Missiles into israeli territory, then they sound off the sirens and that will instruct ordinary civilians to take cover, either run to the protected rooms, or Bomb Shelters or other places. And so radars and satellites and all these very sophisticated equipment are monitoring as we speak the movement and progress of these incoming drones and uavs or perhaps missiles or aircraft that are on their way. So there is enough time for israelis to prepare in anticipation of such an attack. Once it enters israeli territory, then the drill is to run into protected spaces, areas, so as to be protected during such an attack. But its not even clear at this point whether all these incoming drones will arrive into israeli territory. They may be intercepted on the way. So there is still time to look at this and see. Do you think that iran know that . They know there are so many possible points along the journey to israel in which these drones will be shut down. Do you think this is just to be seen to be doing something . I think they of course know it and i think they of course know it and i think thats why they did it. I think thats why they did it. I think they wanted to send a message that we have moved one stage up. Iran is confronting israel directly without any proxies. We are making israel pay a price for what it did to a forces in syria. Still, its not going all the way. It is not sending Cruise Missiles or any more sophisticated missiles which take a much shorter time to reach israel. So the very nature of this attack actually also points to the fact that iran is looking at it as a limited reaction to what israel did rather than all out outbreak of war. They dont want this to spill over, to have a widening scope of this conflict. They want this to be kind of a retaliation for what israel did and that would be it from their point of view. The question is, and as other speakers have alluded to, what will the us do . What will israel do . Israel from my point of view, i dont think israel can sit idly by and not respond to such an attack on its sovereignty and soil, evenif attack on its sovereignty and soil, even if missiles do not drop in israeli territory, i think israel will have to do something because if it doesnt respond effectively and strongly, then this will become a regular Modus Operandi of the iranians. And so we can enter this attrition when iran and paralyse israel and continue with these threats to israeli citizens. So there is a lot to look out for. Obviously the us has warned israel that it needs to rethink its strategy within gaza itself. But a run and de escalation, and you did say earlier that iran paused before it launched this attack. Why would it launched this attack. Why would it pause, is what i want to try and flush out. What are its interests despite all the strong words, the warnings, the rhetoric . What are its interests in not escalating this conflict in the middle east . I think that iran recognises conflict in the middle east . I think that iran recognises the conflict in the middle east . I think that iran recognises the limits conflict in the middle east . I think that iran recognises the limits of l that iran recognises the limits of its power. And while it can pose a threat to israel or provoke israel, i dont think that they believe they can actually win in a war in a confrontation with israel, therefore i think their response is calculated, it is step by step, inching towards a certain result. But i dont think they are looking at. I but i dont think they are looking at. , but i dont think they are looking at. , � but i dont think they are looking at. ,. , �. , but i dont think they are looking at. , �. ,. , but i dont think they are looking at. , �. , at. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly. At. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly. I at. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly, i will at. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly, i will come at. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly, i will come back i at. I apologise, im going to step in very quickly, i will come back to| in very quickly, i will come back to you on this point, please, so you may have to repeat a bit more of what you said, ijust need to cross to the United States to speak to our correspond in there to update us on the latest regarding President Biden returning to the white house. What can you tell us, will . Can you tell us, will . President biden has can you tell us, will . President biden has returned can you tell us, will . President biden has returned to can you tell us, will . President biden has returned to the can you tell us, will . President | biden has returned to the white house. He cut his weekend away in delaware short to return to washington to have urgent meetings with National Security officials regarding those events in israel and we have had a statement from the us national to cancel that says iran has begun an airborne attack against israel. President biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his National Security team who are in constant communication with israeli officials. It says this attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours. Unnamed us official speaking to American Media have said that iran may launch missiles later, it may synchronise the drone attack with missiles that will be launched at a later time. Present biden and other senior us officials have said repeatedly over the last few days that american support for Israeli Security is ironclad and we know that us forces in the region are on alert and are ready to assist the israelis with protecting their territory. Intelligence officials here reportedly believe that iran will target multiple sites inside israel, but importantly they are not expecting them to target us forces in the region directly because that of course would be a dangerous escalation and if any americans are killed in the middle east then of course the us would retaliate against iran and nobody wants that. That is the real fear that they could be some sort of Tit For Tat Escalating the conflict that could ignite a wider war. Escalating the conflict that could ignite a wider war. Before we leave ou, in ignite a wider war. Before we leave you. In terms ignite a wider war. Before we leave you. In terms of ignite a wider war. Before we leave you, in terms of an ignite a wider war. Before we leave you, in terms of an allied ignite a wider war. Before we leave you, in terms of an allied response to this, is it essentially the us that would lead this . And has there been any indication of the options on the table . Been any indication of the options on the table . There has not. I think it is too early on the table . There has not. I think it is too early for on the table . There has not. I think it is too early for that, on the table . There has not. I think it is too early for that, frankly. It is too early for that, frankly. We heard earlier from it is too early for that, frankly. We heard earlierfrom the israelis naming their partners and their friends and allies. The us of course, israels most important ally, but also Great Britain and france. Im sure the americans would want to wait to analyse this attack when it actually comes to a conclusion before taking any steps after that. Conclusion before taking any steps afterthat. Im conclusion before taking any steps after that. Im sure that they want to calibrate their response to ensure that its proportionate and not rush into any retaliation straightaway. Not rush into any retaliation straiahtawa. ~. ,. , ~ straightaway. Will vernon, thank you ve much straightaway. Will vernon, thank you very much for straightaway. Will vernon, thank you very much for that. Straightaway. Will vernon, thank you very much for that. I straightaway. Will vernon, thank you very much for that. I know straightaway. Will vernon, thank you very much for that. I know youre very much for that. I know youre busy at the moment, monitoring events the us. Dan arbell is from the centre for israeli studies and also a former Deputy Chief Of Mission at the embassy of israel in washington, dc itself. Before i come to you, let me update you on the latest, you may not have access to this, but reuters is reporting that media, local media in israel, channel 12 tv, reporting that iran has launched a total of around 100 drones and Cruise Missiles at israeli targets on saturday. Some have been shot down flying over syria orjordan. So a total of 100 drones and Cruise Missiles targeting israel from iran, some have been shot down over syria and jordan. Dan, lets unpick that. First off, the number that we are learning about here, 100 drones, what do you make of that . This about here, 100 drones, what do you make of that . Make of that . This is very serious, it is uuite make of that . This is very serious, it is quite significant. Make of that . This is very serious, it is quite significant. There make of that . This is very serious, it is quite significant. There is make of that . This is very serious, it is quite significant. There is a it is quite significant. There is a difference between a few dozen and 100 or more and as your correspondence and a few minutes ago, a second wave is expected. And certainly this is very serious, it is an assault on the state of israel and a threat to Israeli Security, despite what we have spoken about a few minutes ago. Israel needs to look at this very seriously and to contemplate the proper response because definitely if it does involve Cruise Missiles as this report quotes, and if it does into israeli territory, but it is quite significant. It israeli territory, but it is quite significant israeli territory, but it is quite significant. It seems there are also, significant. It seems there are also. Earlier significant. It seems there are also, earlier we significant. It seems there are also, earlier we had significant. It seems there are also, earlier we had only significant. It seems there are i also, earlier we had only learned what is now being described by the Iranian Revolutionary guard as operation true promise, part of its punishment for israeli crimes, is what we are learning. There were Cruise Missiles as part of this wave of munitions sent to israel. Using a Cruise Missile, what does that tell us . How does it differ to a drone . First of all it is more lethal and it has a much higher speed and it can reach israel. If a drone takes 79 can reach israel. If a drone takes 7 9 hours, Cruise Missile can reach is really a space within two hours. And so we are really seriously looking at the need to respond more swiftly and more effectively and with proper israeli air Defence Systems that are aimed exactly at intercepting such Cruise Missiles. Israel does have the ability to intercept Cruise Missiles, as it has shown when intercepting Houthi Missiles coming in from yemen over the red sea into israeli territory and israel used that to intercept those missiles. Clearly israel has the defensive capabilities but then onceit the defensive capabilities but then once it knows exactly which weapons are being fired at it, then it can actually prepare the proper response. Actually prepare the proper resteeme actually prepare the proper resonse. ~. ,. , ~ actually prepare the proper resonse. ,. , ~. , response. What do you think of the a roach . Response. What do you think of the approach . Just response. What do you think of the approach . Just from response. What do you think of the approach . Just from unpicking response. What do you think of the | approach . Just from unpicking what we have learned from that report in terms of the number and where reportedly some of those have been shot down, shot down over syria and overjordan, what do you make of how they are trying to aim towards israel . Clearly heading north west into syria, heading directly west acrossjordan, but into syria, heading directly west across jordan, but as yet into syria, heading directly west acrossjordan, but as yet no report of a possible Track Southwards to saudi arabia. What do you make of that Multipronged Approach . Its that Multipronged Approach . Its ve that Multipronged Approach . It� s very interesting to watch the movement of the root of these missiles and these drones. I have to say that it looks like it is primarily focused at Israeli Military targets rather than some civilian population centres within the centre of israel. Rather more to the centre of israel. Rather more to the areas of Northern Israel or eastern israel and not areas where it is heavily populated. This is very interesting. To see, first of all, the number which is really more than expected. We see a movement in terms of growing numbers of systems being used by iran. This Multipronged Approach is certainly made to make israel aware that iran has capabilities, that it is willing to use it, that it is not shying away from a direct conflict with israel but at the same time, while it may be one notch up in terms of how iran is responding, it is still not a full confrontation or a full war that we are seeing right now i think iran is hoping to limit this to this one night, or perhaps another day of these attacks, but i dont think it is looking at this as a widening conflict, but rather limiting this as a response to what israel has done in syria more than a week ago and then take it from there. But it is very serious. And as the report has suggested, the numbers are surprising the way i see it. Bill numbers are surprising the way i see it. � , ,. , it. All right. Reuters is reporting via an american it. All right. Reuters is reporting via an american reporter it. All right. Reuters is reporting via an american reporter on it. All right. Reuters is reporting via an american reporter on the | it. All right. Reuters is reporting l via an american reporter on the x platform that we could well be hearing from President Biden addressing the nation from the oval office at some point this afternoon local time, washington of course. Were hearing that our Prime Minister here rishi sunak has issued a statement on events taking place in the middle east. Dan, if i could just read this to our viewers. I condemn in the stronger terms the iranian regimes reckless attack against israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own back yard. The uk will continue to stand up for israels security and that of all our regional partners, including jordan and iraq, alongside our allies we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed. So that statement coming from the uk Prime Minister and number 10, possibly hearing from President Biden in an address to the nation later this afternoon. Dan arbell is from the center for israeli studies and he is with me. He is also the former Deputy Chief Of Mission at the embassy of israel in washington, dc. We are looking at the tel aviv skyline. If youre just dc. We are looking at the tel aviv skyline. If yourejustjoining us on bbc news, the news that iran has launched up to 100 drones and Cruise Missiles targeted at israeli territory. Forthe missiles targeted at israeli territory. For the president to make a State Of The Nation address from the oval office, as a former diplomat, what does that tell us . We have diplomat, what does that tell us . Have to remember it is a saturday, the president was on vacation and he cut his vacation short and rushed to the white house. And certainly coming out and speaking to the nation on a saturday afternoon, washington time, is very rare. It is reserved for emergency or very special occasions. And so this is very serious. The us is treating this very serious. Lets not forget just yesterday at a press event the president was asked about it and he told the iranians dont think about it, dont do it, dont attack israel. He warned them. And therefore, the word of a president carries weight and if iran defied the president in how it acted or what it promised behind the scenes, then we are seeing certainly a deterioration in the position of, in the situation which requires a very effective, serious and tough us approach. And so i think we are going to see the president coming out, if the report is correct, and speaking to the nation. And he will certainly notjust speaking to the nation. And he will certainly not just worn speaking to the nation. And he will certainly notjust worn iran, but i think this would be kind of very much a harsh warning and also making iran aware that there will be consequences for iran for its actions by the us, notjust by its allies but by the us itself. fiifi allies but by the us itself. 0k, dan, im allies but by the us itself. 0k, dan. Im going allies but by the us itself. 0k, dan, im going to allies but by the us itself. 0k, dan, im going to give allies but by the us itself. 0k, dan, im going to give you a chance to catch your breath for a moment there. Dan arbell is from the center for israeli studies. Also speaking as a diplomat, a former diplomat who was the Deputy Chief Of Mission at the embassy of israel in washington, dc. You are not going away, dan. Just have a drink of water. Ill be coming back to you shortly. Giving us a lot of context and insight as to what is going on. Lets speak to Siavash Ardalan from bbc persian who is in our newsroom at the moment. Siavash ardalan, just to let you know and im sure youre follow