ok, behnam ben taleblu, it — the war in gaza. ok, behnam ben taleblu, it has _ the war in gaza. s been fascinating i the war in gaza. ok, behnam ben i taleblu, it has been fascinating and wonderful to have you with us. joining us from washington. a research fellow at the foundation for the defence of democracies. thank you very much indeed. what you can see there is the skyline of tel aviv. the country is on high alert. we have heard that drones, iranians drones, reportedly on the way currently. dozens reportedly crossing iraqi territory are sent from iran, heading towards israel. israel is on a state of alert. joining us now on the line is a correspondent from thejerusalem correspondent from the jerusalem post. how is the country at the moment? the country is on a war footing and it has been since at least friday morning. but now that drones are actually launched from iran, dozens of drones, iran has always used proxies to attack, hezbollah, militia groups in syria and iraq, but this is the largest attack we have seen so far from iran. there is suspicion they might notjust use d

i spoke earlier to behnam ben taleblu, a senior fellow at the foundation for defence of democracies.ow in the us house of representatives determined the future of global the us house of representatives determined the future of global conflict? always good to technically significant, politically significant. perhaps even geo— strategically significant if it is established between israel and iran without having to do something about the deterrence literature that is both psychological and performative. in this instance, obviously, they had advance of their missile drone barrage on april 13 14, had advance of their missile drone barrage on april 13 1a, that is israeli territory was struck, for matter for those watchers out there it's just a matter of when not if this response would come. in the same parallel fashion, but actually the mother comes out about the strike, particularly abc news reporting, jerusalem country of the reporting, jerusalem country of the reporting, shows an exceptionally capable air force being able to either penetrate iranian air defences, meaning they don't work

joining me is behnam ben taleblu, iran expert at the foundation for defence of democracies.lose eye on the iran file. welcome to bbc news. thank you. iran file. welcome to bbc news. thank vom— iran file. welcome to bbc news. thank yon-— iran file. welcome to bbc news. thank ou. ., ., ,, thank you. how would you assess the nature of the — thank you. how would you assess the nature of the iranians _ thank you. how would you assess the nature of the iranians attack? - thank you. how would you assess the nature of the iranians attack? we - nature of the iranians attack? we say it is unprecedented and iran insists it was a calibrated attack they telegraphed, informing regional leaders and beyond it was about to take place, but israel and its allies regarded as a reckless attack and a huge breach of israeli security. how would you describe it? well, it is a great question because the islamic republic politically telegraphed it, if you remember even after 72 hours before the strike occurred, almost international media was on razors edge waiting to see what the islamic republic woul

i spoke earlier to behnam ben taleblu, a senior fellow at the foundation for defence of democracies.ve you. how significant do you think the israeli strike was? i significant do you think the israeli strike was?- israeli strike was? i think with the _ israeli strike was? i think with the distance - israeli strike was? i think with the distance and - with the distance and perspective of time, it will become more and more significant. technically significant, politically significant, politically significant, perhaps even geo strategically significance. so much about the deterrence literature is both psychological and performative. in this instance, obviously, israel had promised in advance of iranmissile drone barrage if israeli territory was struck, iranian territory was struck, so for a matter of iran watchers and israel watchers out there, it was just a matter of when not if this response would come. some say that the lack of a public responses because the biden administration may have constrained the israelis from responding in the same parallel fashion, but actually the more that

interesting behnam ben taleblu the on the diplomatic and the military steps that need to and may be takenn great having you with us through these early morning hours here. we really appreciate you staying up with us and for all your insights, sir. so the breaking news is that israel is at this point weighing its options. now deciding how it responds to iran launching 300 missiles and drones at israeli territory in what is a completely unprecedented attack. the world awaits the israeli response. stay w now with breaking news on iran's air raid on israel, 200 rockets, missiles and drums together have gone into israel, most of which knocked out of the sky. some of which have mentioned on a military base. trey yingst on the ground, covering it for us all night long. just over 6:00 a.m. there. is it over? >> good evening, it appears to be over for now, there are mixed reports that the still be iranian drones in the sky headed toward israel but the bulk of the iranian attack is done at this moment. things are across tel aviv, israel's largest population center behind jerusalem appeared to be pr

joining us now is behnam ben taleblu. he's a senior fellow at the foundation for the defense of democracies. thank you for being here, benham. i wonder, first of all, how you think israel will and perhaps more importantly, should react to this. it's a pleasure to be with you. thanks for having me. it's an excellent question because this is historic, historic in several ways. obviously, it's the first time the islamic republic of iran directly launched projectiles from its own territory against israel. it's also historic because it's the first time the regime chose to strike a defended target. as you know, israel has the best or one of the best layered air and missile defense architectures in the world. but the third and perhaps most important reason it's historic. it's the first time the israelis have literally taken on a state to state threat in this face to face fashion since the 1973 war. so it's about five decades since they've had to face a state to state projects threat directly faced against them. and the islamic r

we are joined by behnam ben taleblu, who is a senior fellow at the foundation for defense of democraciesth you. what is your — programme. pleasure to be with you. what is your reaction _ programme. pleasure to be with you. what is your reaction to _ programme. pleasure to be with you. what is your reaction to what - what is your reaction to what happened overnight? this what is your reaction to what happened overnight?- what is your reaction to what happened overnight? what is your reaction to what ha ened overniuht? , , . . ~' happened overnight? this is a marked escalation by — happened overnight? this is a marked escalation by the _ happened overnight? this is a marked escalation by the islamic _ happened overnight? this is a marked escalation by the islamic republic i escalation by the islamic republic of iran, as has been said and continues to be said, this is a historic first. the islamic republic has never launched ballistic missiles from its own territory publicly, overtly, towards israel. another reason this is historic is that in all of the recent ballistic missile operations f

between israel and iran rattled nerves around the world with us now to talk more on this is behnam ben taleblu he is a senior fellow at the foundation for defense of democracies good to see you. so it's. been a real battle, right? in the house to get at the aid packages through to fine tune to amend. and apparently there might be some more amendments taking place now before there is final passage of any $26 for israel. so in your view, if passed how will that funding be dispense and how important will it be well, it's a pleasure being with you. >> i think if indeed past as you mentioned, it would send a strong deterrent message to the government of the islamic republic, which just last weekend made history with its willingness not to engage in proxy warfare, but in an overt direct its territory to territory attack, employing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones and some of the smaller acts and measures that were put into hr eight, the one that just passed at least from the house, sayyed does contain human rights sanctions, reporting requirements importantly, a strategy to counter ir