hello, i'm lauren taylor. in what seems to be a major ratcheting—up of the conflict in the middle east, explosions have been heard in iran. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an attack from israel. state television in iran reported explosions near an army base and an airport in the central city of isfahan, activating local air defence systems. blasts have also been reported in the country's north—west. video online shows iranian defence missiles being fired into the air. commercial flights were initially diverted around iranian airspace, but iranian media say all restrictions have now been lifted. prime minister rishi sunak has been speaking about the situation. figs prime minister rishi sunak has been speaking about the situation.- speaking about the situation. as you will appreciate _ speaking about the situation. as you will appreciate it _ speaking about the situation. as you will appreciate it is _ speaking about the situation. as you will appreciate it is a _ speaking about the situation. as you will appreciate it is a developing - will appreciate it is a developing situation and it would not be right for me to speculate until the facts become clear and we are working to

confirm the details togetherwithout allies. we have condemned iran's reckless and dangerous barrage of missiles against israel on saturday and israel absolutely has the right to self—defence but as i said to prime minister netanyahu last week, significant escalation is not in any one's interest, we want calm heads to prevail across the region. the international atomic energy agency has confirmed there is no damage to iran's nuclearfacilities. in a social media post, the agency's director—general, rafael mariano grossi, continued to call for extreme restraint from everybody and said nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent james landale who's injerusalem. james, give us a flavour of the reaction that there has been so far to this attack?— to this attack? well, internationally, - to this attack? well, - internationally, there has to this attack? well, _ internationally, there has been actually a fairly muted response of various countries from the chinese to the egyptians and others have

merely limited themselves to generic reactions, saying that they oppose anything that escalates the situation and the conflict, they have not been overly critical of israel by name, let alone attributing any responsibility. the only country that has actually been critical was oh, man, who have actually condemned the attack. —— oman. interestingly, internally, within israel, still a place where the israeli government has not admitted any responsibility for what has happened, there was an extraordinary response by a member of the government, a member of the cabinet, the national security minister, itamar ben—gvir, part of the ultranationalist father part of the ultranationalist father part of the governing coalition, on whom the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, depends. he put out a post this

morning on x, formerly twitter, it wasjust one word, morning on x, formerly twitter, it was just one word, and morning on x, formerly twitter, it wasjust one word, and i'm morning on x, formerly twitter, it was just one word, and i'm told morning on x, formerly twitter, it wasjust one word, and i'm told it best translates from the hebrew by the english word laying. in other words he is indicating that he thinks that what has happened is not good enough. —— lame. that has provoked a furious response from the leader of israel's opposition, who said again, posting in return, he said, a security cabinet minister has never caused such heavy damage to the country's international standing and security image, with an unforgivable one word tweet, ben kabir has managed to ridicule the country, any other prime minister would have thrown him out of the cabinet this morning. in other words there are political divisions over what has happened here injerusalem before israel even acknowledges if it has any responsibility for what happened overnight. find it has any responsibility for what happened overnight.— happened overnight. and at this staue happened overnight. and at this stage presumably _ happened overnight. and at this stage presumably we _ happened overnight. and at this stage presumably we don't - happened overnight. and at this| stage presumably we don't know weather this is the end of the

matter in terms of a response or weather it is the opening salvo from israel? ., ., weather it is the opening salvo from israel? . ., ., weather it is the opening salvo from israel? . . ., , ., . . ., israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question. — israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question. is _ israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question, is this _ israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question, is this just _ israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question, is thisjust a _ israel? yeah, and that is a crucial question, is thisjust a starter, i question, is this just a starter, just to satisfy some voices in israel who say, we have got to hit back hard, we cannot let what happened last weekend go and responded to. and if you think about it, more than 300 missiles and drones flying over the skies of israel, even flying over where we are here injerusalem, there had been a lot of pressure from some israelis, the government had to do something, they are about to start the passover holiday so it might be that this is just the start, something to tide people over, or eight could be that is it, we chip reid don't know yet. we must remember, we are at the starting stage of this event, we still do not know precisely what has happened, and therefore we have got to be cautious before inferring too many consequences as a result. what cautious before inferring too many consequences as a result. what do ou make consequences as a result. what do you make so _

consequences as a result. what do you make so far— consequences as a result. what do you make so far of— consequences as a result. what do you make so far of the _ consequences as a result. what do you make so far of the reaction - consequences as a result. what do i you make so far of the reaction from iran itself, an impression that they are also trying to play down, but in the past few days they have said that they would retaliate if there were an attack on their territory, what do you make of what you have seen so far this morning? i what do you make of what you have seen so far this morning?— what do you make of what you have seen so far this morning? i think we have not seen so far this morning? i think we have got to — seen so far this morning? i think we have got to remember _ seen so far this morning? i think we have got to remember that - seen so far this morning? i think we have got to remember that in - seen so far this morning? i think we have got to remember that in this . have got to remember that in this kind of story, this kind of event, when people say things, they are not just accurately reporting opinions and intentions, they are not accurately saying what they are trying to do, sometimes they are trying to do, sometimes they are trying to do, sometimes they are trying to change other people's behaviour. so, in recent days iran has been sending out more and more robust messaging, saying that if israel attacks, then there will be a very firm response. that was an attempt by iran to deter israel, to restrain israel. now, in response, now that israel it appears has made some response, if iran wishes to downplay what has happened, if it

wishes not to be more escalating, thenit wishes not to be more escalating, then it could be sending out messages that say, we don't even know who sent this, it wasn't successful, we shot down three drones, there has been no damage, et cetera. so, if iran is trying to play it down, it could be not because iran is accurately reporting what has or has not happened, we don't know, it could be because iran wishes just to calm things down. james landale, thank you very much indeed. we can speak now tojeremy bowen, our international editor. generally, what is your assessment of what we have seen overnight and this morning? i of what we have seen overnight and this morning?— this morning? i think the big auestion this morning? i think the big question is— this morning? i think the big question is whether - this morning? i think the big question is whether or - this morning? i think the big question is whether or not i this morning? i think the big l question is whether or not this this morning? i think the big - question is whether or not this is it, question is whether or not this is it. whether— question is whether or not this is it, whether or not israel plans to do anything else. i think that if this is— do anything else. i think that if this is all— do anything else. i think that if this is all israel is going to do, then_ this is all israel is going to do, then it — this is all israel is going to do, then it seems that it might be possible. _ then it seems that it might be possible, as the americans and others — possible, as the americans and others were hoping to draw a line under— others were hoping to draw a line under this— others were hoping to draw a line under this whole section of the

saga, — under this whole section of the saga, however, what i would say is that that _ saga, however, what i would say is that that is — saga, however, what i would say is that that is not yet certain, and if it is the _ that that is not yet certain, and if it is the case, it doesn't mean that this entire — it is the case, it doesn't mean that this entire crisis is over, far from it. this entire crisis is over, far from it it _ this entire crisis is over, far from it it started _ this entire crisis is over, far from it. it started on the ist of april with— it. it started on the ist of april with that — it. it started on the ist of april with that attack by the israelis on the irauiau— with that attack by the israelis on the iranian diplomatic compound in damascus, — the iranian diplomatic compound in damascus, and then since then, i think— damascus, and then since then, i think both — damascus, and then since then, i think both sides have shown that they, _ think both sides have shown that they, for— think both sides have shown that they, for all the obsessive interest they, for all the obsessive interest they take — they, for all the obsessive interest they take in each other, they really don't _ they take in each other, they really don't get _ they take in each other, they really don't get it— they take in each other, they really don't get it as far as each other is concerned. — don't get it as far as each other is concerned, they can't read each other— concerned, they can't read each other very— concerned, they can't read each other very well, i think as a result of that, _ other very well, i think as a result of that, they both miscalculated, is one and _ of that, they both miscalculated, is one and israel, about the other tutors— one and israel, about the other tutors intentions, and that is not a good _ tutors intentions, and that is not a good omen— tutors intentions, and that is not a good omen for the future. as well as that, _ good omen for the future. as well as that, precedents have been set, direct— that, precedents have been set, direct attacks on each other's territory. _ direct attacks on each other's territory, so neither is very encouraging for what is already an extremely— encouraging for what is already an extremely turbulent and dangerous region _ extremely turbulent and dangerous reuion. ~ , ., extremely turbulent and dangerous reuion. ~ ., ,, ., region. when you talk about the resonse

region. when you talk about the response so _ region. when you talk about the response so far, _ region. when you talk about the response so far, israel's - region. when you talk about the response so far, israel's allies i region. when you talk about the l response so far, israel's allies had called for restraint and there has also been apparently because for a iranian restraint, too. what do you see as the next step?— iranian restraint, too. what do you see as the next step? well, everyone is callin: see as the next step? well, everyone is calling for— see as the next step? well, everyone is calling for restraint, _ see as the next step? well, everyone is calling for restraint, actually, - is calling for restraint, actually, pretty— is calling for restraint, actually, pretty much except for no doubt hardliners — pretty much except for no doubt hardliners in iran and a few hardliners in iran and a few hardliners in iran and a few hardliners in israel as well. itamar ben-gvir, — hardliners in israel as well. itamar ben—gvir, the national security minister— ben—gvir, the national security minister in _ ben—gvir, the national security minister in israel, who said after the initial. — minister in israel, who said after the initial, last saturday, the iranian— the initial, last saturday, the iranian response to that israeli airstrike. — iranian response to that israeli airstrike, he said then that israel should _ airstrike, he said then that israel should go— airstrike, he said then that israel should go berserk. and his one word tweeted _ should go berserk. and his one word tweeted this morning was, people, or useless, _ tweeted this morning was, people, or useless, something like that, was the translation of the hebrew. —— feeble _ the translation of the hebrew. —— feeble and — the translation of the hebrew. —— feeble. and there are more serious characters— feeble. and there are more serious characters as well, inside the israeli — characters as well, inside the israeli war cabinet, there are retired —

israeli war cabinet, there are retired generals gantz and ison cop, who wanted to have a response pretty quickly _ who wanted to have a response pretty quickly to _ who wanted to have a response pretty quickly to all of this, because for the as— quickly to all of this, because for the as well— quickly to all of this, because for the as well use, showing that they are able _ the as well use, showing that they are able to — the as well use, showing that they are able to deter their enemies is enough— are able to deter their enemies is enouthor— are able to deter their enemies is enough forthem. are able to deter their enemies is enough for them. joe biden and others _ enough for them. joe biden and others have been trying to persuade them _ others have been trying to persuade them that— others have been trying to persuade them that they have effectively deterred them, by dealing with that lar-e deterred them, by dealing with that large iranian attack, albeit with the help— large iranian attack, albeit with the help of powerful western allies, notably _ the help of powerful western allies, notably the united states. and so, i think that _ notably the united states. and so, i think that if— notably the united states. and so, i think that if israel doesn't lob any more _ think that if israel doesn't lob any more missiles in the direction of iran, _ more missiles in the direction of iran, then — more missiles in the direction of iran, then i _ more missiles in the direction of iran, then i think that this probably will draw a line under the episode _ probably will draw a line under the episode — probably will draw a line under the episode. 0r probably will draw a line under the episode. orthe fact probably will draw a line under the episode. or the fact that the middle — episode. or the fact that the middle east is still in absolute turmoit — middle east is still in absolute turmoil. . , middle east is still in absolute turmoil. ., , , ., middle east is still in absolute turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line — turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under _ turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under it _ turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under it and _ turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under it and there - turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under it and there is i turmoil. so, as you say, if everyone draws a line under it and there is a l draws a line under it and there is a degree of deescalation, what would need to happen next in that region, because of course there is also the gaza war going on, there has been

the houthi attacks on shipping in the houthi attacks on shipping in the red sea, the shadow war on the border in lebanon between israel and hezbollah, what would be the next step that would need to happen to bring down the temperature more broadly in the region into for any chance of the temperatures coming down, a ceasefire in gaza. trying to bring aid to the people. an attempt to stop that famine that israel denies, but clearly is occurring. the indications from professionals in the field of food emergency... it all really comes down to gaza. getting that done and getting that ceasefire done. however, the ceasefire done. however, the ceasefire talks are getting nowhere, recrimination... no particular

surprise... hamas making demands... would not agree to. and now, what seems very clear is that israel is gearing up for that offensive in the southern part of the gaza strip in rafah. that is what is coming next. the americans are saying to the israelis, and they have been for weeks and weeks, you can't do it unless you can find a way of not harming civilians. it's very hard to see how civilians could be protected in such a small area when there are so many of them. if israel is contemplating taking offensive action, in other parts of the gaza strip, they are continuing with the war, there have been raids in the middle section of the territory in the last 2a hours. so, just because the last 2a hours. so, just because the world's attention has been on iran and israel, that department of the conflict, in the last week or two, does not mean to say that things have eased up in gaza, far

from it. jeremy bowen, our international editor, thank you very much indeed, apologies, there was a bit of a breakup on the line there. the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, has called for de—escalation, here she is. all sides should restrain from the escalation in that region. we have seen the massive attack with drones and missiles, about 300, by iran on israel. it is absolutely necessary that the region stays stable and that all sides refrain from further action. g7 ministers are meeting in capri, and our correspondentjessica parker is there. and our correspondent jessica parker is there. ., and our correspondent jessica parker is there. . ., , and our correspondent jessica parker is there. . . , ., is there. yeah, i mean, they had been discussing _ is there. yeah, i mean, they had been discussing the _ is there. yeah, i mean, they had been discussing the middle - is there. yeah, i mean, they had been discussing the middle east| been discussing the middle east yesterday, foreign ministers here in capri, from g7 nations, the informal group of wealthy countries, and actually they then moved onto other

but events overnight have a very much brought all of that back to the table. and the people we have heard from so far this morning, really on social media posts, first of all italy's foreign minister, who has said that they will be discussing it at the g7 this morning so proceedings are likely under way under way, and the foreign minister of canada also saying that they are monitoring developments. interestingly, two of the foreign ministers who are here in capri, lord cameron and annalena baerbock of germany, came to capri direct from israel where they had been having meetings with israeli leaders, very much as we have been hearing, trying to send that message of deescalation, urging israel to show restraint. lord cameron, though, when he spoke from israel earlier in the week, he did say he hoped israel would do as little as

possible in terms of escalation, but also there did seem to be an acknowledgement, there was an expectation, that israel would take some form of action. people clearly at that point did not know when or what or did not know the extent of it and this morning, the picture is still emerging, but we presume that it will be front and centre of this discussion of the g7 foreign ministers as they convene for their final day here in capri. d0 ministers as they convene for their final day here in capri.— final day here in capri. do you think we will— final day here in capri. do you think we will hear _ final day here in capri. do you think we will hear in _ final day here in capri. do you think we will hear in any - final day here in capri. do you think we will hear in any more final day here in capri. do you i think we will hear in any more in terms of other diplomatic options? i think we will hear more today. so, we are expecting some closing remarks from a view of the ministers later on, as things are due to wrap up later on, as things are due to wrap up around lunchtime, although these things sometimes overrun. as of last night, a lot of the conversations had turned towards ukraine, ukraine's foreign minister has been here urging allies to provide more

weapons aid, particularly air defences and missiles, so they had sort of started talking about that but i imagine when we hear from ministers later, antonio tajani, who is chairing proceedings, as well as antony blinken, the us foreign secretary, this will be what they are asked to comment on, how they read the situation, given those calls for deescalation. because the hope will be that the initial indications that this potentially looks like a limited action by israel, although as i say, reports are still very much emerging, is the hope will be that this will not lead to some escalation in the region, but it has been the issue that has really been hanging over this g7 foreign ministers meeting as people waited and watched to see what action might be taken and now this morning they are di justin gatlin and we think we will get further reactions later on.— and we think we will get further reactions later on. around the world and across to _ reactions later on. around the world and across to uk, _ reactions later on. around the world and across to uk, this _ reactions later on. around the world and across to uk, this is _ reactions later on. around the world and across to uk, this is bbc- reactions later on. around the world

and across to uk, this is bbc news. | and across to uk, this is bbc news. —— they are digesting that.

explosions have been heard in iran. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an attack from israel. state television in iran reported explosions near an army base in the central city of isfahan, which is the site of iran's nuclear facilities, but the iaea says there is no damage. with me is siavash ardalan from bbc persian. going back to the nuts and bolts of what happened overnight, what are iran saying was the case? the what happened overnight, what are iran saying was the case?— iran saying was the case? the only confirmation _ iran saying was the case? the only confirmation we _ iran saying was the case? the only confirmation we had _ iran saying was the case? the only confirmation we had from - iran saying was the case? the only confirmation we had from iranian l confirmation we had from iranian officials including one from a top army commander was that iran fired at an unidentified objects in the hour, meaning drones. they confirmed that three drones had been shot down and that is all we are hearing from

iranian officials, the rest is just messaging about, it is business as usual, everything is calm. bind messaging about, it is business as usual, everything is calm. and what do ou usual, everything is calm. and what do you interpret _ usual, everything is calm. and what do you interpret that _ usual, everything is calm. and what do you interpret that messaging - usual, everything is calm. and what do you interpret that messaging to l do you interpret that messaging to mean? pm do you interpret that messaging to mean? ~ . , ., ., ., mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attem -t on mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the _ mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the side _ mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the side of _ mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the side of iran _ mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the side of iran as - mean? an attempt to de-escalate, an attempt on the side of iran as much i attempt on the side of iran as much as israel, iranians had said before that should an israeli retaliation be as massive in magnitude as the iranian response, then iranians would immediately, within seconds, respond. obviously they haven't responded, the message they are sending out to the public is that this attack was very limited, and perhaps the narrative would be, we haven't seen that yet, but we can expect the narrative to be that israelis were fearful of responding the way iran did. in israelis were fearful of responding the way iran did.— israelis were fearful of responding the way iran did. in terms of where the way iran did. in terms of where the hit, the way iran did. in terms of where they hit. what _ the way iran did. in terms of where they hit, what was _ the way iran did. in terms of where they hit, what was the _ the way iran did. in terms of where they hit, what was the message . the way iran did. in terms of where l they hit, what was the message that israel was trying to send? if indeed it was israel behind it, what is the message they are trying to send with

the location? i message they are trying to send with the location?— the location? i think the message that the israelis _ the location? i think the message that the israelis would _ the location? i think the message that the israelis would be - the location? i think the message that the israelis would be trying l the location? i think the message | that the israelis would be trying to send was not so much one of trying to inflict devastation or any damage to inflict devastation or any damage to iran, but to show iran's vulnerability. one iranian official had confirmed that there were infiltrators who had set up those drones from inside the country. so, that itself says a about israel's level of infiltration inside iran. we know for years now that israeli human intelligence in iran is very, very strong. we've seen acts of sabotage, assassinations of hamish de bretton—gordon nuclear scientists, over ten years ago we saw an explosion that killed the so—called father of iran's missile industry. so, none of it of course israel took responsibility for but itjust israel took responsibility for but it just shows, israel took responsibility for but itjust shows, and this is well known to the iranian public, that israelis are all over the place, infiltrating into the highest chance of the political and military

apparatus in iran. so, if these drones were set out from inside the country, that does send a message of iranian volatility, not to mention the fact that iran's are defences is no match for the idf tutors are force, iran does not have an iron dome. force, iran does not have an iron dome, ., , force, iran does not have an iron dome. ., , i. force, iran does not have an iron dome. ., , . ., ., dome. so, what is your expectation, dome. so, what is your expectation, do ou dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think — dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this _ dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this will— dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this will be _ dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this will be the - dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this will be the end - dome. so, what is your expectation, do you think this will be the end of l do you think this will be the end of from israel or could they continue with the attacks, the cyber, the covert, the attacks that they do not technology?— technology? well, they have not acknowledged _ technology? well, they have not acknowledged this _ technology? well, they have not acknowledged this one, - technology? well, they have not acknowledged this one, either, l technology? well, they have not - acknowledged this one, either, have they? a resumption of covert war, perhaps, it is difficult to say, judging from the tweet from the israeli hardliner who described this attack lame, maybe they are trying to draw a line under it and just sit back, as far as the iranians are concerned, so far, and attack has not taken place, all we have isjust reports as we have seen from us

officials saying that israel had struck missiles inside iran but we have not seen any sign of those missiles being hit. find have not seen any sign of those missiles being hit.— have not seen any sign of those missiles being hit. and what about the overall situation _ missiles being hit. and what about the overall situation in _ missiles being hit. and what about the overall situation in the - missiles being hit. and what about the overall situation in the region, | the overall situation in the region, do you think that if both sides can draw a line under it, then there will be a cooling of the temperature or you think there is a lot of work which still needs to be done to get to a state where things have calmed down a bit? ., , , to a state where things have calmed down a bit?— to a state where things have calmed downabit? , , ., down a bit? perhaps. both sides have shown that they _ down a bit? perhaps. both sides have shown that they are _ down a bit? perhaps. both sides have shown that they are trying _ down a bit? perhaps. both sides have shown that they are trying to - shown that they are trying to calibrate their responses, perhaps israel more than iran, so, yes, there is an attempt by both sides i think to cool everything down, i think to cool everything down, i think at the same time to display a show of force, that they are prepared to attack each other directly if needed.— prepared to attack each other directly if needed. siavash ardalan, from bbc persian, _ directly if needed. siavash ardalan, from bbc persian, thank _ directly if needed. siavash ardalan, from bbc persian, thank you - directly if needed. siavash ardalan, from bbc persian, thank you very l from bbc persian, thank you very much for talking to us. iran's semi—official tasnim news agency, which is close to the islamic revolutionary guard corps, posted a video with a caption saying... "isfahan's nuclear site is completely safe".

in the video, a man near the isfahan nuclear technology centre is seen showing his watch to the camera to indicate the time and date. we can then see several troops standing around what looks like an air defence battery. reuters newsagency is reporting that an unnamed iranian source has said there is no immediate plan for retaliation. as well as these explosions in iran, they were reported, too, in southern syria, apparently from missiles targeting radar sites. and there were also blasts in iraq — in both the capital baghdad and babil province to the south. israel had promised to respond to saturday night's drone and missile attack by iran. both nbc and cnn have reported unnamed officials saying that israel had warned washington of the attack but that washington had not endorsed the action. earlier i spoke to hamish de bretton—gordon, a chemical weapons expert and former commander of british and nato nuclearforces — aboutjust how significant the location of isfahan is for this attack. i think very significant. isfahan is the sort of second city of iran, a lot of military bases around it,

and as you say, they appear to have hit a military base, whether it's the iranian revolutionary guard corps, who knows? i wouldn't be at all surprised. and fairly near to where we believe iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, so i expect a nod to them. i think this attack is very much a demonstration of capability and perhaps intent. iran fires 300—plus missiles and drones at israel. they virtually all get knocked down. israel fires one, perhaps two missiles in iran at a target, it appears to have got through and damaged. and i think people might be surprised to know that, conventionally, israel, militarily vastly overmatches iran. and this is a demonstration of that fact. and i expect... i think your correspondent frank gardner said earlier on today iran would be far more like to fight in the shadows, using its terror groups and proxies, rather than go toe to toe with israel conventionally, where it knows it would get a real hammering. and what reaction do you think

we can expect from iran? clearly this morning, the mood music appears to be to be downplaying the scale of this, but earlier in the week, they had said they would react. what's your expectation from what we can look for from iran? well, i think the initial reaction is actually, as you say, to play it down, because they don't want to make the fact that, you know, a single or a couple of israeli missiles have got through their very antiquated air defense systems and hit targets. and israel has the capacity with its stealth fighters and others to do an awful lot of damage here. i think iran feels that its pride is slightly restored by the launching attacks on israel on sunday, and really doesn't want to get any further there, because it knows that israel is absolutely determined and seems to have the backing of the us

and other countries. and you know, iran can't really rely on much help, it looks like there will be quite a bit of cloud around. today the cloud will continue to bring showers with some sunshine in between. and it is still quite breezy, so that showers will continue to run in across parts of central and eastern england and also in the south, clearing away the morning weather front.

showers will continue to run in across parts of central and eastern england and also in the south, we are clearing away our morning weather front. for western areas the winds start to ease a little later, the winds are still brisk, and given that at this time of year the sea is at its coolest, it will feel quite bracing on the north sea coast. 14—15 outside of the wind should feel pleasant, and we should get more sunshine this afternoon in northern ireland, west of scotland, western parts of england and wales. this evening and overnight the chilly breeze continues to feed showers into england. patchy cloud and rain coming into the north on the next weather front but for most of us, because the showers clear, and the cloud, it will be colder than last night, with a fairly widespread ground frost.

gardeners, beware. this high pressure might well also lead to some mist and fog in the west first thing but it hangs around all weekend, so the dry weather is with us, but we will see quite a lot of cloud as the weak weather front, no more than the occasional light shower, keeping the easterly breeze coming into eastern areas, so we may well have an east—west split. the rain, patchy rain, in the north, and then just generally a build—up of cloud on saturday. it looks as if west will be best for sunshine and perhaps also in eastern areas in between the showers later on but still quite chilly here, given the wind direction. just a little below par for the time of year. and it looks like another saturday night, with a touch of frost. so that means that if you are out early heading off to the london marathon, it will be a cool start for the runners and spectators, and we are expecting temperatures to get into the low double figures, 12—13 at best, during the day, with the wind blowing and quite a lot of cloud. it looks as if we will see some good sunshine further to the west

this is bbc news, the headlines. explosions are heard in iran. us officials say it's israel's response to this week's attack. an iranian official says there is no plan for immediate retaliation and state tv says there is no damage reported. g7 foreign ministers are in italy with the crisis expected to dominate their agenda, while the european commission president urges restraint from all parties.

let's recap what's been happening in iran. in what is feared to be a ratcheting up of the conflict in the middle east, explosions have been heard in iran. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an attack from israel. our middle east correspondent, had been following israel's reaction. israel's military has not confirmed any offensive took place inside iran. we have the israeli media reporting widely this was an israeli attack and, of course, quoting foreign media reports, particularly those from the us, which have sources, both israeli and american

sources, both israeli and american sources, confirming this was indeed an israeli strike.