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is provided by... george: actually, you don't need vision to do most things in life. it's exciting to be part of a team driving the technology forward. i think that's the most rewarding thing. people who know, know bdo. narrator: funding was also proded by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news". >> hello. you are watching the context on bbc news. >> theresident will not tolerate attacks on american troops and neither will i. >> the approval has been given for strikes over a series of days and crucially on the

radiant and facilities but not inside a ran itself. >> neither want the kind of direct american attacks against iran that would push an already febrile environment onto a totally different phase, a route fraughwith risk. ♪ >> the u.s. approves plans for strikes on a targets in syria and iraq. also on the program tonight, propping up ukraine's war-torn economy. eu leaders unanimously agree a $50 billion aid package for ukraine despite previous objections from hungary. president zelenskyy welcomes the funding, saying it will strengthen the country's

economic stability. the bbc now confirms there is to be a move from mercedes to ferrari, where he will join charles leclerc. and a i decoded. a regular look at the ai stories this week. ♪ all those stories to come on the context tonight but we begin as u.s. officials say plans have been approved for a series of strikes against iranian personnel and facilities in iraq and syria but not in iran itself. they told cbs news the action would be carried out over a number of days and the weather will be one factor in one those begin that in windows begin -- factor in windows begin. the secretary of defense said the u.s. had the right to

retaliate after those recent attacks. >> this is a dangerous moment in the middle east. we will continue to work to avoid a wider conflict in the region but we will take all necessy actions to defend the united states, our interests and our people. and we wil respond when we choose, where we choose, and how we choose. >> the latest there from lloyd austin. with me as our chief international correspondent. lisa, there's a lot for us to talk about tonight because it's been a day of significant developments but let's start first of all with those strikes that we expect in the coming days. we don't have a sense of a timeline yet, what they may look like indeed. it's interesting because iran has specifically denied any direct involvement in that drone

strike that killed three u.s. troops but we are told there's this web of iranian-backed militias. explain iran's influence in the region. >> i think our viewers know about this arc of militias from yemen to lebanon that iran and its allies call the access of resistance. they include hezbollah in lebanon. they include various militias operating in iraq and syria, many of them grouped under a grouping called islamic resistance in iraq, and the houthis in yemen, carrying out attacks on red sea shipping nes, attacking, saying they are doing this in solidarity with palestine and say they will not cease until there is a cease-fire in gaza. in iraq and syria, it seemed to be only a matter of time before american lives were lost.

re than 160 strikes by these iran-backed militias ever since the war corrupted. so the death of three american servicemen on sunday at an outpost in jordan, the first time blood has been spilled, but we have seen since then efforts by iran and some of the iraq militias to de-escalate. a senior iranian official went to baghdad, urged some of these groups, which are not just part of iran's so-called axis of resistance but part of the iraqi armed forces, and one of them has announced that it will stop its attacks against american targets in order to de-escalate. of course, it is too late, but we do see efforts by iran to try to dial down in iraq and syria. we have also heard reports iran is moving some of its top personnel out of places where

it's operating in syria in preparation for these attempted strikes, which are certain to come. >> we keep hearing about de-escalating but at the same time the u.s. says it does not want a wider conflict. that would serve no one's interest. but at the same time, it has to present a deterrent to say the u.s. will not stand idly by while its interests in the region are attacked. what will this look like? >> it's unlikely to completely remove iran's extensive network of allies attking american interests because there are american bases dotted around iraq and syria and there's one in jordan, but the u.s. wants to send a strong signal, as we heard from lloyd austin, the

defense secretary, that these attacks will not be tolerated, and judging by the moves by iran , it seems as though iran has got that message. neither the united states nor iran wants to escalate this into a full confrontation between these two states. that would really set the region, an already febrile region, into an even more dangerous escalatory spiral. it is an election year in the u.s. president biden, we have heard on this program before, has been under pressure, particularly from republican hawks. they have always accused him of being soft on iran. they have been saying hit them hard. what we know so far, not just from lloyd austin but the leaks going to cbs, is that they are not going to go for strikes in iran. that would be far too risky but they will go after targets in syria and a rack.

can they choose targets that are just symbolic? can they inflict consequential harm on iran? we will have to see when the strikes come and they will. >> one of the things mentioned is it will be in a manner and ti of america's choosing but the weather could play factor. >> full moon, clear skies, you are able to see your targets better even though you have state-of-the-art technology. we have heard from pentagon officials saying we can attack, and they do, even in bad weather, but there's the risk of mis-identifying targets, inadvertently killing civilians, so they want the clearest of nights. but it is quite extraordinary how much detail is already coming out. people are saying you are all but telling the iranians when you are going to strike, where you are going to strike. someone have thought that in

times like this an element of surprise is necessary, but is not going to come as any surprise once the attacks take place. >> stay with us one second. i want to ask another story related to this in the region. this also coming from the u.s. today, the u.s. imposing sanctions on some jewish settlers who have carried out violence against palestinian civilians in the west bank. president biden signed an executive order targeting four people. they will have their assets in the united states blocked. americans will be forbidden from doinbusiness with them. mr. biden said violence in the west bank has reached an intolerable level, threatening peace and stability in the region. a u.s. state department spokesman said these measures could be extended to other settlers if violence continues. >> we thought it was appropriate to take additional u.s. government action and will continue to monitor the levels of extremist settler violence

and will not hesitate to take additional actions as necessary. >> elise is still with me. what is the significance of this? people might say what effect might be sanctions have on four divisionals? >> this is unprecedented. the u.s. has never issued an executive order on settlers operating the west bank. president biden has been raising concern about the equally unprecedented violence across the west bank. the united nations says there have been more deaths and injuries in the west bank since octobethan since they started recording casualty figures in the west bank. so for more than a few decades. president biden has been urging the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, to do more, but there are right-wing settlers in president netanyahu's cabinet, and tonight, netanyahu said this is unnecessary. we are taking action against the settlers.

but the u.s., president biden, has obviously decided enough is enough. there had been travel bans issued last year. that was one thing against thousands of settlers. he asked his treasury secretary and the u.s. secretary of state, antony blinken, to choose individuals who are committing acts of violence against palestinians in the occupied west bank, destroying property or threatening, and these attacks have been repeatedly documented by journalists, including bbc journalists, by the united nations, and there are images of settlers attacking palestinian properties, pushing them off their lands while israeli soldiers simply watch. so president biden has decided now is the time to send a much stronger message. not a coincidence on the day where he heads to michigan, where he is facing really, really severe criticism for his approach to the israel-gaza war. that's where the highest

percentage of arab-american voters are. very, very unhappy with president biden's staunch support for israel. we can see both in public and private statements america's increasing frustration with the way israel is prosecuting the war in gaza, although president biden is not calling very cease-fire get, and these attacks, which continue pushing palestinians off the property in the west bank. in the long run, and president biden and antony blinken have said, they want to move toward a situation in which there can be come at the end of all this, a movement towards a long-term solution to this crisis, which includes a palestinian state. >> elise, always good to get your analysis. thank you. that is our chief international correspondent. thank you for being with us on the context tonight. let's go live to washington, speaking with a senior fellow on the atlantic council.

you are able to hear some of what elise told us. what has changed today with this announcement that the u.s. will target those iranian backed militias? we don't have details about when or how these strikes will come. >> good evening and thanks for having me. it's important to recognize two patterns in the region. with the ongoing war on gaza, there's frustration in communities in the middle east that groups like houthis, hezbollah and others are responding to, and that is reflective of what they see as the continuous war and staunch u.s. support for the israel-gaza war -- for israel in the war in gaza. attacks on u.s. positions especially in syria and iraq, they did escalate since october

7 according to the department of defense. we have over 150 attacks since october 7 but those started or escalated as of december of 2022 and the line has not been crossed over the weekend until three u.s. servicemembers were killed but it was crossed in march when a contractor was killed in an iranian proxy attack in northeast syria. the other trend happening, from the uranium perspective, the red line has been crossed. with the announcement of a u.s. response, the only thing left out from the announcement is which specific locations will be hit. we heard from dod earlier today with cbs reporting that the strikes are coming on positions in syria inter -- syria and ira.

we are hearing about most of the iranian proxy locations since the weekend. so it's hard to imagine how any u.s. response at this point that is limited to strikes on locations or bases of iranian proxies, how that would actually deter a ran in the long-term -- deter iran in the long-term. we are lucky to see more irani and restraint and proxy restraint in the next couple of weeks, but once the media moves onnd coverage of the story, irani -- iranian proxies are lily to go back to achieve the goal of removing the u.s. from syria and iraq. christian: i want to get that

point about a deterrent. let's talk about the targets. perhaps very little in terms of eliminating the threat to u.s. interests but what do you expect they will be? >> looking at the map of iranian proxy bases in syria and iraq, so they -- so iran has been has been -- iran has been funding and providing things to those groups. most of those if you look at a map are either within civilian populations or over small facilities, farms or small villas in the suburbs of major metropolitan cities or cities across eastern syria and western iraq. so we are likely to see quite a few of those strikes for something to be effective on

those locations, most likely in the suburbs, not in the middle of any civilian population, because that's likely to bring more bad coverage for the u.s. across the region, but whether th will be effective or not, again, considering those are very small installations and bases across very widespread areas, it's less likely to be effective in deterring or limiting the capabilities of those proxies. christian: good heavy you with us. thank you.

5% for the fourth time in a row. the bank's governor said he needed to see more evidence that inflation would stay at 2% before cutting rates but said today's outlook was good news. firefighters who were injured in the grenfell tower fire in 2017 have received a total of 20 million pounds in compensation. more than 100 of the members made claims, some of whom had not been able to work again because of trauma. there's more detail on all the stories on the bbc news website, bbc.co.uk/news. your life with bbc news. president biden has thanked the european union for throwing a

financial lifeline to ukraine in its fight against russia. a $54 billion package has been approved after being held up for months because of rejections from hungry -- objections from hungary. the you has now unanimously -- the eu has now unanimously passed the aid. the eu chief says the funding sends a powerful message to russian leader vladimir putin. >> today just indeed a special day -- toy is indeed a special day. the european council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to stand with ukraine. we will support them with the necessary funding and provide them with much-needed predictability they deserve. and i think these 50 billion euros for four years also send a very strong message to putin just ahead of the second anniversary of his brutal

invasion. christian: let's speak now to a historian and foreign policy expert. thank you for being on the program. how significant is it not only that it was approved but unanimously? >> it's good news for ukraine. bad news for russia. we have seen the russian media react to this with muted rage. well, we did not expect this. there was fatigue. victor orban was trying to torpedo this and now 50 billion euros has been approved, which shows the european union continues to be committed to ukraine's goals and that is great news for president linsky. christian: you say that he had been -- that victor orban had been opposed.

he had been pushing for a yearly vote, which would have put that in doubt every year. it would have come up for discussion every 12 months and could have been in doubt. instead, there's a two year discussion. so this sort of guarantees it for two years until a further discussion and who knows where we are two years from now. nonetheless, it's important for ukraine -- and to ask plane where this money will be spent. >> the money will be spent on supporting the ukrainian budget. as a result of russia's invasion of ukraine, ukraine has gone to serious -- gone into serious deficits every year. western countries have been providing direct aid and loans, some grants, including out of that 50 billion, 13 billion will be indirect grants -- be in direct grants, the rest loans. that will stimulate the economy and a lot of it will go to military purchases.

to give you a sense of how important it is, recently, rishi sunak visited kyiv and signed an agreement on direct support to the ukrainian budget, which amounts to something like 2.5 billion pounds if i'm not mistaken. we have 50 billion over the course of four years. now, ukraine's needs are much greater, which is why all eyes are on the u.s. and their inability so far to approve the aid package for ukraine, which is mired in discussions in the congress amid political discord, as we know. christian: thank you for your analysis there. grateful for you being with us. there's also big news tonight in the sports world. lewis hamilton is to make a shock moved from mercedes to ferrari for the 2025 season. that follows years of rumors

that the seven time world champion would make a move to the italian giant. the 39-year-old only signed a two year deal with mercedes last summer but it's understood he's chosen to exercise a break clause in that contract after just a yr. so how significant is it? let's talk to the host of the f1 the hosts of the f1 podcast. good evening to you both. matt, let me start with you. a significant move. long rumored. today, the confirmation. how big a deal is it that he's making that move? >> is massive. good evening to everyone. it is still news i have not processed. i don't think any of the community have because we have seen flirtation between ferrari and hamilton for quite a long time but we never thought it would come to fruition, maybe just one of those regrets he

might have at the end of his career, but not only has it happened but he's also come as you say, enabled a clause in his contract to stop that mercedes relationship early. this is something i don't think anyone has been able to process because it's such a massive shift for him to go to the italian team after so many years. christian: talk to me about the dynamics of this. we know there's this fierce rivalry between teams. that's a given. but he would make the move having -- he will have to spend the next season with mercedes. that gets awkward. he will have to sit it out for 12 months, knowing he's going to move over to ferrari. >> that will be one of the most fascinating things, the fact that we have another year of hamilton denver sadie's -- hamilton in were sadie's.

it will be interesting to see how the dynamic shifts because they have george russell alongside him and of course they know hamilton will be leaving so it will be fascinating to see how that dynamic plays out and whether they favor russell over hamilton now. christian: and where does it leave leclerc? he's been the number one driver for ferrari. how does that power dynamic change? if you have lewis hamilton arriving with all that glitz and glamour and fame and fortune. how does it change that dynamic? >> it's a strange situation because he's only just announced a contract extension with ferrari. he's the golden boy, number one. he found out today he's going to be alongside lewis hamilton in 2025. you have two drivers, hamilton trying to get his eighth, charles trying to get his first world championship. neither will want to budge. so while they have signed the

most talented payer on the grid for 2025, they want the same thing and that could cause fireworks. christian: fascinating. there coverage of this. our sports teams are across this because it's been long-rumored but then finally that confirmation coming through that he is going to make that move. lots of titles that he's taken as well. one of the best drivers of all time so lots of complications, lots of dynamics that will change as a result of it. at narrator: funding for this presentation of this program is provided by... man: bdo. accountants and advisors. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪

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