live from washington, this is bbc news. very good you happy with us. we can bring you the latest that we know at this hour on this breaking news that iran has launched an attack against israel. run�*s revolutionary guard against israel. run's revolutionary guard has confirmed the attack was in part response a deadly israeli air strike that destroyed and are running in syria earlier this month. here is what we know about the situation in israel at the moment. israel's military says it is not advising any residence to take shelter, revising an earlier alert. efavirenz sounded in multiple locations in israel. we also know that there are explosions overjerusalem according to witnesses and israeli media day that they are from aerial interceptions. israel's defence forces say that one girl has been injured

and that light damage was caused to a military base. we do not have details of which are based. the idea's spokesman says the ten—year—old girl injured from falling debris has been treated by paramedics. we can take a look at the international response to the attack. israel calling for a united nations security council meeting tomorrow, sunday, in new york. the ambassador to the un says that "these attacks are part of a dangerous trend of deterioration, the gravity and volume of the attacks are unprecedented and a fragrant violation of israel's sovereignty, international law and resolutions." antonio and resolutions. " antonio guterres and resolutions." antonio guterres released a statement as well saying "i condemn this retaliation from the islamic republic of a run. i call for a cessation of this hostility and

i am alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating regionwide escalation. real danger of a devastating regionwide escalation. i real danger of a devastating regionwide escalation. i would urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to a major military confrontation on multiple fronts in the middle east. in the united states, president biden posted this picture on x saying he had just met with his national security team for an update on iran's attacks on israel and he says "our commitment is ironclad." you can see that is actually the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu on a phone call. that phone call between president biden and prime minister netanyahu a short while ago. an earlier as well be heard from daniel hagari, spokesperson for the israel defense forces.— spokesperson for the israel defense forces. tonight, iran launched a — defense forces. tonight, iran launched a co-ordinated - defense forces. tonight, iranl launched a co-ordinated attack launched a co—ordinated attack on israel. the regime fired a

massive swarm, over 200 killer drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, towards the state of israel. together with our allies and partners across the region, we are operating at this very moment to defend israel from iran's attack. so far, we have intercepted a vast majority of incoming missiles by israeli systems. so far, we have intercepted and are continuing to intercept dozens of attack drones as well as cruise missiles and ballistic missiles outside of israel's border. a number of iranian missiles fell inside is rarely territory, causing minor damage to a military base with no casualties. only one little girl has been hurt and we hope she will be well. the iranian

attack is ongoing. our plans are in the air. tonight, a widespread attack by it iran is a major escalation. together with our allies and partners, we are operating at full force to defend the state of israel and the people of israel. we will continue to fulfil this mission. will continue to fulfil this mission-— will continue to fulfil this mission. , ,, mission. idf spokesperson daniel hagari _ mission. idf spokesperson daniel hagari speaking - mission. idf spokesperson daniel hagari speaking a l mission. idf spokesperson i daniel hagari speaking a little earlier. as we were playing that sound bite you might have noticed on the right—hand side of your screen where we have got that live shot focused on jerusalem, the camera there appeared a little shaky. we don't exactly know why that is. potentially some activity, but we will continue to monitor that and bring you more information as you get it. what we had seen in the past few

hours were some flares lighting up hours were some flares lighting up the night sky, but of course it is the early hours of the morning. the scene that you can see right there now is the live position, the camera on northern israel in haifa. let's go over to the bbc�*s arab affairs editor sebastian because he is standing by. he is monitoring this live from our newsroom in london, right across the region. just bring us up—to—date with the latest. well, i think what we have seen, obviously it is unprecedented. it is a major escalation, as we just heard from the israeli army spokesman. but i think we may have seen the worst of it tonight. as we have also heard, the israeli military has told israelis that they don't need to stay near shelters now. we have heard that the damage has been minor and there has only been minor and there has only been one casualties so far —

one person who was injured. so, the air defence system of israel, which is extremely sophisticated and which has faced off against rockets from mahboba's promise from gaza for years, seems to have done inside inside israel and outside israel. there have been videos posted online from sources showing impact points but those have not been verified so images of explosions, quite dramatic imagery. some of that has been from other conflicts. so, the real question now is — whether we go from here? where does israel go from here? israel has talked a significant response to what has happened, a significant military response, but there has not been — and i think this may have been part of iran's strategy here — as though this was a very large attack in terms of the numbers

of missiles and drones that were sent — over 200. it was always going to be limited by the air defence system that israel has. there has not been, so far, any major destruction, any major loss of life in israel. so, ithink any major loss of life in israel. so, i think the us in particular will be trying to speak to israel and ask the israeli government to moderate its response to try to prevent this further escalating. i think there is a huge question mark over that, over the two weeks that have passed since the attack on the iranian embassy compound in damascus that sparked this attack. there was question about how iran would respond — with it be through its proxies again? how would it ratchet up its response? it needed to show that it was capable of greater deterrence, perhaps, than it has done previously. this was a

senior general who was killed in that attack and iran regarded it as an attack on its sovereign territory. so, a response was expected. this speculation has now ended. we have seen that this was a major attack. it was unprecedented in coming from iranian territory. it's message to the un earlier was that essentially if regarded this episode is over, that it had made its response, and i guess the hope was and is that the response from israel will not push the potential of a greater conflict over the edge, and that is what we are all going to wait for in the coming hours and the coming days. coming hours and the coming da s. �* , , ., coming hours and the coming da s. �* , ., �* days. briefly, if you don't mind, sebastian, - days. briefly, if you don't mind, sebastian, what. days. briefly, if you don't. mind, sebastian, what will days. briefly, if you don't - mind, sebastian, what will you be watching for in the next, say, 48 hours?— say, 48 hours? well, most closely. — say, 48 hours? well, most closely, what _ say, 48 hours? well, most closely, what the - say, 48 hours? well, most closely, what the israeli. closely, what the israeli government says and potentially what it does, i think we may see a much shorter time frame between what has happened

tonight and the israeli response from when we saw the iranian response, the two weeks since the attack in damascus and its response tonight. so, there will be great focus on that and on the us. there has already been a phone call between president biden and the israeli prime minister. i think president biden has been reported to have essentially asked mr netanyahu to try and moderate israel's response to prevent it escalating further — this fear of the conflict in gaza which has now been going for more than six months widening, because the region has been key throughout and this has brought it and made those fears far more real than they had been up until now, so they had been up until now, so the real focus will be on trying to calm the situation as much as possible.— much as possible. sebastian usher, bbc _ much as possible. sebastian usher, bbc arab _ much as possible. sebastian usher, bbc arab affairs - much as possible. sebastian i usher, bbc arab affairs editor, thank you so much. let's go live to aaron david miller, former state department middle

east analyst. always good to have your perspective. watching all of this unfold tonight, i wonder, how do you think prime minister benjamin netanyahu will be reacting to this, greeting all of this? i mean, assuming — greeting all of this? i mean, assuming the _ greeting all of this? i mean, assuming the drone, - greeting all of this? i mean, assuming the drone, cruise | greeting all of this? i mean, i assuming the drone, cruise and ballistic missile strikes don't cause significant damage and casualties — i am not sure when they are going to conclude — i think the israelis are going to respond. with or without casualties. i think the israeli logic is going to be "we are going to continue to hit iranian revolutionary senior personnel wherever we can find them and if we have to strike them and if we have to strike them again, we cannot create a situation where iran is going to strike us again with this sort of massive barrage of missiles." whether the israelis are reading the iranians

correctly or not is unclear. the israelis want to restore deterrence, but the truth is that they miss red october 7 in terms of the hamas �*s motivation. there was april one when they took out several personnel and not thinking the iranians would respond with this sort of escalation. i think there will be an israeli in response, probably against conventional military facilities in iran properly. whether or not that will take us up an escalatory ladder, whether or not it will involve hezbollah getting involved in a serious way that goes beyond what happened in december 2006. hizballah's inventory of high

trajectory weapons is massive. we certainly could get to an area the middle east has never been before which is a major regional war. been before which is a major regionalwar. one been before which is a major regional war. one additional point — i think gaza has now become, tragically, with respect to the humanitarian system there, any prospect of the release of hostages and any sense of security and stability, gaza has become a secondary consideration, particularly if the israelis strike iran within the next couple of days. bill strike iran within the next couple of days.— couple of days. all of this undoubtedly _ couple of days. all of this undoubtedly makes - couple of days. all of this undoubtedly makes it - couple of days. all of this | undoubtedly makes it very complicated for prime minister benjamin netanyahu, but ijust wonder what you think this means for his position at a time when we know he has been embattled at home. i time when we know he has been embattled at home.— embattled at home. i think he has a - never— embattled at home. i think he has a - never underestimate l has a — never underestimate this guy. he has been given

another prolonged lease on political viability. another prolonged lease on politicalviability. he another prolonged lease on political viability. he will not leave the government now that israel stands on the cusp of perhaps a significant escalation with iran and with hezbollah. the israeli public, i suspect, will react in support. whatever retaliatory strikes the war cabinet decides, and the united states, with all the tensions and anger and frustrations that the biden administration has with the prime minister, a lot of that is going to disappear and i see it building already in the us congress where you — with the exception of progressives — you are going to have wall to wall support of democrats and republicans standing with and behind israel. so, if the

israelis retaliate, which again, leads to an irani and counterstrike, and we are off to a real regional confrontation, i think much of the last six months is going to be subordinated to this new reality. i be subordinated to this new reali . , ., ., ., if reality. i 'ust want to ask - if we are— reality. i just want to ask - if we are at _ reality. i just want to ask - if we are at this _ reality. i just want to ask - if we are at this critical - if we are at this critical threshold, is there any way that you think that things can still go back — that that threshold is not necessarily breach? ii threshold is not necessarily breach? , ., , , breach? if the israelis respond and the iranians _ breach? if the israelis respond and the iranians decide - breach? if the israelis respond and the iranians decide they i breach? if the israelis respond | and the iranians decide they do not want to call israel's laugh and retaliate, maybe you can put this back in the box, but a very dangerous precedent has now been set and i think once that precedent is out of the box, once you have a situation where the iranians have crossed a deadline by attacking israel and the israelis going to respond by directly stroking

iranian territory, even if you get a period of temporarily quiet, i think something quite significant has happened. the ambassador, i heard him an hour ago on cnn, basically saying — and there were two republicans, one former member of the house and two former members of the house — basically said that bolton was right, that the israelis and the americans and the sunni arab in the region need to deal with the response and bolton was recommending these israelis at least the nuclear facilities. briefly, what is meant for the us tonight?— us tonight? sorry, i missed that. us tonight? sorry, i missed that- you — us tonight? sorry, i missed that. you have _ us tonight? sorry, i missed that. you have held - us tonight? sorry, i missed l that. you have held positions includin: that. you have held positions including in — that. you have held positions including in the _ that. you have held positions including in the state - including in the state department, what do you think all of this means for the united states tonight? i think

that there _ united states tonight? i think that there was _ united states tonight? i think that there was no _ united states tonight? i think that there was no way - united states tonight? i think that there was no way out - united states tonight? i think that there was no way out ofl that there was no way out of the israeli—palestinian confrontation in gaza, it the us was in a strategic cul—de—sac and now i think you've got a bigger problem. which is the prospects of a major regional confrontation which could result in spiking oil prices, plunging financial markets and something the middle east is never experienced before and the us, unlike gaza, or ukraine, the us could actually, on this one, get drawn into the fight. bill get drawn into the fight. all ri . ht, get drawn into the fight. all right, former us state department official, aaron david millar, we appreciate your insights, thank you for being with us.— your insights, thank you for being with us. thank you for havin: being with us. thank you for having me- _ being with us. thank you for having me. i'd _ being with us. thank you for having me. i'd like - being with us. thank you for having me. i'd like to - being with us. thank you for having me. i'd like to bring. having me. i'd like to bring ou having me. i'd like to bring you some _ having me. i'd like to bring you some reaction - having me. i'd like to bring you some reaction that - having me. i'd like to bring you some reaction that we| having me. i'd like to bring i you some reaction that we got coming in, coming infrom leaders around the world as you might expect, most recently, we had from the german chancellor

olaf scholz who is condemned the rainy and airstrikes on israel quite in the strongest possible terms, a spokesperson for olaf scholz who is on a visit to china right now said that with this quote, responsible and unjustifiable attack, ron is risking original conflict, germany stands closely by israel's side and will now discuss further reaction with our g7 partners and allies in the uk prime minister, rishi sunak, releasing a statement in response to it one launching drones are saying that i condemned the strongest terms, iranian raging records attacks against israel, the strikes have the stabilising the region. iran once again demonstrated that it intends is on sewing chaos and its own backyard in the uk will continue to stand up for israel's security and that of all our regional partners including jordan and iraq alongside our allies, we are working to stabilise and prevent further escalation,

no—one wants to see more bloodshed. also, statements, again, from france, the french foreign minister saying that france condemns in the strongest terms, the attack launched by orion against israel by deciding on such an unprecedented action orion is taking a new step and it's a stabilisation action intake and the risk of a military escalation. france reaffirms its attachment to israel's security and assures that of its solidarity. we can go live now to laura bloomfield, analyst and former us state department, senior policy advisor, we appreciate you being with us on a very busy night tonight. firstly, if we can begin by getting your assessment to the event that we have seen unfolding over the past five or six now?- past five or six now? well, president _ past five or six now? well, president biden _ past five or six now? well, president biden said - past five or six now? well, | president biden said don't, past five or six now? well, - president biden said don't, the iranians did and the americans do have to do something in response and listening to the world leaders condemning this, i'm feeling some deja vu from

saddam hussein's invasion, biden believes in allies and international coalitions and this might be his opportunity to bring some regional coalition to push back against iran. it's the fighter israel was looking for and they never imagined they will be fighting come us and gaza, it's always beenin come us and gaza, it's always been in about iran.— been in about iran. tell us more about _ been in about iran. tell us more about that, - been in about iran. tell us more about that, in - been in about iran. tell us more about that, in termsj been in about iran. tell us i more about that, in terms of the appetite and the shutter was going on for a long time. —— the shallow water. it's playing out in the open. do you believe that prime minister netanyahu believe that prime minister neta nyahu wants to believe that prime minister netanyahu wants to engage from what you are saying. i netanyahu wants to engage from what you are saying.— what you are saying. i think a bit of escalation _ what you are saying. i think a bit of escalation might - what you are saying. i think a bit of escalation might be - what you are saying. i think a| bit of escalation might be just what netanyahu was looking forward to save his own political career but also the reputation. he a street fight the brother who some people may recall died rescuing israeli hostages in 1976, his older brother said to him, look,

there are many things you need to do on a street fight be here who delivers the first blow wins. october7, israel wins. october 7, israel observed wins. october7, israel observed that first blow and ever since then, they've been trying to play catch up. with the assassination of april one of the iranian generals, netanyahu has been trying to regain, take the initiative and now, with this counterstriker, i don't think netanyahu believes in and ifight, it's always been too wise. believes in and i fight, it's always been too wise. what would that _ always been too wise. what would that look _ always been too wise. what would that look like - always been too wise. what would that look like then? i always been too wise. what | would that look like then? in your opinion, in your assessment, how it in retaliation will unfold? he's been absolutely _ retaliation will unfold? he's been absolutely focused i retaliation will unfold? he�*s been absolutely focused on obsessed with iran's nuclear mickibri — my capabilities. if you have the capability with american, it has to be co—ordinated, that's very clear, they didn't give forewarning to the us when need to get the iranian generals in damascus so they will have to rely on america for backing and alsojust for the green rely on america for backing and also just for the green light but i think you would like to

take his shot, it's a legacy issue for netanyahu, he is clearly not on a path to normalisation with saudi arabia which was going to be his historic accomplishment so what will it be? for netanyahu, it's been about iran and nuclear programme. fin been about iran and nuclear programme-— been about iran and nuclear rouramme. . , ., programme. on that question, how would _ programme. on that question, how would you _ programme. on that question, how would you characterise i programme. on that question, | how would you characterise the biden administration policy towards iran and do you think there is the potential for significant change you? i think whatever run _ significant change you? i think whatever run was _ significant change you? i think whatever run was doing - significant change you? i think whatever run was doing was i significant change you? i think. whatever run was doing was not about retaliation, for them, there was the floodwaters rising. it was the work they came out of biden camp tonight was disproportionate. clearly, iran's response was like that but what were they doing? they were finding and stepping up for a support to hamas on october 7. what they are expecting is yes, retaliation from israel and that's one has

polar steps in so this ring of fire that israel has been talking about our octopus with his tentacle surrounding the country, it's finally being activated, just six months later. how dangerous sentences conflict get if we see israel, the us and has bullarah potentially engaging? this is... what i'm hearing tonight again from the response of world leaders is everybody get on the same page and pushing back against iran, this is not about iran but leadership. they are trying to say countries like saudi arabia, let us leave than the us, they are trying to shove out the us. push out the us, uk and western influence and say we are the supreme power here. it depends on america's ability to pull together this coalition of

moderate arab states and european leaders and whoever else will come on board, the same way they pushed back on saddam hussein years ago. is there a way in which though it can be crisis averted in a diplomatic way compared to what we saw with saddam hussein? absolutely, will be playing diplomatic shoes and escalation and military ladders for the next several weeks, i think. while israel is determining what the response will be, i don't think it will be immediate that it will give some time perhaps to create some time perhaps to create some kind of — like i said, the bill medically but eventually, turning back to the saddam hussein playbook, a military showdown in the end. it took a showdown in the end. it took a show of force. ii showdown in the end. it took a show of force.— show of force. if we take a look of the _ show of force. if we take a look of the events - show of force. if we take a i look of the events unfolding, we know that tomorrow, they will be a meeting of the united nations security council in new york, something that israel itself had requested, we understand will be taking place around 4pm local time, eastern

time in the united states. can that exert any pressure? absolutely, it will take so pressure by determinative, i don't think so. there will be a response, israel, they have no choice, is not in the playbook not to respond, the question is, how far will they go and when will it end? and that's just to be determined. flit just to be determined. of course the question, to what extent is the united states invested in this alongside this going beyond diplomatic means? do you think that if there was a one response from israel that it would be able to call all of this off definitively if there was no response from israel and it was strong enough? i was no response from israel and it was strong enough?— it was strong enough? i think there will— it was strong enough? i think there will be _ it was strong enough? i think there will be response - it was strong enough? i think there will be response from | there will be response from israel but the united states was going to feel some kind of need to respond after all, this is president biden's election year and anything that it does, not only politically butjust

for his own leadership in the world, he said don't, they did, another united states needs to do something to respond to that. they were very, very clear about the red lines, secretary blinken has said again and again, superpowers don't laugh, we other superpower in the region and we need to have consequences. laura, for mr department and senior analysts, laura, for mr department and senioranalysts, really laura, for mr department and senior analysts, really good to get your insights tonight, thank you for taking the time. thank you. thank you for taking the time. thank you-— thank you for taking the time. thank you. now, early i asked jonathan conricus, _ thank you. now, early i asked jonathan conricus, former - jonathan conricus, former spokesperson for the israel defense forces if he thinks we could see a series of counter—attacks. could see a series of counter-attacks. , ., ., , ., counter-attacks. israel has far su erior counter-attacks. israel has far superior firepower _ counter-attacks. israel has far superior firepower than - counter-attacks. israel has far superior firepower than iran, | superior firepower than iran, definitely when superiorfirepower than iran, definitely when it comes to long—range and precision, israel also has much better air defences that iran has, iran is very, very good at sending proxy organisations to do the

fighting for them and this is what iran has been doing for the last decade, funding and timing terrorist all across the middle east in order to fight against israel, the us and the west in general, that's how hamas, hezbollah, the houthi and other iranian proxies has been allowed to exist and hopefully, the israeli responses will be forward—looking and looking at how can we create a better and safer middle east for israeli's, for peaceloving countries in the future and how can iran be forced to stop funding terror and to stop providing arms from terror organisations in the middle east and this quite a lot of targets in iran that i think israeli military planners and the air force are aware of, all of them i think i being planned and assessed as we speak and again, depending on, of course,

cabinet decisions, depending on casualties, depending on the co—ordination with the us and the american import on things here, this can of course become even more complex if also decides to fire at american troops in the middle east... jonathan. troops in the middle east... jonathan-— troops in the middle east... jonathan. ., . jonathan. that participating in the fighting — jonathan. that participating in the fighting year, _ jonathan. that participating in the fighting year, another- jonathan. that participating in the fighting year, another the | the fighting year, another the israeli prime minister mentioned france in the uk as allies are supporting israel so we may see involvement in that as well so many moving parts and quite a complex situation. may ijust ask and quite a complex situation. may i just ask you to what extent do you think that israel anticipated this when off the back of what we saw happen in syria with the attack on the iranian diplomatic compound in they are, was israel than waiting for this account attack before that, do you think? haddad factor into that decision? i

haddad factor into that decision?— haddad factor into that decision? , , decision? i assume so, yes. i thinkthat _ decision? i assume so, yes. i think that israel, _ decision? i assume so, yes. i think that israel, for - decision? i assume so, yes. i think that israel, for the - think that israel, for the first time, it's actually quite amazing when you think of it, iran has been attacking israel indirectly with its proxies for the last half year, hamas, bullarah and the houthis and last week was the first time that israel struck iranian targets close israel. i think it was a welcome thing to do, the right thing to do and israel cannot continue to live under this horrible conditions whereby iran his funding and arming terrorists. we whereby iran his funding and arming terrorists.— whereby iran his funding and arming terrorists. we know that attack was _ arming terrorists. we know that attack was condemned - arming terrorists. we know that attack was condemned by - arming terrorists. we know that attack was condemned by the i attack was condemned by the united nations, saying that essentially, diplomatic compounds under international law are off—limits under international law. law are off-limits under international law.- law are off-limits under international law. yes, well, allow me — international law. yes, well, allow me not _ international law. yes, well, allow me not to _ international law. yes, well, allow me not to be - international law. yes, well, allow me not to be too - allow me not to be too impressed with that condemnation, i will wait for

condemnation, i will wait for condemnation about iranian proxies attacking israel and israeli civilians relentlessly for the last half year and then i will be very concerned about what they say about buildings and buildings and by the way, to be clear, it was a building next to the iranian complex, iranian diplomatic complex and not a diplomatic building, if we want to be accurate with the details but really, i don't think that that matters much. the people who were killed in damascus were iranian, out of iranian military force and they were busy co—ordinating, fighting against israel, arming, equipping and directing fires against israel, against civilians and the military. let's bring you the latest that we this hour on the breaking news that iran has launched an attack against israel, the revolutionary guards have confirmed that the attack was in part of a response to a deadly israeli airstrike that destroyed and destroyed and rainy and diplomatic compound

in syria earlier this month, here is what we know about the situation in israel right now. the military says the restrictors open lifted, forces have told the bbc that some restriction specifically have been lifted on movement inside the country, they haven't yet provided any further details but israeli media is reporting that people across the country no longer need to stay near shelters. we also heard srn's and multiple locations. we saw explosions overjerusalem, also confirmed to us by eyewitnesses and israeli media say that they are from our real interceptions. israel defense forces say that 110 year old girl has been injured so far and that the damage was caused to a military base, we don't have details of which phase and the idf spokesman says that the injured girl has been treated ljy injured girl has been treated by paramedics. we can take a look at the wild response to

the attack as well, the un firstly with president us biden posting this picture on! saying that he met with this team and said that our commitment to israel's security against threats and its proxies is ironclad. he also spoke with prime minister netanyahu by phone a short while ago and bringing the readout of that, we have it. israel has called for a meeting tomorrow at the un in new york. israel's ambassador said in a letter to the security council "these attacks are part of a dangerous trend of deterioration. the volume is unprecedented and a violation of israel's sovereignty, international law and security council resolutions and antonio guterres released a statement.

we can go back over life to laura blumenthal who is keeping us company. she is a form of middle east and state department policy advisor. of course, as we were reporting there, we are waiting for that readout from prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the conversation that he had with president biden, but what kind of assurances that you expect to come from washington? the united states _ to come from washington? iie: united statesjust to come from washington? "ii2 united statesjust proved united states just proved tonight that they not only have israel's back but front and side and they have created a circle of deterrence, or if not deterrence at least security around nobody was hurt — there was a ten—year—old girl who was injured which is quite remarkable. i have been receiving messages from my sources in israel. they are throughout the country people hiding in hallways and shelters

and seeking safety where they could state created that barrier for them. could state created that barrierforthem. i could state created that barrierfor them. i also could state created that barrier for them. i also think politically they are stuck in a politically they are stuck in a political vacuum in israel. they don't trust their leaders to keep them safe and throughout the region, frankly, there are these zombie politicians where they are not really viable leaders on the palestinian side and the israeli side. the population do not have trust in their leaders and president biden — he is a man of few words but many warships — and they came through for the people of israel. . . through for the people of israel. ., ., �* israel. laura bloomenfeld, it is always— israel. laura bloomenfeld, it is always great _ israel. laura bloomenfeld, it is always great to _ israel. laura bloomenfeld, it is always great to get - israel. laura bloomenfeld, it is always great to get your i is always great to get your thoughts. thank you so much. thank you. in thoughts. thank you so much. thank you-— thoughts. thank you so much. thank you. in the meantime, i want to show _ thank you. in the meantime, i want to show you _ thank you. in the meantime, i want to show you some - thank you. in the meantime, i want to show you some video | want to show you some video from ourjerusalem bureau. these were airwaves sirens sounding. you canjust take these were airwaves sirens sounding. you can just take a listen to that.

(air raid siren) those sirens after an explosion. you might be able to see those flashes over the city. this was our live position at the bbcjerusalem bureau just a matter of hours ago. we can cross over to retired lieutenant general mark schwartz who served as the united states security co—ordinator of the united nations palestinian authority. thank you for being with us as we navigate this breaking news. firstly, just in your assessment, how things have been developing in the past couple of hours, the fact that we have seen some 200 drones,

cruise missiles employed as well — how serious do you believe this situation to be? well, in terms of the threat of iran to israel and involvement in this, the gaza is really complex, it has not been any more serious than it has been in the last a hours or so when we first received notification that drones had been launched from iran followed by cruise missiles as the footage just showed there so i think tensions are as high as they have been and there have been statements that have come out of the islamic regime of iran that they believe that they have addressed all responded to primarily the attacks that occurred against seven leaders, to general offices in damascus.

so, from israeli standpoint, i would say that the integrated air defence that they have in place, augmented certainly by the united states and other partners and allies in the region has been extremely effective given the magnitude of the attack by iran over the course of the last several hours. ~ ., ., course of the last several hours. . ., ., ., hours. we have heard that statement, _ hours. we have heard that statement, as _ hours. we have heard that statement, as you - hours. we have heard that statement, as you say, i hours. we have heard that l statement, as you say, from hours. we have heard that i statement, as you say, from the revolutionary guard, thank essentially "we have responded. we want to draw a line under that. respond further if there is another escalation." i just wonder in of military strategy with regards to proxies, hezbollah, for example, is that the potential for the revolutionary guard to say "we have done albert" but then proxies to come into the fray here? i proxies to come into the fray here? . . , proxies to come into the fray here? . ., , ., .,

here? i certainly thought that is drones typically, _ here? i certainly thought that is drones typically, and i here? i certainly thought that is drones typically, and even | is drones typically, and even the cruise missiles as they were approaching israeli airspace, we were going to see airspace, we were going to see a significant barrage of rockets coming out of southern lebanon with the intent to overwhelm is really a defences. that has not happened, fortunately, but it does not mean it could not occur. if we do not see in the next 2— four hours, significant escalation from running in proxies, what we will see will be continued attacks that we have seen over the last several months coming out of southern lebanon. potentially, we might see some type of either unmanned systems coming out of yemen towards israel, that i personally have been surprised that we did not see a much higher escalation from these proxies that you

mentioned earlier.- from these proxies that you mentioned earlier. joining us now and listening _ mentioned earlier. joining us now and listening to - mentioned earlier. joining us now and listening to all- mentioned earlier. joining us now and listening to all of. now and listening to all of this is a senior adviser to the president and project director at the iran international crisis group. very good to have you with us this evening. we were just talking about the statement from the revolutionary guard, thank essentially this concludes that for now, barring any further action. what do you make of that statement from the revolutionary guard? this is very similar _ revolutionary guard? this is very similar to _ revolutionary guard? this is very similar to what - revolutionary guard? this is very similar to what we i revolutionary guard? this is very similar to what we saw| revolutionary guard? this is. very similar to what we saw in 2020 after iran fired a variety of ballistic missiles into a us base in iraq. through the swiss ambassador they did the same thing, sending a message to the us saying "we are done. make sure it does not escalate into a all—out war. iran felt the need to retaliate for the israeli strike against its

consulate in damascus and at this stage it does not want to escalate further, but that is not just an escalate further, but that is notjust an running indecision at this point.— at this point. talking about the united _ at this point. talking about the united states - at this point. talking about i the united states involvement in all of this, of course, we know the commitment from president biden has been very clear — ironclad support. what do you expect now from washington with regards to iran in an effort to contain this episode? i in an effort to contain this episode?— in an effort to contain this episode? i think the biden administration's _ episode? i think the bidenl administration's preference would be to pull israel back. basically, israel crossed the line by targeting the rani diplomatic facilities in damascus and now they have crossed the line by targeting israel from their own soil and what the biden administration probably hoped is that both can draw a line under this episode and prevent further escalation and prevent further escalation and tit—for—tat because if for instance israel attacked iran

on its own soil, we will see more escalation and it is possible that iran at that stage would also bring in partners and proxies to join in and basically attack israel through multiple fronts and in that scenario, of course, we will be in an all—out catastrophic regional wall which is the last thing the biden administration wants stop ijust want to biden administration wants stop i just want to cut something marcus said with regards to watching in the coming hours to see whether we see any action from proxies, from the likes of hezbollah, for example. if that is not the case, if we do not see any action from hezbollah, did you think that it could be that iran is holding them back in the case of any further escalation?— in the case of any further escalation? ~ , ,., , ., escalation? absolutely. i think iran does not _ escalation? absolutely. i think iran does not want _ escalation? absolutely. i think iran does not want to - escalation? absolutely. i think iran does not want to sacrifice| iran does not want to sacrifice hezbollah for anything less than defending its own homeland and that is why i am saying if the next round of this

tit—for—tat is an israeli attack on iranian soil, that is when the gloves will come off and people end up in a much more dangerous situation. mark, cominu more dangerous situation. mark, comin: to more dangerous situation. mark, coming to you — more dangerous situation. mark, coming to you on _ more dangerous situation. mark, coming to you on that _ more dangerous situation. mark, coming to you on that front, i more dangerous situation. mark, coming to you on that front, if i coming to you on that front, if we go beyond this initial tit—for—tat, we get into this running boldly, how dangerous does the situation really get and to what extent do you see that you are — i was talking to a former state department adviser and iraq and is that too far to go? i adviser and iraq and is that too far to go?— too far to go? i think the assessment _ too far to go? i think the assessment was - too far to go? i think the assessment was very, i too far to go? i think the l assessment was very, very too far to go? i think the i assessment was very, very well done. i think he has captured the strategic context of this current engagement that has

been playing out over the last several hours and the broader conflict since october 7 and going forward. the comparison with iraq, i am a little bit, i guess, cautioned with that, just given the very poor intelligence that led us into that conflict. the circumstances here are not similar. the other thing that i think is really important is that iran has got very capable proxies, and particularly with lebanese hezbollah, compared to iraq which really did not have. certainly, iraq now does, the current government, and the paramilitary forces, malicious, etc, but if you look across the region, there may have been

more sympathy for iraq in 2003 and particularly as the conflict wore on for almost ten years before we pulled out the first time, the us, that is, and its partners and allies. iran does not have any friends in the neighbourhood. no—one, none of the countries in the region, want to see further escalation, but unlike other gulf states, iran are happy to use suni and shia proxies to become the hegemony and the region but they certainly do not have any to partners. who? leadership inside of yemen perhaps but it is all proxies, much like we have seen in the region. —— houthis.

much like we have seen in the region. -- houthis.— region. -- houthis. who are girlfriends. _ region. -- houthis. who are girlfriends, who _ region. -- houthis. who are girlfriends, who do - region. -- houthis. who are girlfriends, who do you i region. -- houthis. who are girlfriends, who do you calll girlfriends, who do you call up, as you havejust girlfriends, who do you call up, as you have just been saying. on that front, on that side of proxies, who is it that tehran will be calling up tonight? who will they be on the phone to? i tonight? who will they be on the phone to?— tonight? who will they be on the phone to? i am sure they will want _ the phone to? i am sure they will want to _ the phone to? i am sure they will want to know _ the phone to? i am sure they will want to know what i the phone to? i am sure they will want to know what their. will want to know what their friends in russia and china are thinking about this and i think in general the russians are happy about what is happening right now because anything that diverts attention from what is happening in ukraine is in russia's interest and for the chinese do, anything that pivots the us from its competition with china is also beneficial, but also to a limit because china gets the majority of its energy from this region and does not want to see a significant increase in oil prices as a result of instability. but one important point that i want to bring up is that although i agree with

mark that iran does not have a lot of friends in the region in terms of regional governments, but one has to remember that what iran has done tonight basically is going to buy it a lot of power in the arab and muslim world given all the resentments that were created as a result of six months of horrors that had actually happened in gaza after hamas attack on october 7. if you think about a player like saudi arabia, for example, it doesn't condemned iran but it doesn't condemned iran but it has called for a straight, would you make of that. the saudis would you make of that. i““i2 saudis experienced what kind would you make of that. ii2 saudis experienced what kind of zero—sum game in the region would produce 2019 when the trump administration threatened the sanctions on iran and tried our slate and pressure are and they lashed out and the saudis were caught in the crossfire,

were caught in the crossfire, we had a spectacular attack against saudi infrastructure in 2019 that took of half of their oil exports overnight so they know exactly where this kind of game and is and that's why they condemned israeli attack on iran's consulate in damascus on april one and they have now also asked for restraint on all sides because they know if we end up in the regional war, everybody will lose. just wonder. _ everybody will lose. just wonder, talking - everybody will lose. just wonder, talking about i everybody will lose. just wonder, talking about the prospect of a regional war, we are not there yet but we have seen is drones come over,s phase, the likes ofjordan, for example, if you look at the neighbourhood, if you think of lebanon and jordan and iraq and so on, how complicated will it be for each of these individual countries because i'm sure the appetite there as well is limited for an all—out regional

war? limited for an all-out regional war? ,., . ~' limited for an all-out regional war? ,., . ~ ., limited for an all-out regional war? ., 11:11: ., limited for an all-out regional war? ., :::::: ., ., war? going back to 2000 and two and thousand _ war? going back to 2000 and two and thousand and _ war? going back to 2000 and two and thousand and three, - war? going back to 2000 and two and thousand and three, jordan i and thousand and three, jordan was generally vital to us force, prepositioning and actually employment of forces when we prosecuted the war and just like we are seeing since october 7, jordan obviously didn't condemn the attacks of a mask, they asked for both sides to come to some type of diplomatic resolution to this conflict but at the same time, there is no respect, no apathy for how mars for the palestinian cause but 2.3, roughly the number of palestinians that are living inside ofjordan so just a

great example of the complexity that goes across the region in terms of iran, israel, strategic relationships that they have right now and the conflict that's been ongoing for several decades and we are seeing it play out, lethally, this evening. so, it's very difficult to navigate through all of these and i'm sure that the state of israel and the other arab states in the region, in addition to the work of the united states and other allies and partners open trying to do to temper strategic escalation, it's extremely complicated. i escalation, it's extremely complicated.— escalation, it's extremely complicated. i know that you have to shortly _ complicated. i know that you have to shortly leave - complicated. i know that you have to shortly leave us i complicated. i know that you have to shortly leave us but| complicated. i know that you j have to shortly leave us but i just like one last thought from you and i guess, if push comes to shove and this does escalate in the way that nobody wants to see, what kind of defence

capability does neuron have two fighter brought war?— capability does neuron have two fighter brought war? well, from a conventional _ fighter brought war? well, from a conventional military - a conventional military ability, iran is much weaker compared to israel and the united states, it has some defensive abilities, the russians provided 300 inside the fence system and have developed some of their own but they are not in a good place to defend their homeland and that is why they have developed this network of partners and proxies in order to deter an attack on the soil, if that fails, iran is attacked on its own soil, i'm afraid they might start considering developing the altima deterrent given how close the nuclear programme is now to diverge of the weaponisation. so, another thing that i think strategist and israel and the us should consider which is that the more they succeed in weakening the

runs regional deterrent, the more they feel by pushing it run towards becoming a nuclear weapon state and that is even a bigger disaster for the region. very interesting strand to bring into this developing conversation there from there. project director at the think tank crisis group, we thank you very much for being with us on bbc news. i do want to bring you some more news that we've got coming in, a statement from president biden on iran to target against israel, i can reduce some of the key elements that we've got coming out of this 1—page statement. president biden saying... my direct to support the defence of israel, the military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defence destroys to the region over the course of the past week, thanks to the deployment and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped israel take down nearly all of

the incoming drones and missiles according to the statement, another paragraph saying that tomorrow, i will convene my fellow g7 leaders to co—ordinate the noted diplomatic response to what the president caused iran is a brazen attack going on to say, well we have not seen attacks on our forces of facilities today, we will remain vigilant and not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people, that statement from us presidentjoe biden listening to that with me is lieutenant general, mark, your reaction to the statement from the us president?— president? well, first all, it's great _ president? well, first all, it's great to _ president? well, first all, it's great to hear - president? well, first all, it's great to hear our i it's great to hear our president commanded the performance of our servicemembers that are employing the region with the leadership of the us central command, also, its also good to hear the fact that the path

forward this evening, it will be diplomatic and to try to continue to message iran indirectly through the lockers and the dialogue has been ongoing with israel to de—escalate this direct confrontation between israel and iran. those are two very positive messages that were articulated in the statement. mark, i'm picking the seaman there from the us presidentjoe biden for now, thank you very much. earlier, my colleague spoke to karim, seniorfellow at the international peace, formal analysis, at the international peace, formalanalysis, on formal analysis, on this developing situation. i want to get into a bit about iran now and how tonight's events are playing out within iran and iran's leadership.- iran's leadership. many distinguished _ iran's leadership. many distinguished between | iran's leadership. many i distinguished between wajima iran's leadership. many - distinguished between wajima of iran and the population because

this is a situation in which you have a government which is ideological prerogatives and revolutionary ideology and are aligned with the national interest of iran since 1979, they have been fighting a war with the israel and the united states but not a natural geopolitical amity between iran and israel, this superlative of iran's revolutionary leaders, and as you mentioned, always in the past, iran attacked israel, this is the first time that they launched attacks from iranians all against israel and we will see in a few hours for these attacks were meant to actually do real damage to israel or whether they were meant to be symbolic or deterrent but i can tell you

that the runners population which is not interested in fighting a war with israel and not interested in being in the state of complicated, we saw last year, when large populations in around took to the streets in protest of the government and the women that people in tehran had a primary obstacle in a better future to be their own government or the united states.— united states. interesting to hear ou united states. interesting to hear you say _ united states. interesting to hear you say that _ united states. interesting to hear you say that because i united states. interesting to i hear you say that because they was the impression that there was the impression that there was some pressure on the iranians dredging to respond here, woody thing that pressure comes from and was a part of the calculus when it comes to, as you said, this being an attack carried out from iran itself and not from one of its various proxies in the region? to some extent, yes, they have to save face to people, to numbers of their own wajima but

i would say even more importantly, to save face for the people in the region and the people in the region and the proxies. since october 7, 30,000 palestinians have been killed and the whole, i think, the whole of hamas and maybe some palestinians was that they were going to involve themselves and the proxies have not really being able to defend the palestinians in many ways. so i think that if they were to simply have sat on their hands while some of the top generals were killed by israel and the world supreme leader, they could have invited — that could have projected weakness and invited even more israeli strikes but i don't think that

they are doing this to please our own population because as i mentioned, this is nerrina population which is really tired of constancy of conflict and this revolutionary ideology which is really what the country, nothing more than misery. country, nothing more than mise . ., ., ., misery. to what extent do you think tonight's _ misery. to what extent do you think tonight's iran _ misery. to what extent do you think tonight's iran might i misery. to what extent do you think tonight's iran might be l think tonight's iran might be making preparations for a response by israel, we heard some rumblings coming out of leaders and israel seen that they could be a response to this attack, is that something you think iran might be preparing for or already prepared for to see some sort of response after this attack? they can throw the sponge and they release a statement through the missions of the united nations saying that after this, we would like to put this to bed but that's not their decision, i was slick,

their decision, i was slick, the government of israel and iran has to be prepared that israel is going to retaliate and respond, ithink israel is going to retaliate and respond, i think iran will try to passing us to the united states in the hopes that the united states will exercise some restraint of israel but obviously, iran has to be prepared that israel, they had something called the octopus tentacles in that means that israel was not going to respond to iran tentacles in the region, whether that was in lebanon, syria, yaraka, and because elsewhere but was going to respond to the head of the octopus and i think as christie mentioned, israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is under enormous internal scrutiny and he made calculate for domestic political experience, even that the gaza war has not been a great

success that taken the fight to iran but actually, popular. you mentioned _ iran but actually, popular. you mentioned the _ iran but actually, popular. you mentioned the various different arms of that octopus, winter has been changing rockets across the border with israel, we have seen the houthis attacking shipping in the strait of that, what comes next there? will this have any ally or proxy of iran to go ahead and launch their own attacks on israel? �* ., , ., , israel? both the proxies, i think the _ israel? both the proxies, i think the one _ israel? both the proxies, i think the one that - israel? both the proxies, i think the one that is i israel? both the proxies, i think the one that is still. think the one that is still early phases of its revolutionary ideology are the houthis in yemen so, i wouldn't be surprised to see the houthis launching strikes against israel or israeli assets that have done in the past. lebanese has below is in a precarious

situation. —— has below. they suffered enormously and decimated so has below also would like to avoid the outcome with what happened in gaza but again, we are now, entered uncharted waters, everyone had not ever attacked israel from its own soil and the remains to be seen what damage the strikes will do, i think we will know a lot more by tomorrow morning and based on that, whether or not israel will choose to respond. not israel will choose to remind-— not israel will choose to resond. ., . . . �*~ respond. you are watching bbc news, it respond. you are watching bbc news. it is _ respond. you are watching bbc news, it is now _ respond. you are watching bbc news, it is now morning - respond. you are watching bbc news, it is now morning in - news, it is now morning in israel, the country starting to wake up after iran's attack on israel, we can bring to the latest that we know at this hour. iran's revolutionary guard has confirmed their strike was in

response to another strike that had destroyed a compound inferior, earlierthis had destroyed a compound inferior, earlier this month, allegedly. us president biden has spoken with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu by phone and the white house released a statement from president biden saying they condemn the attacks. he also said he will