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Israel urged its citizens to head to safety and move into shelters. The idf said it would do what it could to protect people. The difference between this attack and the one that israel was subjected to by iran in april is the type of missiles that are being fired and the length of time it is taking them to reach israel. In april, it took several hours, because drones and Cruise Missiles were fired first and that gave Allied Forces from the us and the uk the chance to get their planes in the sky and shoot them down. Tonight it happened more quickly and we have seen the dramatic pictures of Iron Dome interceptions and people rushing for cover in Tel Aviv and just liam. Jerusalem. Lets speak now to Tom Bateman, whos in washington for us this evening. This was launched very quickly . To this was launched very quickly . Trr give you an idea of the sense of urgency here, we had been expecting a briefing from officials in the next few minutes, that has been delayed. The secretary of state, antony blinken, who was due to give comments at a different event has pulled down those comments and that has been cancelled. It is clear officials here are watching and assessing the scale of this iranian attack on israel. As you say, the first indications we got that this was coming were merely hours ago. When the White House began to issue lines suggesting that an iranian missile attack, including ballistic missiles, was imminent. My sense from officials is they believed it was coming within hours. Now here we are with those images of an iranian strike on to israel. Where do we go from here in terms of us . They have said they were postured and poised and ready to defend israel. Remember, that Attack Back in april involved 300 missiles and drones. We had american destroyers at sea, firing defences, the uk also involved in that at the time. And other crucially allies in the region, us allies, involved in bringing down many of the missile and the majority didnt get through. Now there is an assessment about what is going on this time around when there has been far less notice. 0ne when there has been far less notice. One other key point, the White House in its statement earlier said that there would be severe consequences in its words for the iranians for a direct Military Attack against the israelis. That is now happening. My sense from this building is that The Americans have been signalling, messaging to the iranians that this time around, they wont expend the same effort in trying to rein in any israeli retaliation to what we are seeing now. Israeli retaliation to what we are seeing nova israeli retaliation to what we are seeinu now. ,. , ~ ,. , seeing now. Tom, thank you. I ust Heard A very seeing now. Tom, thank you. I ust Heard A very loud i seeing now. Tom, thank you. I ust Heard A very loud barrage � seeing now. Tom, thank you. I ust Heard A very loud barrage of h seeing now. Tom, thank you. Ijust Heard A very loud barrage of air Heard A very loud barrage of Air Strikes In Beirut. There has been a lot of them today. But they seem to be increasing in intensity as well. Lets Head Tojerusalem and our correspondent is there. What has happened there in the last hour . About 35 minute ago the sirens went off all over israel. We got an alert on our phone and ran to the Safe Room in the Bbc Bureau here. As that was happening, we heard the sound of loud explosions that sounded like Mis Sims being shot douvenlt down. Now, Israeli Television is reporting that 140 missiles were launched from iran and most were shot down. We dont have any word of any casualties at the moment, or any damage. I should tell you separately, we have got confirmation from israeli police this evening that in jaffa, from israeli police this evening that injaffa, near Tel Aviv, israels biggest city, there has been a shooting attack, with a number of casualties. This happened Neara Number of casualties. This happened near a Light Railway Line and images on israeli Television Show two men, one armed with an assault rifle. Jon, thank you for bringing us up to date. I want to take you to Northern Israel, to the area very close to the lebanese border. 0ur Correspondent Lucy williamson is there. What have you seen and heard . Well, just a few minutes ago we Heard A series of loud interceptions a sirens sounded up here, as well as across the country. A few minutes ago, the israeli army put out a message saying that Irans Attack is continuing. That hasnt yet been updated. As you heard jon say, we are being told that perhaps more than 100 missile have been fired from iran. Perhaps as many as 140. Israels army is massed at this bored. At this border. It is less than 24 hours since ground troops were sent to lebanon, presumably the triggerfor this action were sent to lebanon, presumably the trigger for this action by iran. Thank you. As youre speaking, im reading that the irans revolutionary guards say the Missile Launches from in retaliation for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah. And the killing of the political leader of hamas. Is this Something Israel were bracing for . ,. ,. , for . Yes, we have heard both the Army Spokesman for . Yes, we have heard both the Army Spokesman today for . Yes, we have heard both the Army Spokesman Today Talk for . Yes, we have heard both thej Army Spokesman Today Talk about for . Yes, we have heard both the Army Spokesman Today Talk about this threat, but also binyamin netanyahu, the prime minister, saying the country needs to stand firm and the country needs to stand firm and the country is fighting Irans Axis of evil. He has linked the hezbollah, israels fight with hezbollah across this border, to the wider battle it has with iran. So it is, it has been very much something that has been part of the conversation here. I think what is striking today is just noticing how little resistance there has been on the ground from hezbollah to israeli forces across this border. The response instead appears to come from hezbollah� s backer iran. That will send the region into a whole other place, a whole other dimension. Region into a whole other place, a whole other dimension. There were auestions whole other dimension. There were questions i whole other dimension. There were questions i think whole other dimension. There were questions i think about whole other dimension. There were questions i think about how whole other dimension. There were questions i think about how well. Questions i think about how well hezbollah might have been able to hit back against israel after those two weeks or so of Air Strikes in lebanon. 0f two weeks or so of Air Strikes in lebanon. Of course, i was telling you in the last ten minutes i have Heard Again a sustained barrage of Air Strikes, Heard Again a sustained barrage of airstrikes, loud, really audible through the streets of beirut. Now back tojerusalem through the streets of beirut. Now back to Jerusalem And Jon through the streets of beirut. Now back toJerusalem And Jon donnison. We are hearing 200 missiles fired from iran towards israel. What will israels next step be . Israels next step be . Well, it is a aood israels next step be . Well, it is a good question israels next step be . Well, it is a good question. They israels next step be . Well, it is a good question. They had israels next step be . Well, it is a | good question. They had promised when we got this news that us intelligence has detected an iranian attack, they said that iran would pay and would suffer the consequences. So, it is going to be another anxious wait i think to see how israel responds. It has responded in the past when it has been struck by yemen, by iran, by hezbollah, and by hamas of course In Gaza, and if the past is anything to go by. Gaza, and if the past is anything to go by, then i can expect we can think israel is going to hit back in one way or another. There is going to be fierce diplomatic efforts, renewed diplomatic efforts to try and get some sort of restraint, some sort of lid on this at the moment. Because there is a real danger, and i have to say all the diplomatic efforts are failed in terms of conflict in the Middle East. But there will be a push, because if those efforts fail, this could really spiral out of control. Lets return to our really spiral out of control. Lets return to our correspondent really spiral out of control. Lets return to our correspondent Tom Bateman in washington. As we were hearing, the irgc were saying it is in response to the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah and the leader er of hamas. Will we see further retaliation from iran, or will this be a one off . I see further retaliation from iran, or will this be a oneoff . See further retaliation from iran, or will this be a oneoff . I think a coule of or will this be a oneoff . I think a couple of things or will this be a oneoff . I think a couple of things to or will this be a oneoff . I think a couple of things to say, or will this be a oneoff . I think a couple of things to say, First Or will this be a oneoff . I think a couple of things to say, first lets| couple of things to say, first lets compare where we are now to the last time there was a direct attack on israel, that was back in april. Back then, it was telegraphed for days by then, it was telegraphed for days by The Americans and the rarians iranians. The defensive activity was from the us perspective successful in destroying the vast majority of the missiles. This time, we went from yesterday where there were no signs that something like this was imminent, to within hours warnings signs that something like this was imminent, to within hours warnings from the White House this was coming from the White House this was coming and now it has arrived. I think and now it has arrived. I think first of all there is a question first of all there is a question about how effective the missile about how effective the Missile Defence will have been, the defence will have been, the israelis and its allies, in israelis and its allies, in particular the united states, which particular the united states, which is in the region, it has an aircraft is in the region, it has an aircraft in the Middle East and destroyers to in the Middle East and destroyers to shoot down these kind of missiles. Shoot down these kind of missiles. But much now will depend on the but much now will depend on the impact, particularly if there are impact, particularly if there are civilian casualties, in terms of civilian casualties, in terms of what happens next and how the what happens next and how the israeli respond. That gets us into israeli respond. That gets us into the wider point now about the wider point now about washingtons diplomacy. A week ago washingtons diplomacy. A week ago we were talking at the un and i was we were talking at the un and i was in New York as The Americans led a in New York as The Americans led a diplomatic effort to try and rein in diplomatic effort to try and rein in Israel And Hezbollah in terms of Israel And Hezbollah in terms of what was happening in lebanon, to what was happening in lebanon, to say to both step back, engage in say to both step back, engage in diplomacy and come diplomacy and come to a short term truce. That idea got completely shattered. We saw a sharp escalation as you saw with the israeli killing Hassan Nasrallah In Beirut. And then these limited Ground Incursions by the israelis into lebanon that were announced yesterday. Now washing washington has to deal with the new reality. It is doing everything to shield its ally israel. But it comes with a grave warning, because the Nightmare Scenario for america is getting drawn into Direc Confrontation with the iranians. We are now move Fog Ing to a situation where the israelis would like to see them retaliate and americans trying to get a deescalation. But now we are in a cycle of the opposite of this. Tom, thank you. You might be able to here In Beirut, i can hear The Sound Of Celebratory Gun Immense Destruction and more than was visible during our last stay here a few days ago. On the journey down, the roads were very empty. We didnt really seeing people fleeing. I think most of those who had wanted to go have done so already. The streets here are largely deserted. Businesses and shops are boarded up. There is a sense of tension and people fearing worst will come. In the last half an hour in the skyline there has been a huge exchange of Rocket Fire and Missile Fire going it seemed from both sides of this Borderfrom Lebanon into Israel And Vice versa. There were some major interceptions, rockets could be seen being knocked out. But it was quite a barrage. A great deal of activity here, iranian Missile Attacks coming on israel. We have been talking for days now, for weeks, about it being a dangerous moment, a risky time, about escalation. But it is hard to come up with the language i think now to describe the level of risk we are at, the level we have reached and the Danger Notjust for israel and the Danger Notjust for israel and lebanon, but for the wider region and that will be a huge concern for the international community, with iranian missiles raining down on israel and missiles being exchanged across the border here and the ongoing fight In Gaza. And the question, is this all iran is going to do . Will there be further strikes. Will it attack israel by way of its proxies in iraq and yemen. Will the attacks continue . Will they step in. And then there are questions for people in lebanon and a great deal of fear about what israels Ground Invasion could bring for them. Thank you. Our senior international correspondent in southern lebanon. The Big Question is now is how serious the Iranians Attack on israel could be. 0ur Security Correspondent can tell us more. What correspondent can tell us more. What does the iranian correspondent can tell us more. What does the iranian Missile Correspondent can tell us more. Wisgt does the iranian Missile Threat Correspondent can tell us more. Wist does the iranian Missile Threat to israel look like . We have some idea because this is not the first time israel has been targeted. Back in april, iran fired a salvo at israel and the launch is shown here on State Tv as retaliation for an attack in damascus. That attack included ballistic missiles and these fly high and fast in an arc and can reach israel in minutes. Also Cruise Missiles that can fly straight and lowered to the ground, and slower moving attack drones. The target then was thought to be military facilities, but almost all of the missiles and drones were shot down. As well as Cruise Missiles . Which can fly straight and lower to the ground. And also slower moving attack drones. The target was thought to be military facilities. But almost all of the missiles and drones were shot down. Some were taken out by israel s own multi tiered defence. A system known as Arrow Deals with missiles at the longest range. Next comes David S Sling for ballistic and Cruise Missiles. While Iron Dome deals with anything fired nearby. Meanwhile Fighter Jets took out drones in april, when there was also help from nearby countries and allies including the us and uk. That attack in april may have been large it involved over 300 missiles and drones but it did little damage. 0nly five ballistic missiles got through and landed in the desert. Some believe that was a close call though. And so if iran does try again, its not yet clear how big any attack will be or what might get through. Thank you, gordon. Just seeing from our us partner Cbs News who are quoting a us Defence Official that says the us did help intercept some of those incoming missiles to help defend israel, so there were involved in trying to defend israel from those Iranians Mac on the live pictures and that is israel Defence System activating going up there as they come in. Iran a ears to going up there as they come in. Iran appears to have going up there as they come in. I� sfi appears to have been launched dozens, not hundreds, dozens of missiles directly at israel and a small amount that it did in april and a direct attack and this is only the second time in its history that it has done this directly as opposed to using proxies like hamas or the houthis. Bless than they did this, there are fairly restrained retaliation by israel and irans actions were a retaliation for the attack on damascus that killed several members of the Iranian Revolution but there was a huge concerted diplomatic effort on israel to say please, please dont overreact to this and just do something symbolic and it did, and carrying out a small attack and showing iran that he could penetrate its air Defence Systems but not cause a lot of damage. This time, i think the gloves will be off and i cannot see the us restraining israel this time because this is, do not forget that iran is working on a nuclear programme which israel suspects, he a Military Side to it but they actually looking to build a nuclear bomb now imagine you for having this scenario now and we do not know if any of those incoming missiles of a nuclear warhead. That is what scares people in israel and in the region. But, if this develops into a huge Tit For Tat with each side stepping up its reaction and there is a real risk here that this could spill over into the example of the arab Side And Chemical facilities and a lot of us bases and desalination plants and theres all sorts of things that this could catastrophe as an impression im getting from the iranian side as they feel they have to do something because the others will be saying we simply cannot Sit Back and watch as israel systematically dismantles our closest ally in the region, hezbollah in lebanon, we have to do something also. And the pragmatist will say yeah, sure, but, if we hit israel, theyre going to hit us back twice as hard and i guarantee thats whats going to happen. This is, we do not know about what the Bomb Damage Assessment is but believe me, there will be retribution coming the other way. There will be retribution coming the other wa. ,. , there will be retribution coming the otherwa. ,. ,. , there will be retribution coming the otherwa. ,. ,. ,. , other way. Stay with us for a moment and i want other way. Stay with us for a moment and i want to other way. Stay with us for a moment and i want to show other way. Stay with us for a moment and i want to show audiences and i want to show audiences watching this earlier picture as we can see here showing the israeli Iron Dome system intercepting iranian rockets which were seen in the skies around the city of Tel Aviv and theyre quite incredible pictures and watching those pictures from earlier, let us bring people a statement from the un given to us and it says this, irans legitimate response to the terrorist attacks of the Zionist Regime Targeting Nash and thats petty make nationals and interest in attacking the sovereignty of iran have been duly carried out. Should this regime dared to respond or commit for the acts of malevolence, Oppression Response will ensue in regional states and designed supporters will part ways with the regime. The language there frank, saying that we have done this in retaliation, what is your next move . Is your next move . What they are referrin is your next move . What they are referring to is your next move . What they are referring to is is your next move . What they are referring to is not is your next move . What they are referring to is notjust is your next move . What they are referring to is notjust the referring to is notjust the assassination of the leader Hassan Last Friday but also in the heart of the iranian capital and the guesthouse at the inauguration of the new President And Iran started old one for that. But then, there was the Military Commander of hezbollah, the number two In Beirut Injuly Orjuly the 20th, that was just before that. There is a whole sequence of events which have really caused the establishment to say, we need to act decisively, otherwise they risk their entire galaxy of Support And Proxy militias and allies and the houthis in yemen, hamas In Gaza and all these allied militias and iran, they say its just weak and not much of a leader but will be needed them, they were not there for us. Its partly symbolic play goes further than that. And missiles that were involved here, i dont know exactly what they are but there is a difference between the attack in april which is a combination of slow moving drones which were all Shot Down By Raf and us, i think jordanian aircraft as well as they made their way slowly across the Middle East and ballistic missiles and Cruise Missiles, they are terrain following and this weather the last minute, they go right up and come down very fast and altering their trajectory as they come down, trajectory to try to avoid being shot down but here youre seeing israels Iron Dome air Defence System pretty effective in hitting them as they come down and nevertheless, this was a direct attack and remember, israel has never taken responsibility for the assassination in toronto onjuly 31. Everyone knows it wouldve been the work, but they never made no valid attack. But this is a really dangerous moment now because this could spread to other parts, i think it is unlikely that this is just going to be, iran is clearly single going to be, iran is clearly single going to be, iran is clearly single going to do this and lets leave it at that. But can you. Going to do this and lets leave it at that. But can you. Going to do this and lets leave it at that. But can you. Thats the feelin at that. But can you. Thats the feeling you at that. But can you. Thats the feeling you get at that. But can you. Thats the feeling you get from at that. But can you. Thats the feeling you get from the at that. But can you. Thats the I Feeling you get from the statement, right . Feeling you get from the statement, ri. Ht . , feeling you get from the statement, riuht . , , feeling you get from the statement, riuht . ,. , right . They say they will only retaliate further right . They say they will only retaliate further if right . They say they will only retaliate further if Israel Right . They say they will only retaliate further if israel is i retaliate further if israel is stupid enough to retaliate against us. This is really government which is lashed out at hezbollah, at hamas at the houthis and i cannot see them saying, yeah, may be, you know what, 0k. It wasnt that big of an attack, will leave it at that, quite the opposite. They will be right now in the already have the plants are retaliation already. So, this is a worrying time for everybody in the region. And i would envisage that the attacks on hezbollah in lebanon will continue as i do not see israel Ending Itjust like that because the threat of hezbollah� s missiles is very much alive in southern lebanon and theres a possibility that hezbollah may be attempting to follow those long range missiles also and two directions, possibly even three if the houthis joined also and two directions, possibly even three if the houthisjoined in from yemen. Its a threatening time for Israel And Israeli Citizens but, if i was in a Command Bunker right now in iran, i would be in a very Low Route. Now in iran, i would be in a very Low Route now in iran, i would be in a very Low Route. A,. ,. , Low Route. Momentarily, posting on x. Low route. Momentarily, posting on x, formally Low Route. Momentarily, posting on x, formally known Low Route. Momentarily, posting on x, formally known as Low Route. Momentarily, posting on x, formally known as twitter, Low Route. Momentarily, posting on x, formally known as twitter, this | x, formally known as twitter, this is a posting a little bit earlier that said all israeli civilians are in Bomb Shelters as rockets from iran are fired at israel. From the idf, they show on the map very clearly this posting to begin bring this up, Rocket Alerts are in you can see the spread across israel of those Rocket Alerts. The idea of addressing citizens via Social Media Apps where they have said at the last few minutes, the explosions you are hearing from interceptions or projectiles, israel making use of its air Defence Systems and reminding citizens that it is, they are urging people into their safe zones and that is what theyve been seeing. Taking you back now again to show you pictures from little bit earlier on that they are not pictures of beirut, theyre pictures of Tel Aviv and they show us the missiles that were fired from iran over the skies of Tel Aviv and being intercepted by the israeli Iron Dome system and we know that we have been hearing that there have been interceptions Heard And seen not just above Tel Aviv but also above jerusalem as well, Air Sirens and now we are back to live shots of the Tel Aviv skyline and i think across the Northern Israel and across live to our Correspondent Nick Beek who is there and next, i saw you have written for bbc live page, describing how you saw distinctive Orange Glow of those missiles parts taking a passing overhead not an hour ago. Taking a passing overhead not an hour auo. , taking a passing overhead not an hour ao. ,. , i. Taking a passing overhead not an houraao. ,. , taking a passing overhead not an hourauo. ,. ,. , hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Point Hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Point here, hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Point here, we hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Point here, we see hour ago. Yes, as you described from our Vantage Point here, we see not. Our Vantage Point here, we see not one not, two but many missiles passing overhead and the distinctive Orange Glow gave them away and it seems like theyre on their way further into israel and towards the centre of the country and making the way overhead and the alarm sounded like everyone, we had to take shelter and their families, like everyone, we had to take shelter and theirfamilies, lots like everyone, we had to take shelter and their families, lots of people being displaced for many months now and moving further away from what is the lebanese border just behind me and people taking shelter there and at the same time, were Hearing Explosions and scenes that were either outgoing fire from israelis but certainly according to some experts, we were talking to, there was the interception of some these missiles that had been fired towards israel and we could both sing it and we can both carriage as well. � , ,. , well. And it must be terrifying for those people well. And it must be terrifying for those people who well. And it must be terrifying for those people who are well. And it must be terrifying for. Those people who are experiencing that right those people who are experiencing that rich. , � those people who are experiencing thatriah. , � j that right now. And theyre the eole that right now. And theyre the people from that right now. And theyre the people from the that right now. And theyre the people from the us that right now. And theyre the people from the us and that right now. And theyre the people from the us and elsewhere saying that there was an attack on the way he invited us the scene to you thatjust emerged from down in the shelter, you have all the adults glued to their phones looking at the apps that people download here trying to work out with the latest threat was and where rockets may be fired and where missiles may be landing or being intercepted and at the same time, the children playing and doing what children do and making noise completely oblivious to what is significant moment clearly in this ongoing Middle Eastern crisis and as i say, quite a few people here, they live even closer to the lebanese border but since november, one woman was telling us that theyve been away from their homes because of the ongoing threat and notjust the threat, the fact that rockets have been fired daily ljy that rockets have been fired daily by hezbollah and from the Israelis Point of view, the idf position, they launch this action last night so that people living around here, living further behind me can eventually go back to their homes. Nick beake there in Northern Israel talking us through exactly what he saw there. And to bring you a few more lines we are getting in the last two minutes. We are Here And Now that president Ial Biden has directed the us military to aid Israels Defence against the attacks and shoot down missiles targeting israel, according to the White House national security council. President biden and us Vice President Kamala Harris are monitoring the attack