to do that?— to do that? i hate to be in total agreement - to do that? i hate to be in total agreement in - to do that? i hate to be in total agreement in this i to do that? i hate to be in l total agreement in this kind to do that? i hate to be in i total agreement in this kind of programme but i have come around on this issue is that

when you visit those bases, the american special operations basesin american special operations bases in iraq and syria, there is not much more they can do to advance the syrian democratic forces that are fighting isis. and right now, the americans are not doing a whole lot of training or defending isis, they are hunkered down. they are trying to weather the storm here in the next series of attacks from the sheer proxy groups. there is also no off ramp. so there is no strategic exit. there is no strategic end state of having americans in these countries. i think it is time to really re—examine why we have forces, why we have hundreds of troops in iraq and syria. hundreds of troops in iraq and s ria. , , , ., syria. very briefly, we have been told — syria. very briefly, we have been told by _ syria. very briefly, we have been told by the _ syria. very briefly, we have been told by the white i syria. very briefly, we have l been told by the white house this is the first in a series in a response. with your military, central, knowledge, what do you think is going to come next?— what do you think is going to come next? a, ., ,., come next? more of the same. i think we are _ come next? more of the same. i think we are going _ come next? more of the same. i think we are going to _ come next? more of the same. i think we are going to do - think we are going to do another pass, what is known as

battle damage assessment identify which of these bunkers we hit, which we missed. how badly we have damaged some of these facilities committee structures, and then do another pass. 0ne structures, and then do another pass. one thing to keep in mind, the structures we built, they can rebuild pretty easily. these sheer max lowe —— schar proxy groups can take of the houses, iran can ship these munitions, these rockets back within three weeks as i said —— shia proxy groups. the damage is not significantly lasting damage. is not significantly lasting damaue. ~ ., is not significantly lasting damaue. . ., ., is not significantly lasting damaue. ~ ., ., ., damage. we leave it on that note for now. _ damage. we leave it on that note for now. let's - damage. we leave it on that note for now. let's go i damage. we leave it on that note for now. let's go live i damage. we leave it on that| note for now. let's go live to baghdad and we can speak to hugo bachega. what's the reaction been like in iraq and the wider region to the strikes from the us? we the wider region to the strikes from the us?— the wider region to the strikes from the us? ~ . ., , ., from the us? we had a statement

from the us? we had a statement from spokesman _ from the us? we had a statement from spokesman for _ from the us? we had a statement from spokesman for the _ from the us? we had a statement from spokesman for the iraqi i from spokesman for the iraqi military, saying that these strikes that happened here in iraq were unacceptable. he said that these strikes are a violation of the country's sovereignty and that they threatened to drag iraq and the region into unforeseen consequences. now, overthe last few days, the iraqi authorities had expressed their discontent over the, you know, speculation that american forces would strike positions inside hirak and, again, there had been pressure from the iraqi authorities from these groups supported by iran to stop those attacks —— inside iraq. they believed that these militias were dragging iraq into this conflict and all these groups that have been operating here in iraq have been attacking those us bases, as part of this coalition of

forces, the islamic resistance of hirak which is an umbrella of hirak which is an umbrella of different factions that are supported by iran so again the iraqi authorities believe these attacks, more than 160 attacks in total recently, not only here in iraq but also in syria were dragging iraq into this conflict so some condemnation today from some iraqi authorities after these strikes that hit positions not only here in iraq but also in syria. hugo, has there been any indication yet, obviously it is morning there now, any indication of the extent of these strikes damage and whether they have been casualties?— whether they have been casualties? still waiting to see what _ casualties? still waiting to see what has _ casualties? still waiting to see what has been - casualties? still waiting to see what has been hit. i casualties? still waiting to see what has been hit. us| see what has been hit. us officials are saying military infrastructure was targeted,

weapons as well so obvious targets were hit, more than 85 targets were hit, more than 85 targets in seven locations in iraq and syria hit in this first wave of attacks and i think four days we've been talking about the possibilities of these attacks and been waiting for these attacks to happen because american officials have been saying they were going to retaliate so obviously, this gave some time for those senior commanders, for those senior commanders, for those senior commanders, for those members of those groups to leave those bases so perhaps, this was part of the american strategy to minimise casualties, to try to reduce tensions and obviously tried to prevent a major escalation following those strikes and obviously, you know, president biden has been, you know, in a very difficult situation, walking a fine line that he wants to show that america is responding to the attack that happened injordan on sunday, the attack which left three american troops killed, but at

the same time he did not want to, you know, escalate the situation even further here in the middle east that would result in a response from iran. iranian officials have been saying they do not want a direct confrontation with the americans but i think one of the questions here is over how or even if the iranians are going to respond.- or even if the iranians are going to respond. 0k. hugo bacheaa going to respond. 0k. hugo bachega in _ going to respond. 0k. hugo bachega in bag _ going to respond. 0k. hugo bachega in bag dad, - going to respond. 0k. hugo bachega in bag dad, thank i going to respond. 0k. hugo i bachega in bag dad, thank you very much for that. sticking with a run's conflict involvement, it has denied any direct involvement in the drone attack injordan on sunday. we know that apra renia militia, as hugo explained, based in iraq, syria, lebanon, the palestinian territories. —— based in iraq, syria, lebanon, the palestinian territories and as far south as yemen. all are opposed to israel and the united states. the bbc�*s analysis editor ros atkins takes a closer look now at what we know about iran's alliances, and the so—called axis of resistance. as the crisis in the middle east escalates, there's one country the us

references all the time. we do not want this war to widen but if iran or its proxies attack us personnel anywhere, make no mistake, we will defend our people, we will defend our security, swiftly and decisively. last weekend, three us soldiers were killed in a drone attack. the location was north—eastern jordan. the target was a us military base called tower 22. the group claiming responsibility is the islamic resistance in iraq but the us is clear on where blame really lies. 0ur teams here are continuing to do the analysis but we know that iran is behind it and, certainly, as — as we've said before here in this in this briefing room, iran continues to arm and equip these groups to launch these attacks. iran calls these claims "baseless accusations" but iran does have a network of allies across the region. it has a name for it — the axis of resistance — united, it says, in its opposition to israel and the us. this axis includes the group

behind the tower 22 attack. iran has taken advantage, frankly, of the current moment of conflict to do what iran has been doing for many, many years, which is to disrupt, to target the us and partners in a variety of ways, mostly through the efforts of its proxy militias. and since hamas's attack on october seventh, and israel's response to it, this disruption has taken many forms. for example, houthi rebels in yemen have repeatedly attacked shipping in the red sea. the us says there have been over 160 attacks by militia on its military positions in iraq and syria. but how does this network of allies work, how close is their relationship with iran, and what is iran trying to achieve? if we go back to 1979, there was an uprising in iran against the monarchy. iran became an islamic republic. ever since, it's sought to spread its influence in the region.

in recent years, that's involved support for the assad regime in syria, where iranian forces have been deployed, support for large militant groups such as hezbollah in lebanon and the houthis in yemen, and support for smaller groups, including in iraq. we have a whole range of iraqi shia militias which have been formed in lots of different ways and have very different connections with iran and, in fact, they're in an umbrella movement that has non—shia militias included as well, so it's very complicated to navigate the types of links within that part of the axis of resistance. and iran's support for its network comes in several forms. first, money. in 2020, the us estimated that iran gave hezbollah $700 million a year, as well as $100 million a year to palestinian groups, including hamas, and it estimates the houthis have received hundreds of millions of dollars, too. iran doesn't acknowledge this funding. but as well as money, iran is supplying weapons, too. recently, two us military

personnel died in an operation to intercept a boat in the red sea. the us released this image. it says the boat was transporting iranian—made weapons to the houthis. 0r there's hezbollah. 0ne estimate put his arsenal at 130,000 rockets and missiles. —— 0ne estimate put its arsenal at 130,000 rockets and missiles. it's believed many of them come from iran. and if iran is supplying money and weapons, is it also coordinating the actions of its allies? after 0ctober seventh, the us acknowledged: more broadly, iran's allies appear to operate with a significant degree of independence, but that needs placing in context. iran does not necessarily exert day—to—day operational control over each and every one of its proxies. but that being said, when you provide strategic direction, when you provide significant materiel,

and you provide significant training, you cannot avoid culpability. and given this level of support from iran, inevitably, many are asking what does it want? well, to understand this, we again need to look at iran's history — not least the iran—iraq war of the 1980s, which began when iraq invaded. iran doesn't necessarily see itself as an aggressive actor. it sees itself as deeply vulnerable. in particular, memories of the iran—iraq war, when it was very vulnerable to iraqi missiles and many people died, are absolutely key in iran's political conception of where it sits in the region. so, its whole policy is built on never again allowing itself to be encircled or isolated. and to meet that goal, the axis of resistance is crucial.

it is not looking for a massive escalation and a war outright with the us or israel. what it's interested in, however, is maintaining the kind of equilibrium and violence groups that it has across the region. in a statement this week, iran's revolutionary guard said: iran's motivations and ambitions are a fiercely contested subject. but as the us calibrates its response to the tower 22 attack, there's no debate that the axis of resistance is crucial to iran's efforts to position itself in the region and to challenge israel and america. let's recap what we know. in response to sunday's deadly drone strike on troops in jordan the us has targeted seven locations — four in syria, three in iraq. they struck individual targets that are linked to a run, it believes. they include command and control centres,

headquarter building and intelligence centres, rocket missile and drone storage facilities and logistics and munition supply facilities. that's it for the moment. thank you for watching. hello, there. some very mild conditions around at the moment. plenty of cloud but also some sunshine at times, such as here in aberdeenshire on friday. a blustery day of weather but temperatures lifted 15 degrees. —— a blustery day of weather but temperatures to 15 degrees. 15.5 degrees in the southeast of northern ireland but towards western coasts, a very different story. still mild but grey, drizzly, lots of low cloud, mistand murk, and not a lot is set to change through the weekend. it certainly stays mild and it will be blustery, too, with brisk southwesterly winds blowing. on saturday, high pressure remains to the south. we keep the strength of the wind. this cold front just sinking a little further southwards but not making too many inroads at all

into the south of england and wales where, again, a very mild start on saturday morning. temperatures in double figures. clear spells through the night. further north, here, a chillier start to the day but again, temperatures well above but it's across northern england, northern ireland, and eastern scotland where we see the best of the day's sunshine. still strong, gusty winds to the east of the pennines. showers piling into western scotland. and just where we have this cold front across wales and stretching into east anglia, there could be some outbreaks of rain on and off. but it is grey, drizzly, mild for the south of the front. 13 or 1a celsius. even in cardiff, temperatures all the way up to 11 degrees as we go through the afternoon for the six nations rugby. there will be a brisk, westerly—southwesterly wind blowing, as well. on sunday, a few changes. now, this is a warm front. it's going to be dragging that very mild airfurther northwards as we head throughout the day, so we will see some rain to start the day in northern ireland, that rain pushing into western scotland, where it will turn really quite heavy, particularly as we go into the evening. again, very mild—feeling conditions, 8—11; celsius.

those temperatures picking up for northern scotland later on through the night. some particularly heavy downpours across western scotland as we head through sunday night and again into monday. some more spots, across western ross, into argyll, could see as much as 150 to 170 millimetres of rainfall. elsewhere, across the rest of the uk on monday, again, a few spots of drizzle. to the west, the best of the brightness will be towards the east. but temperatures once again for many 12—14 celsius. there will be some brightness around on monday. on tuesday, we start to see perhaps a little bit more in the way of rain and a northerly wind developing could bring us colder conditions into wednesday.

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