live from washington. this is bbc news. the us and uk lead international airstrikes on iran—backed houthi positions in yemen — in the latest response to attacks on red sea ships. it comes a day after the us hit iraq and syria with airstrikes in retaliation for last weekend's deadly drone strike on us troops injordan. presidentjoe biden saunters to victory in south carolina, where democrats held their first primary election of the year. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. we start in the middle east, where the us and uk have led more coalition strikes against the iran—backed houthis in yemen. this video from us central command shows american aircraft taking

off for the raids. according to centcom — 36 houthi targets have been struck. this is the third round of strikes led by the us and uk and involved support from australia, bahrain, denmark, canada, the netherlands and new zealand. in addition to these latest joint strikes. us central command says it also launched what it calls defensive strikes against six anti—ship cruise missiles in houthi—held areas in yemen. in a statement, the us defense secretary lloyd austin says the action "sends a clear message to the houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels". we have also heard from the uk defence secretary grant shapps. in a statement, he says: "this is not an escalation... it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation." the raids follow us strikes in iraq and syria on friday. 85 sites were hit in retaliation for the killing injordan of three american soldiers by iranian—backed militants.

these pictures, verified by the bbc, show the aftermath of friday's strikes in iraq. iraqi officials say that 16 people were killed and 25 injured in those strikes. iran has condemned the attacks as a "strategic mistake that is against the sovereignty of iraq and syria." the un security council will meet on monday to discuss the us strikes, on the request of russia. for the latest, i spoke with our senior international correspondent orla guerin, who is in baghdad. we've seen now the us and uk have launched the third round of strikes against houthi targets in yemen, what is the latest you can tell us it's been happening in the region? yes, third round ofjoint strikes, the third round carried out over the next month or so — and we have been told that the aim was self—defense, to prevent the houthis from carrying out attacks on international shipping.

we heard an earlier round of strikes have destroyed six anti—ship missiles that the houthis were targeting nbc in the spring carried out and it hasn't so far been stopping the houthis from carrying out attacks on international shipping, but i think it is a sign of the times and of the instability in the middle east at the moment that we are talking about american strikes on targets in three countries of the past 2a hours. we have these joint strikes of the uk and the iranian backed in yemen and of course last night, we had to strikes by the us on 85 targets — once again on iranian backed militia here in iraq also in syria and part us service people last sunday and since —— of america's response to the killing of three us service people last sunday and since then, the region has been

counting the costs and the been angry statements from the areas here in baghdad accusing america fuelling instability in the region. there's been condemnation from syria in tehran but interestingly, that's all, angry words but no action, no action taken by tehran and america is a careful last night not to hit iranian soil. and us air strikes and we were told there would be more, it seems as if the fundamentals of not shifted in the americans are still signalling that they do not want a major escalation with iran and it seems like is still the same and does not want anything to get worse and so far, at least, we have not seen any major response by the iranian backed militias here on the ground in iraq, they seemed for now, at least, to be lying low. it comes a time of retention in the region with israel's war on gaza, what you think the larger

consequences of these strikes could be in the region? i think we have to judge this day by day, and it's an indication of what a dangerous moment this is in the middle east and we cannot look beyond the next 2a hours and to some extent, looks like what america does next is the second wave of strikes in the same kind of magnitude — i expect it will be, and that's pretty much in line with what was expected in the region and let's bear in mind that america's signalled some days in advance that there will be retaliation. there was plenty of time for senior iranian figures to get out of harm's way and indeed for weapons and ammunition to be moved to safer locations, so i think the white house is made its point without inflicting a massive military loss of the iranian backed militias and it seems provoking any kind of major response from them,

that said, they may continue and probably will continue carrying out attacks on us spaces —— us bases, as they have been doing a more than 160 attacks since hamas attacked israel on october the 7th, leading to the israeli assault on gaza. and running through all of this now for the americans is the hope that there can be a diplomatic breakthrough coming from antony blinken�*s next trip to the region. he's pushing hard to change and secure another cease—fire in gaza for one to two months which was in —— which would see the release of israeli hostages and release of israeli hostages and release of a number, possibly all, palestinian prisoners from israeli jails. we do not know if they can secure that agreement but that is increasingly the focus in the white house because the belief is if they can be a cease—fire

in gaza, it can try to take away the fuel for the fires that are burning throughout the middle east now. thank you for your insight. earlier, i talked with former senior director for middle east affairs at the white house national security council michael singh. he's now at the washington institute. good to have you back on bbc news. i want to start with this fresh round of strikes against houthi targets we've seen, 36 targets. do you think this will be effective integrated the houthis capabilities? i think what we have seen so far is despite the us and british airstrikes are the houthis have been able to maintain significant capabilities and will continue their attacks on red sea shipping and that's in large part because the types of attacks that houthis are mounting do not require an enormous amount of military capabilities that are using things that are mobile, like drones or missiles that can be moved

from place to place so there's a real challenge for the united states in the uk to eliminate the capability and so far the us and uk have not pursued the alternative which is to engage in a strike that is so tough and iranian targets that could they convince say the houthis or iran to pull back. how can they deter the houthis completely? inside yemen, it would be difficult to find such a target and with the united states with the uk do not want to do, they do not want to reignite or get themselves involved any more than they have to in yemen, and if you want to escalate further, take the next step and again horizontal escalation in looking at iranian targets that can be supporting the houthis. at the same time. that we have seen the strikes

in iraq and syria, we see in the usa saying this isjust the beginning, do you see a long running operation in the region? i think that's what the white house is trying to avoid, the conundrum from white house wants to retaliate because we did average american service members killed, doesn't want to be dragged to a long way east or spark a regional war and they want to prevent and avoid and so what that means is you get this us retaliation that is relatively modest, i don't want to downplay it too much because they did kill some militia members on the other side but it is not perhaps to stop the attacks or spark that confrontation were trying to avoid in its rather in the middle, as it were. is it really possible to completely deter some of these

iranians back militias in iraq and syria. iranians back militias in iraq and syria-— iranians back militias in iraq and syria. iranians back militias in iraq ands ria. ., ., ., ,, ., .,, and syria. that do appear to be 0 eratin: and syria. that do appear to be operating not _ and syria. that do appear to be operating not entirely - and syria. that do appear to be operating not entirely with - and syria. that do appear to be operating not entirely with the | operating not entirely with the green light and the go—ahead from iran itself? i green light and the go-ahead from iran itself?— from iran itself? i think it is possible- — from iran itself? i think it is possible- i _ from iran itself? i think it is possible. i think— from iran itself? i think it is possible. i think there - possible. i think there is a strong iranians and is with the particular militias that are acting against the united states but in the past we have seen as it requires a much greater risk tolerance from the united states that so father biden miller —— biden administration has been willing to show. when we have done this successfully, during the 2000s of the last administration, it means going after more serious targets. the biden at the station doesn't really want to take that risk, period, and it feels like it is a bit more volatile and fragile so maybe they are worrying more about they are worrying more about the consequences of taking on that kind of target that again the consequence of that risk of urgent means you get stuck in this tit—for—tat cycle that has no foreseeable end. this tit-for-tat cycle that has no foreseeable end.- this tit-for-tat cycle that has no foreseeable end. that is an important _ no foreseeable end. that is an important point, _ no foreseeable end. that is an important point, the _

no foreseeable end. that is an important point, the volatilityl important point, the volatility in the region at the moment. of course with the israel gaza war. i want to ask you about that as well because the secretary of state has heading to the regnet again. how much do you think this ups the pressure on him to facilitate something that leads towards a ceasefire? , , , ., , ceasefire? the pressure was already there _ ceasefire? the pressure was already there and _ ceasefire? the pressure was already there and what - ceasefire? the pressure was - already there and what probably be in ministration is thinking internally is they are committed to this idea of retaliating for the attacks against the united states. beasley that retaliation has been pretty measured, may be too measured in the eyes of some in washington but i think they probably believe that the real way to take the wind out of the sails of the and these iraqi and assyrian militias is to somehow get some sort of end to somehow get some sort of end to the fighting in gaza —— syrian. but that is where antony blinken will focus his energies. i think they view gaza as the central pillar of what is happening in the

region. what is happening in the reuion. �* ., , ., region. agreed to get your perspective. _ region. agreed to get your perspective, michael, - region. agreed to get your perspective, michael, on | region. agreed to get your. perspective, michael, on this thank you so much. the rising tensions in the middle east of course, come against the backdrop of the israel—gaza war. the hamas—run health ministry says at least 27,238 palestinians have been killed since october seven and 66,452 injured — by israeli strikes and military actions in the strip. the death toll has increased by 107 in the past day — with 165 injured. diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure another deal between the two parties to allow for more humanitarian aid into gaza and release remaining hostages. and on saturday, thousands gathered in israel protesting against the government, and calling for it to do more to facilitate a deal to release the more than one hundred hostages still in captivity. relatives of the hostages and their supporters have been gathering almost daily in tel aviv. 0ur news partner cbs projects president biden as the winner of the south carolina democratic race. it's where democrats voted in their first primary of 2024 saturday. biden posted on x saying:

the results are hardly a surprise. in a campaign speech this morning, the president was already turning his attention to the general election, in november. this is not just this is notjust a campaign. this is notjust a campaign. this is notjust a campaign. this is more of a mission. we cannot, we cannot we cannot lose his campaign for the good of the country. and i mean that from the bottom of my heart. it is not about me because well beyond me, it goes about the country. in most polls, mr biden is currently neck and neck with mr trump — the republican front—runner and former president. but the general election is still months away. the former president handily won the iowa caucuses and new hampshire primary. with trump's grip on the republican party seemingly cemented, biden is now looking to shore up his voter base. but one of the big questions surrounding the biden campaign is how they handle his age. a cnn poll this week says that about 46% of democrat and democratic leaning voters' biggest concern is biden�*s age.

fore more on this, i talked with hyma moore, a political strategist and principal at cornerstone — a bipartisan government relations firm. hyma is former chief of staff and advisor to the chairman of the democratic national committee. hyma, great to see you and great to have you on. the current president because my age, concerns about his standing amongst black voters. how big are these stumbling blocks for president biden? i think all of these things will be very important for the president. when you look at what he said this is weak and what he said this is weak and what vice president harris has said this week in south carolina, here is a reality. president trump is also up in age and can be seen in some of the same light so i think the president understand that this will be a liability in some way that he will look at using it as a sign of experience was he has been around for long time.

it was said before, we knowjoe and joe knows us and he will try to bring that back to the table and try to take the age of as a big liability.— of as a big liability. that will be tough _ of as a big liability. that will be tough among - of as a big liability. that will be tough among younger voters, hyma. but it is not just south carolina. looking at some of the poles, joe biden is not particular popular among democrats as well. —— polls. how is the dnc dealing with this? , ,., , how is the dnc dealing with this? , , _, how is the dnc dealing with this? , , ., this? these polls come out in raid this? these polls come out in rapid succession _ this? these polls come out in rapid succession and - this? these polls come out in rapid succession and it - this? these polls come out in rapid succession and it is - this? these polls come out in| rapid succession and it is hard to look at the numbers. the dnc has been working for the last four years to make sure that president biden�*s message is resonating. i think the reality is there are some issues right now so the dnc, the democrats right now, the local state parties, are trying to figure out the best direct way to deliver this message was about the end of the day, there are some really great things the president can point to all across the country, particularly in the battleground states that will be very important to him. jobs

have risen, people say anyone who wants a job has a job and thatis who wants a job has a job and that is a big deal. so you will see him talking about that a lot more and you will see democrats, governors, mayors, all the surrogates around the country, having a little conversation about more directly. conversation about more directly-— conversation about more directl . , ., directly. the point is on the economic— directly. the point is on the economic messaging, - directly. the point is on the economic messaging, the l directly. the point is on the i economic messaging, the jobs economic messaging, thejobs numbers are strong. until now, however, americans haven't seemed to trust president biden over the former president in particular over the economy. how do you think we will see the strategy change on messaging on the economy in particular? {iii messaging on the economy in particular?— particular? of the things is their messaging _ particular? of the things is their messaging has - particular? of the things is their messaging has not i particular? of the things is - their messaging has not worked as quickly but the reality is, there are real, tenable things there are real, tenable things the president can point to that have changed people's alive. we remember the chaos of donald trump, former president trump, remember covid—i9, we remember all of these things and the

president has two remind us what it was like four years ago and talk to us about how he will finish thejob. he believes is not done but he has to go out there and get the votes. we will see more campaigning directly with voters, that is one of his strong suit and he will take the message directly to the states. he will set sharpening more and more. we states. he will set sharpening more and more.— states. he will set sharpening more and more. we had we will see the president _ more and more. we had we will see the president out _ more and more. we had we will see the president out on - more and more. we had we will see the president out on the . see the president out on the voter line. there are concerns about voters after the handling of the gaza war. we saw protests in michigan during the visit they. we have not heard at that address directly. how will the campaign tried to address these issues? i think ou are address these issues? i think you are absolutely _ address these issues? i think you are absolutely right. - address these issues? i think you are absolutely right. it i you are absolutely right. it will be a huge issue for the selection on both sides and one of the things the president is trying to do, on one hand is trying to do, on one hand is trying to do, on one hand is trying to get in there and get

the work done that will relieve pressure and secondly he will have to articulate what he has been able to do over the past few months, to lower the temperature, and do his best to make the reality, that the president and i believe this conflict has two and and he has to talk about this more. but some tough issues and he knows he's going to have to present case to americans and the global audience in a way that allows people to see that he is concerned and he is working hard and working on both sides to bring this to a close. fine to bring this to a close. one more question, _ to bring this to a close. one more question, hyma. - to bring this to a close. one more question, hyma. looking at the head with the former president. sometimes either are one or two points ahead. what is the main strategy, pointing out what the donald trump presidency was like four years

ago? presidency was like four years a . o? , , presidency was like four years a i o? , , , presidency was like four years auo? , , , ., presidency was like four years auo? , , ., , ago? yes. this is a reality, president _ ago? yes. this is a reality, president donald - ago? yes. this is a reality, president donald trump'sl president donald trump's campaign is very strong and he is getting stronger, i believe. but the reality is still the reality. donald trump when he was president was a president of chaos and we were not in a better place when he left the white house and so president biden and vice president kamala harris will use that as a linchpin to voters. real things they can point to that show that evidence. but here is to think like i said before, donald trump's campaign is in a strong case, as you saw in our and you will see in south carolina. he is in a better position than 2016 so president biden cannot take this for granted. it is to be more direct with people about why their lives are different than they were four years ago. hyma, aood to they were four years ago. hyma, good to take _ they were four years ago. hyma, good to take your— they were four years ago. hyma, good to take your take _ they were four years ago. hyma, good to take your take on - they were four years ago. hyma, good to take your take on the .

good to take your take on the story. thank you forjoining us. story. thank you for “oining us. ., ~' story. thank you for “oining us. ., ~ , ., it's been a historic day in belfast, where devolved government has been restored in northern ireland, and it has chosen its first irish nationalist leader. michelle 0'neill was elected first minister. her party, sinn fein, hopes to one day unite northern ireland with the republic of ireland. sinn fein became the biggest party during elections two years ago. it is also two years to the day that the assembly at stormont last met, after the main unionist party — the democratic unionists — walked out of the power—sharing agreement over post—brexit trading rules. 0ur political editor, chris mason, reports from belfast. good morning, stormont! stormont�*s back up and running today, we've been running the past two years. limbering up and under way — park runners here first thing, pounding around the stormont estate. and the politicians are back, too. whoo! and it's notjust you guys rattling around here now. no, there's going to be a few others rattling around. so there's going to be quite a number in the house, i believe, today. but they're welcome

tojoin the park run. good to see them back? erm... we'll see. to be confirmed, still. so you thought you'd run at stormont today because the politicians are back? yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. hopefully, a wee bit more conversation, going forward. arriving here not long later, today's headline—maker, michelle 0'neill, walking towards a place in northern ireland's history as the first nationalist first minister. the assembly is back, and now with a first minister who speaks in english and irish. she speaks irish. today opens the door to a future, a shared future. i am honoured to stand here as first minister. michelle 0'neill pledged that she would work for everyone in northern ireland. with all those colleagues of a british, of a unionist tradition who cherish the union, this is an assembly for all — catholic, protestant,

and the centre. 0n northern ireland's violence murder, known as the troubles, a notable apology for all deaths. we must never forget all those who have died or been injured or theirfamilies. i am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict, without exception. history can at once be national, however defined, and deeply personal. and this is an historic day. and it does represent a new dawn. for the very first time, a nationalist takes up the position of first minister. that such a day would ever come was unimaginable to my parents�* and grandparents�* generation. northern ireland's first and deputy first ministers have equal legal powers, but sinn fein won more seats than the second—biggest party, the democratic unionists, at the last elections. so the dup take the deputy position. michelle is an irish republican

and i am a very proud unionist. we will never agree on those issues, but what we can agree on is that cancer doesn't discriminate and our hospitals need fixed. there is widespread support here for the return of devolution, but it's not universal. some unionists think the dup should not have come back because some eu rules still apply in northern ireland. of all those attempts to spin defeat as victory, this is a climb—down of monumental proportions. the business of governing, deciding, scrutinising resumes again here. chris mason, bbc news, in belfast. let's turn to some important news around the world. police in paris are investigating a knife attack at a busy train station. police say three people were wounded on saturday, at the city's gare de lyon rail station. the suspected attacker was arrested, though a motive was not immediately clear. armed soldiers are now patrolling the station.

forest fires in chile have killed at least 46 people in the coastal tourist city of vina del mar, according to officials there. rescue teams have been deployed to affected areas throughout the valparaiso region. the fire has destroyed homes and cars, reaching urban areas. the extent of the destruction has not yet been measured according to the country's interior minister. mass demonstrations against the far—right afd party have taken place in towns and cities across germany for the third weekend in a row. in the biggest protest in berlin, an estimated 150,000 people rallied outside the german parliament building — the reichstag. that's 50,000 more than organisers had expected. the rallies were in response to revelations afd leading figures participated in a meeting with extremists, where plans were discussed to deport people with non—german backgrounds. in senegal, president macky sall announced he will postpone this month's presidential election, because of a political dispute that erupted after many candidates were barred from standing. sall reiterated that he would not be running for a third term, but some opposition candidates

have condemned the move as a constitutional coup, and said they would challenge it in court. influential islamic clerics had earlier warned that postponing the vote risked destabilising senegal. just to recap on our top story, the us and uk have led more coalition strikes against the iran—backed houthis in yemen. 36 houthi targets have been struck. this is the third round of strikes led by the us and uk and involved support from australia, bahrain, denmark, canada, the netherlands and new zealand. us central command says it also launched what it calls defensive strikes against six anti—ship cruise missiles in houthi—held areas in yemen. the raids follow us strikes in iraq and syria on friday. 85 sites were hit in retaliation for the killing injordan of three american soldiers by iranian—backed militants.

stay with us here on bbc news. thank you for watching. hello. cloudy, windy and mild pretty much covers sunday's weather forecast in most parts of the uk. we do have this wriggling weather front which will bring rain for some, particularly in the western side of scotland. but with that front edging a little bit further northwards, it will introduce milder air for more of us. but with that extensive cloud cover, it will be quite misty and murky for some coasts and hills. a bit of rain across north—west england, parts of northern ireland, but more especially, this western side of scotland, the rain becoming heavy and persistent. eastern scotland with a bit of shelter from the winds, while here, we mayjust see a little bit of sunshine. but it is going to be a windy day for many of us. very windy in the far north. gusts of 60 miles per hour, for example, in shetland, where temperatures will only climb to four degrees. but elsewhere, further south, highs of 13 or 1a degrees — well above the average

for early—february. and then during sunday night, the rain keeps on coming in western scotland, hence this met office yellow weather warning. the wettest locations over higher ground could see 170 millimetres of rain. some snow mixing into the north of our weather front, where it engages some cold air. very mild, though, further south, as we start monday morning. through monday, we'll continue to see these outbreaks of heavy rain just waxing and waning across the northwest of scotland, with some snow across the far north. but to the south of that, it stays mild, it stays quite windy, it stays very cloudy, with some mist and murk and some spots of drizzle. temperatures up to around 13, maybe 1a degrees once again, but always colder to the north of our weather front. just two degrees there, in lerwick. and by tuesday, well, that frontal system looks set to push a little bit further southwards. so rain for northern ireland, northern england, perhaps into north wales. to the south of that, still cloudy, a bit murky, very mild. to the north of our weather front, well, some sunny spells, a few wintry showers in the far north and something just a little bit chillier.

now, this weather front just wriggles around through the middle part of the week. it will bring further outbreaks of rain. later in the week, it does look like these various frontal systems will eventually push southwards and that will allow some colder air to dig its way across more parts of the uk. it is going to take a while for that colder air to spread southwards, but it does look like, as we get through the end of the week and into the weekend, it will turn colder for all of us. yes, there'll be some rain, but for some, there may also be some snow.

v0|ce—0ver: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. in february 2023, two powerful earthquakes hit southern turkey and northern syria. more than 56,000 people were killed. almost half of them lived in turkey's hatay province. across the earthquake region, 1.5 million people lost their homes. hundreds of thousands have left but some stayed.