the, the business, the w news lie, cumberland, israel and the us are on high alert for a possible attack by iran. it's not toronto, could target american or is really access in the middle east, in retaliation for it is really strikes on the iranian embassy in syria. also coming up, mexico cuts ties with ecuador as police storm. it's embassy where a former ecuadorian leader was sheltering. the melissa chan welcome to the show, the us and israel are on high alert,

expecting retaliation for the is really bonding other. ron's embassy in damascus. 7 revolutionary guards were killed in the attack on the syrian capital. iran has warranted reserves the right to make a decisive response to ron says is really war. planes were used in a major escalation in israel's war with its enemies in the region. then been tele, blue is a senior fellow at the foundation for defense of democracies in washington, dc. he gave me his assessment of whether and major regional escalation is likely a hi greetings. melissa. good to be with you. it depends a great deal on how when and where are these monica republic choose to respond or indeed, if they choose to escalate against these really strike that kills several senior codes for us. i already see extraterritorial operations, a military persons in damascus last week. in essence, one of those individuals is really you can say the connective tissue between the i,

r g, c, any ron, the syrian regime in damascus. and it has all at 11 on. there's also stories circulating as of yesterday by that that individual may have had a hand in the october 7 come on, a terrorist attack against israel. and none the less than the past when these monica public has responded to perceived or real is really threats. it's done so with drones and missiles but often against innocent civilians in places like iraq, as they did in 2022 and 24, alleging that these are most odd bases with no proof. it's likely you could see some kind of visual configuration like that again, but i don't think we're on the path to a major war unless there's a direct attack on these really territory, which i would for that low profit ability but high impact. now you've floated some of the possibilities. is there a general consensus among the experts where the, what, what the primary targets might be and where, where exactly, or is this hotly debated? or it's something between a consensus and as a base. there's lots of folks yours,

really included looking at the hard line and running, press rank and divine. based on what is being said currently out of that, ron, as was the past precedence for how we run has responded. we try to figure out what these monica public might do. interestingly, in the past 48 hours, despite lots of top headlines coming out to be around. major speech has made it look like the place and the time would come, many runs on choosing. so it's likely that this could be a terror attack. a at a potential is really target those really diplomatic facilities really comfortable center in places like europe, even this is literally something that he runs in the password to it. rock will actually himself, as plumber and bastard to rock, i should say who himself is a, a good sports individual floated just a few days ago in the persian press. there is, of course, also activating the militias not just against these rallies, but against the americans. part of the strategic logic behind that might be to push washington to try to constrain israel, the russian theories being so some people, right? indeed they wouldn't mind, you would be an escalation. but ironically,

despite the logical public, knowing that america is the more capable adversary when compared to israel, there is actually a greater willingness to embrace risk even over new yes, america, when compared to israel, because the government have these on with the public and it's military elite have a different impression about american resolve and american staying power in the region when compared to is rarely. now do you think there's any side that can do something to de escalate the situation and what would those moves look like? it's like, uh, you know, certainly these level of like fields pressure, pressure from the acts of resistance, but pressure based on its own ideology to respond publicly. the question of course, is the fact that it can't achieve escalation, dominance against israel means that it's really, it's going to be doing anything to drive a major conflict. at least you know, so long as they don't surprises really territory. even that there was really, there's literally nothing that probably could be done to walk these moment public

back. in fact, things that are driving it forward or are, you know, the drone program, the missile program. unfortunately, the more capable a long range right capabilities at the more least, all these capabilities have become the more often using iran actually as the willing to actually embrace risk. in fact, uh, i use these weapons and act on its rhetoric. so unfortunately, i don't think there's any kind of diplomatic walk back, but i do think strong messaging from washington that if this does get out of control, is they will be a swift military response, could, can contain the nature of the run, the military response. then i'm going to lead blue senior fellow at the foundation for the defense of democracies. thank you so much for joining us. thank you. commandos have recovered the body of an is really hostage held in hon. eunice in the southern gaza strip cuts here a 47 year old kid boots farmer was among $253.00 people dragged into gaza during the october 7th. how master attacks is really army says his body was recovered

during raids and southern gaza after could see or was killed by his captors staying . and israel, the government is coming under increasing pressure over the air strikes that killed 78 workers and gaza senior us democrats or calling for arms transfers to be halted . unless israel does more to protect civilians. israel has announced that it will allow more aid in 2000. here it is. rails are stored paws. h shipments bound for gaza will soon be accepted. and for the south, the air is crossing will be reopened, says eas, rent. it used to be a pos way for people to cross the border until her mouse militants used it as an entry point for their october 7th terror attacks. now israel will reopen the check point temporarily. israel is about phase comes of depression,

of from its closest ally, the u. s. on attempts funding coal president biden told prime minister benjamin netanyahu, that the us would review it, support of the wall. if changes weren't made a reprimand that appears to have sped israel to action partner, he's rails about face on aid, fuller's international outrage over in a strike. earlier this week, the killed 7, a work is in the gaza strip. after swift investigation, these riley army fired 2 offices and reprimanded and 3 senior commander was supposed to know the inquiry found. they had to tax the a trucks after miss identifying the vehicles as having come off. gunman inside israel has expressed quite deep, sorry for the incident and made a commitment to protect aid work in the u. n. however,

is demanding an independent investigation and some of our these are the only government doesn't acknowledge mistakes and then also some disciplinary measures. but the central problem is not only made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that to allow for those mistakes to multiply by him and died again. nearly $200.00 humanitarian aid workers have died in gaza strip attacks since so type of 7th, according to the un. and as the war news is a 6 month mock, several 8 agencies, one that molds and off of causes population, is on the brink of famine. russia has carried out another era strike on you cranes, 2nd largest city, at least 6 people were killed and hockey, even 10 others injured in an earlier assault. ukraine's military says it's air defenses. destroyed 28 out of 32 incoming drones and 3 out of 6 missiles.

russia is stepping up its attacks on ukraine's energy and infrastructure. he doesn't use john phillip sholtes has been speaking to you. cranes, energy administer him on how they shouldn't go. administer others like we have seen mess if it takes on ukrainian energy infrastructure in the past weeks. and what the consequences to those, that tex i for the ukrainian people, everyone should, should understand that today's situation that is, that's not the balls and battlefields. so that's like it's, i mean the fewer that are, uh, does it people, uh, they do not even hide these. so if you can see this, you can find it. so russian media, they say say that the ones who crane has to suffer and that's what they are really trying to do. so because when you have the restriction, then in, let's say what tricity supply. so you, oh, that's a suffering and it's also then it's, and as of to electricity, you have the problems with the water and so on. so i think that's a,

that's very important to understand the, that this. now these are more of suffering for the people that smelt about the but they'll feel like, you know, they're also in the past week. so that's been talk about the safety and stuff produce. yeah, the new cannot pull up ends and separate issue one more time in occupied territories. are you worried that this could still eventually leads to some really nuclear incidents that i'm up solidly? i, i'm said unfortunately i had to say that so would be the way to go through this. i will increase it, which was supply for security systems and they had thank you. got one let's just system to deprive us. so for like 3 sit, i mean guys about how we codes and supplies electricity to the nuclear station. i mean, and that this will, everything is so ridiculous. so i'm gonna say what they're doing. and uh, i think that that this, that there's a how much but call us of the station or should we wait? i mean 91015 i know to answer when the sites are going to happen. and that's only

the question of time which would understand this. we've also seen a tax on energy infrastructure in russia and many west the lead us, including the us presidents have harshly criticized these attacks. and do you think this is hypocritical, it's it's, it's funny denture of discussion because i, i have a lot of conversation with the ministers all over the world. and i'm very afraid when some time, so i've heard like, ok guys who have the war, but they will. well, we're and we will come back to russia. that's. that's a madness. i mean, so if you wants to come back again, it is this trip. so that's, that's, that's the you wouldn't, you should do not ever think not to repeat this story at this. i understand. good. thank you very much for the interview to mexico. is breaking off diplomatic ties with ecuador over a raid on the mexican embassy and tito security. forces detained, a former ecuadorian, vice president for hey gloss,

had been given political asylum in the compound. mexican diplomatic staff will leave ecuador immediately. police in quito, guard the office of the prosecutor general, after they arrested ecuador, his former vice president. earlier on friday, mexico offered jorge eyeglass, political asylum. he is facing a string of corruption charges from his time in office. a staff member from the mexican embassy made their opposition to the raid. no global. how easy the criminals rate at the mexican embassy equipped all right, but that's not possible because it can't be for know if it's madness not present, said the little port off the move to enter a diplomatic compound, as against the convention, leading mexico to cut ties with its latin american neighbour. it makes the car with nouns as the immediate suspension of diplomatic relations with ecuador. mexico will

appeal to the international court of justice to hold a quick door accountable. the violations of international law in the regular jorge eyeglass, seeing here in 2017, took refuge in the embassy last december. after an arrest warrant for a legit, corruption was issued against him. he had previously been sentenced to 6 years in jail for graft and was released just weeks before he entered the mexican embassy. the ecuadorian government said in a post that it is a sovereign country and will not allow any criminal to go on punished, adding they reiterate their respect for the mexican people who shared their feelings for the fight against corruption. in mexico city, a large police presence was also visible at the ecuadorian embassy after the regional spat escalated into a full blown diplomatic crisis. let's take

a look at other stories making news around the world. a russian saw you space craft has returned safely to earth. after on docking from the international space station . astronauts from russia, bella ruth and the united states were on board and we have the american laurel o'hara had been in orbit since september. authorities in denmark are trying to shut down copenhagen's famous christiane. yeah, hippy enclave. police have tolerated the illegal sale of cannabis in the areas since the 19 seventy's. but a recent spate of shootings linked to games has led residents to call for the popular tourist district to be cleared. now, before we go and look into rupture of sorts from mount etna in italy, locals are understandably wary of the power of the same is volcano, but at the moment, she appears to be blowing. giant, perfectly formed, smoke rings. so for now, sicilians are referring to her as the lady of the rings. volcanic vortex rings are

natural near perfect circles of gas. scientists say mount etna, and it's more gas than any other volcano. and you're up to date. thanks so much for joining us. fun, melissa. chance thanks for watching dw pm. i mean, i know i might just do it and i'm hoping dw new podcasts don't straighten them out . but there's no actually of, i'll know join us as we travel around your, facing the history of every day of that. and that's something right around the world. no need to talk to that. just to subscribe already. listen to part and we'll take you along to the right. the .