the us, britain and jordan, were among the countries involved in israel's defence. some of the missiles were intercepted outside earth's atmosphere. some supporters of the iranian government in tehran celebrate the attack — iran warns israel not to retaliate. iam in i am in jerusalem i am injerusalem where all eyes are on what israel does next. the war cabinet is meeting shortly in tel aviv. president biden says he'll agree a diplomatic response to the attack with other g7 leaders. the united nations security council will hold an emergency meeting later. this is the scene live injerusalem. as benjamin netanyahu convenes his war cabinet — the region waits for israel's response.

welcome to the programme. a moment of extraordinary global diplomacy as we wait for key meetings to take boot—mack take place. the g7, un security council and the israeli war cabinet. all considering what happens next, what response to iran. let's take a look at what happened. air raid siren these are the sirens and explosions over israel, this isjerusalem, over 300 missiles and drones launched at israel. israel says 99% of them were intercepted and destroyed. it wasn't just over air space in israel, these pictures are from the skies of jordan. israel's allies like the us,

uk and france helped shoot down the missiles and drones. also over syria, over damascus. the damage donein syria, over damascus. the damage done in israel, israel says they were no deaths, there was a small damage to a military base and a young girl was hit by falling debris and is receiving hospital treatment. this picture shows the iron dome, interceptor missiles launched from the ground across israel, to accept missiles and drones. these pictures were formed in iran over night, some government supporters, supporting the strike action. it is seen in iran as retaliation of the attack, widely believed to be by israel, on a iranians consulate two weeks ago in syria. take a look at the

geography and scale of why this is significant, iran and the distance to israel. this is the first time ever that iran has launched an attack from its soil, directly at israel. just want to bring you these breaking lines that we have had in the last few minutes. france recommends its nationals temporarily leave iran, yemen's armed houthis movement says that the attack on israel was a legitimate act in response to a suspected israeli strike on the consulate in damascus on the 1st of april. we have had a statement from the chief of staff of the armed forces warning against retaliation. take a listen. translation: from our point of view, this operation is over _ and there is no intention to continue the operation. but if the zionist regime takes any

action against the islamic republic, whether on our soil or places belonging to us in syria or elsewhere, our next operation will be much larger. let's go to israel. yes, this is a very tense situation, hours after iran launched the first direct attack on israel from iranians soil. iran has declared what it sees as a calibrated response, as a success. here in israel, israel says that more than 300 projectiles including drones and missiles, as well as ballistic missiles, 99% of them were shot down, intercepted by israel or the us, we have heard in the last

half hour from the us, we have heard in the last half hourfrom britain the us, we have heard in the last half hour from britain and france and jordan. israel says it was a failure. both sides warning the other of possible other strikes, iran in the last few hours, there have been repeated warnings from iran by the head of the armed forces, we have also heard from the revolutionary guard corps. in the last hour the foreign minister has come out with a statement saying that iran exercised its legitimate right to self—defence. that this was a retaliatory strike. he also said that iran had no interest in escalating situation and called for restraint by israel. in about 30 minutes, the israeli war cabinet will sit down to look in more detail at what happened, and also to consider israel's options now. a short time ago i spoke to...

israel defence forces spokesperson lieutenant colonel peter lerner and asked him how much damage had been caused by the assault. first of all, what was shown in the early hours of the morning was a unity of decent nations that came together against the diabolical intentions of iran. that resulted, actually, in a good outcome because we were able to fend off 99% of the rockets, missiles and explosive drones that were headed our way. together, we were able to save many lives in the early hours of this morning. i am sure you experienced it from jerusalem, the explosions overhead, both from those ballistic missiles. i'm happy to say that none of the explosive drones that were headed here were able to even penetrate the airspace. the same goes for the 30 cruise missiles that were fired, they did not make it into israeli airspace.

the ballistic missiles were able to hit an air base in the south of israel which caused minimal damage. the airbase remained operational throughout. and there is the sad story of the seven—year—old girl, baby girl basically, that was injured and is currently fighting for her life in hospital. we hope she will come out of that. the preparations are defensive in nature, preparing for what else iran can deal. we have had rockets fired this morning from lebanon from hezbollah, iran hasn't stopped from the last six months, they have been attacking us on all sides and last night they launched from their own territory. as you know, this was a retaliatory strike, you didn't say it but it is widely understood

to be your attack, april one on the consular annex on diplomatic property in the capital, damascus. also killed some senior iranian revolutionary guards. iran said it had to hit back at that. but iran and your allies are saying let us draw a line under this. i know that the decision is yet to be taken, can you let us know what the thinking is here in israel? the thinking is clear, iran has been behind attacks over the last six months, hamas wouldn't have the capability to build the army that invaded israel were it not for the immense financial, in—kind and instruction of $100 million a year. hezbollah has been at war with us

since the 8th of october, firing over 3,000 rockets, they will also not be able to do so without the huge financial support, the training that they go through by iran and the instructions they receive. and the situation in yemen is the same. they are all using iranians weaponry and knowledge, they are all extensively funded by iran. iran just came to the forefront of this war in their attack last night, they have been there through the course of this war and beforehand. there have been preparing hamas to do the invasion on the 7th of october. while there are fingers being pointed, we have to be clear minded and open eyed regarding the level of iran's involvement. it didn't begin on april one, it has been going on for many years, building these forces, building a ring of fire around

israel that we can't accept. therefore, we embarked to defend ourselves with decent nations, we have a very high level of success of interception. we are prepared to continue to defend israel against iranian hostility. that was peter lerner. that war cabinet meeting, comes in the midst of significant messages by the staunchest ally the us, in public joe biden has spoken of the ironclad support he is giving to israel including helping last night, early this morning to intercept some of those drones and missiles. we understand that the president has

conveyed, in no uncertain terms to prime minister netanyahu, that it is time to draw a line under this matter. at earlier noga tarnopolsky — an independentjournalist who specialises in the middle east — walked through biden�*s response and what the situation means for israel. i think that the question really is very much in the air. as american media reported biden said to netanyahu, this could be a moment for netanyahu to take a victory lap, saying that we protected you, israel was able to defend itself, no casualties in israel, very few penetrations, that is whatjoe biden is asking netanyahu to do. certainly not to attack in the way that the previous correspondence just described which would be an overt israeli attack

against iranian soil and that would be again, we are using this word a lot — a game changer. 0n the other hand, the reason that netanyahu is not thanking the united states for which he has been criticised over night. saying that we deterred them. 0n the other hand he's not saying anything concrete, he's playing a very difficult political game inside israel. and he has encouraged his own most extremist ministers to speak up about a powerful response. this was said by several people while the iranians launches were on route. they will have to try and square this circle and come up with at least a possible way to move forward that will satisfy these conflicting demands. as you know, their hostility

towards iran which is hostile towards israel, it is a core tenant of the revolutionary doctrine, has defined the career of benjamin netanyahu, even before becoming prime minister. in all his years in power, he has said that this is the main threat facing israel. 0n at least one occasion, he was pulled back from the brink of ordering a direct strike. do you think there could be a division of opinion between prime minister netanyahu and the israeli military leadership? yes, that is a good question and it is good to remember that. i am almost 100% certain, from what i've heard in the last few hours that division occurs. it has to be said, if i may say more directly, prime minister netanyahu has been in the israeli public space in the past 30 years, during that time, even before he was elected,

he made iran his signal issue and he made deterring iran his signal issue. that is it, mr security against iran. and here you have the state of israel which successfully stood in the face of this unprecedented assault but with the entire country paralysed, days and days of mounting anxiety, schools, universities, the airport closed. the country went into lockdown and i am quite sure, and i can quote you the most recent mossad director, among other security leaders questioning the decision of israel to assassinate this general in damascus two weeks ago. the man in charge of transferring weapons to iran's proxies in the region and wondering if this brought security to israel and wondering how netanyahu will be

able to move forward, having promised a massive response, but it is unclear whether that would bring anything good to this country, and anything other than further destruction. this that was our correspondence speaking from chicago. about some of the thinking inside israel, underlining that prime minister netanyahu has for all his career, even before becoming prime minister, made the security of israel, one of his top political priorities. let's see how it looks from the iranians side. we can cross to paris. let's speak to dr ramin parham, author and iran—israel relations expert. welcome to bbc news. thank you for

invitin: welcome to bbc news. thank you for inviting me- — welcome to bbc news. thank you for inviting me- in _ welcome to bbc news. thank you for inviting me. in israel— welcome to bbc news. thank you for inviting me. in israel they are - inviting me. in israelthey are describing. — inviting me. in israelthey are describing, condemning - inviting me. in israelthey are describing, condemning this i inviting me. in israel they are - describing, condemning this attack by iran, pointing out that more than 100 ballistic missiles were fired. iran, from what we understand, after two weeks saw this as a limited, calibrated attack. how do you understand the thinking in iran behind this decision to launch this strike? i behind this decision to launch this strike? ~ , ., behind this decision to launch this strike? ~' , ., ~' behind this decision to launch this strike? ~ , ., ~ ., strike? i think we should think of it a bit further— strike? i think we should think of it a bit further than _ strike? i think we should think of it a bit further than i _ strike? i think we should think of it a bit further than i retaliatory l it a bit further than i retaliatory action. 0ra it a bit further than i retaliatory action. or a reaction to what israel did two weeks ago in damascus. it was, in my opinion, more of action than a reaction. why am saying this is because i think the decision was made, the decision was extremely for

both military reasons and consequences and internal political reasons and consequences of not hitting. so why they made the decision to actually hit and hit directly and to such an extent? i think the main reason, why am saying it was more of action than reaction, i think the reason was that ayatollah khamenei and the top military echelon of iran wanted to make sure and draw the line in the bloody sands of the middle east once and for the future. that is history as shown, time and over, iran is the major central pillar, nation state of the entire region. there will be no civility, no other things without

iran, don't mess with persia, persia is back. i think that was the main action behind what happened. i think this is what we _ action behind what happened. i think this is what we described _ action behind what happened. i think this is what we described as - this is what we described as deterrents, beyond this tit—for—tat, april one this is what happening now, iran wants to ensure that there are no future tax, deterrence is on the mind of israel and its allies like the united states. {131 the mind of israel and its allies like the united states. of course, as it was brilliantly _ like the united states. of course, as it was brilliantly said _ like the united states. of course, as it was brilliantly said in - like the united states. of course, as it was brilliantly said in the - as it was brilliantly said in the interview you just had in the correspondent in chicago, prime minister netanyahu has made his entire political career on the iranian issue. we know that without his knowledge, his tacit support, as i believe and i read some of his own critics, they would be no hamas. he

let hamas grow in a certain way. if there was a intelligence failure on october seven, there was a intelligence failure on 0ctoberseven, benjamin there was a intelligence failure on october seven, benjamin netanyahu 0ctober seven, benjamin netanyahu was in charge. so, i believe in terms of a second strike, this time by israel directed against iran, the consequences would be major. i think the consequences would be to be a large extent, a full confrontation in the region within two major powers of the region. and that is in the interests of no one. let us not forget that israel is part of the central command, i don't think that without the green light of the central command, the green light of the us, not forgetting the decision of key allies like the uk and france, i don't think israel would have a free hand in engaging in a second strike. you

have a free hand in engaging in a second strike.— have a free hand in engaging in a second strike. you spoke about the internal pressure _ second strike. you spoke about the internal pressure facing _ second strike. you spoke about the internal pressure facing the - second strike. you spoke about the internal pressure facing the iranian | internal pressure facing the iranian leadership, which goes right to the top. do you mean the pressure of radical islamic revolutionary guards who would have wanted to retaliate including the attacks of the last six months or is it domestic pressure after years of unprecedented political protest? indie unprecedented political protest? - have elements of all these factors that you mentioned. elements from... the pressure coming from the military establishment, the pressure coming from internal situations and the vast discontent that you mentioned rightly. ithink the vast discontent that you mentioned rightly. i think what is important to see, again, in between the lines, is the emergence of a new role, perhaps probably, a political

role, perhaps probably, a political role for the military establishment. what we saw last night is a turning point in historic terms. iran did last night, what no arab country, no muslim country in the region has done for 75 years. iran did it alone and iran did it under the most significant international sanction in modern history. they did it. and i believe they also staged something significant, they showed the military and technological capabilities of the country in the situation that they just capabilities of the country in the situation that theyjust mentioned, to engage in a direct confrontation with the region's most powerful army and using complex weapon systems. in between the lines, as many things

persian and iranians, and also is really. we should look at the emergence of what i believe will be the backbone of any future political development in iran and persia and thatis development in iran and persia and that is technocratic military. the future is being _ that is technocratic military. the future is being made today. thank you forjoining us from paris. underlining again that in this unprecedented moment that has been widely described as uncharted territory, the unprecedented nature of this iranians strike against israel, we are waiting to find out what israel does in return. there is the reality of what happened on the ground here with the swarm of iranians missiles and drones being intercepted over israeli and arab airspace. there is also the perceptions of what happened with

iran declaring this a victory. just the fact that it was able and it had the fact that it was able and it had the political will to carry it out, and here in israel it is being viewed as a failure, israel was able to defend itself against more than 100 ballistic missiles. working with allies. we will continue to look at allies. we will continue to look at all of these aspects of this perilous and pivotal moment in the middle east. now i will hand you back to the studio for more on the middle east and the other top stories. we want to continue with events here because in the last 30 minutes, we have heard from the iranians foreign minister, talking about the strikes, saying it was limited and for self defence. to pick through this... with me is baran abbasi ,

from the persian service could you talk us through the statement from the iranian foreign minister? the statement from the iranian foreign minister? ~ , , , minister? the prime minister issued a statement — minister? the prime minister issued a statement saying _ minister? the prime minister issued a statement saying that _ minister? the prime minister issued a statement saying that after - minister? the prime minister issued a statement saying that after it - a statement saying that after it summoned the ambassadors from the uk, germany and france to express its anger against what it called a irresponsible behaviour by those countries towards what happened last night because they had criticised iran and they said they need to show restraint. the foreign ministry said they should have urged israel to show restraint. the foreign minister also spoke and said the attack was limited and they had informed the united states of this before the attack happened, and they made sure that no residential areas or

financial areas, as he put it, were attacked. ., financial areas, as he put it, were attacked. . , ., financial areas, as he put it, were attacked. ., , ., , , attacked. can we get your response to these pictures, _ attacked. can we get your response to these pictures, we _ attacked. can we get your response to these pictures, we had _ attacked. can we get your response to these pictures, we had pictures | to these pictures, we had pictures filmed in tehran after the attack. if you can put them in some context, people on the street celebrating the strikes against israel. yes. people on the street celebrating the strikes against israel.— strikes against israel. yes, the foota . e strikes against israel. yes, the footage shows _ strikes against israel. yes, the footage shows a _ strikes against israel. yes, the footage shows a number - strikes against israel. yes, the footage shows a number of. strikes against israel. yes, the - footage shows a number of iranians regime supporters, they took to the streets after the news of the attack by iran against israel was published. these seem to be state organised protests, gatherings by the regime to show that it enjoys some kind of support by the people. the iranian regime is deeply popular among its own people, the ordinary people have expressed anger against iran for its involvement in regional

conflicts and have said time and again that they don't want iran to get into any kind of confrontation and they want peace. and they have taken to social media to express this dissatisfaction about what happened and they say this is the war between the two countries, not the people of iran. these crowds, there are a handful of regime supporters but they do not support the iranian people as a whole. itrier?n the iranian people as a whole. very useful. the iranian people as a whole. very useful- let's _ the iranian people as a whole. very useful. let's talk _ the iranian people as a whole. very useful. let's talk about _ the iranian people as a whole. very useful. let's talk about what happens next. we heard from the foreign minister, this is intended from their point of view to draw a line under it. it is limited, it is complete. what are the calculations being made in tehran? what assessment was made of what israel will do next and what iran will be prepared to do?— will do next and what iran will be prepared to do? because the iranian reaime prepared to do? because the iranian regime does — prepared to do? because the iranian regime does not _ prepared to do? because the iranian regime does not have _ prepared to do? because the iranian

regime does not have any _ prepared to do? because the iranian regime does not have any support i regime does not have any support among its people, it will be very concerned if an attack happens against the country. especially if it is supported by the united states and other allies in the region. the two countries have been pursuing a proxy war over the past decade but iran has been reluctant to launch any direct attacks against israel. what happened in damascus two weeks ago changed everything because iran believed that it was i attack on a diplomatic mission, its territory and it was under pressure by hardliners inside iran, the people we saw in that footage and to flex its muscles in the region and it was very careful and it was repeated time and again by the military commanders and also politicians that it was limited and it did not cause

a lot it was limited and it did not cause a [or ., ~ it was limited and it did not cause a lo. ., ~' , it was limited and it did not cause alor ., , . a lot thank you very much for expiaining — a lot thank you very much for explaining that _ a lot thank you very much for explaining that to _ a lot thank you very much for explaining that to us. - a lot thank you very much for explaining that to us. to - a lot thank you very much for. explaining that to us. to our live feeds across the region, we have our correspondence and experts and live pictures coming in here at the bbc studios in london. let's take a look at these pictures. these are live pictures from tel aviv, calm now after an extraordinary night. an unprecedented night in israel. we are waiting for the diplomatic efforts, the fallout. plenty of high—level meetings, we will have all the details. this is bbc news. hello. the warm spell of weather has come to their end, it's much fresher today and the outlook is pointing to frequent showers with hail

and thunder and very windy weather for tomorrow. here's the map as we see that transition in 2a hours from the calm conditions we have had recently to this big low sitting on top of us, dragging in colderair from the northern climes and making it feel colder than it recently has been. on to the forecast, temperatures in the middle of the afternoon hovering around the mid—teens in the southeast of the country, barely making double figures across the north, where we already have showers sweeping across. the winds freshening and the showers through the night generally confined to more northern and western areas. towards the end of the night, perhaps reaching central england but the southeast will stay dry. temperatures up to eight celsius in most major towns and cities. tomorrow, a band of showers across the country, gusty winds, showers could be torrential with hail and thunder, sunshine in—between and the gusts up to 50mph on coastal areas and not

far off that inland. a turbulent day with dramatic cloudscapes and changeable weatherfrom hour to hour. the lowest temperatures around ten celsius. they will be barrelling across the uk into the north sea through the course of monday evening. tuesday, it will still have a sting in its tail, stronger winds and showers across the north sea coast, everywhere from yorkshire to east anglia. gusty winds of up to 50mph here but towards the west, the weather will be drier and brighter and the winds not quite as strong, not quite as chilly. but still around eight celsius in stornoway and typically up to 13 elsewhere across the uk. towards the end of the week, another weak front moving across uk bringing cloud more than rain and also this high nosing in, an indication the weather should dry out. the main message for now is a very blustery day on the way tomorrow with big shower clouds but also sunny spells.

bye— bye.