We begin in The Middle East where reports of hezbollah Launching Dozens of soils into israel. Confirming a0 lodges were identified to some were intercepted. Unclear whether this is linked to the threat that has been reported today that an attack by iran on israel is imminent. The white house described that the right as quote, real and viable. Media reporting in israel that the Prime Minister is meeting top officials for such an attack which would be seen as retaliation or the air strike that killed Senior Iranian commanders nearly two weeks ago on a iranian consulate in damascus. Heres what the white house spokesman said when he briefed reporters earlier on. Were watching this very, very closely. We still deemed the potential threat by iran here to be real, to be viable, certainly credible. And were watching it as closely as we can. Right now, ourfocus is on having conversations with our israeli counterparts and making sure notjust conversations but making sure that they have what they need and that theyre able to defend themselves. And as i think, you know, were also clearly it would be imprudent if we didnt take a look at our own posture in the region to make sure that were properly prepared as well. Well that followed a briefing from us officials to our broadcast partner cbs that an iranian attack on israel could begin as early as today, although they added that � nothing is certain and other outcomes are possible. The us officials were talking to david martin, a cbs news correspondent who spoke to us from the pentagon. The estimate actually comes from two us officials is that iran is preparing a strike against israel that would use more than 100 drones, dozens of Cruise Missiles and perhaps Ballistic Missiles as well. And that this attack could come this evening at at the earliest. Several countries are issuing Travel Warnings for the region french citizens are being asked not to travel to iran, lebanon, israel and the palestinian territories. The United States has restricted travel for its embassy personel in israel, and the British Foreign office and india have Travel Warnings in place for israel. Lets speak to charles lister, director of syria and Counter Terrorism programmes at The Middle East institute. Thank you for being with us. First, weve had these threats which clearly The Americans are very worried about. The white house is warned, a real and credible threat from iran. We have now seen rockets fired in by hezbollah which is backed, of course, by iran. Do you think this could be connected, do you think this is a hezbollah attack at the behest of iran . I you think this is a hezbollah attack at the behest of iran . At the behest of iran . I think hezbollah at the behest of iran . I think hezbollah has at the behest of iran . I think hezbollah has been at the behest of iran . I think. Hezbollah has been conducting attacks against israel almost daily for the last six months so it is likely that what has happened just now, literallyjust minutes ago, is part and parcel of that tit for tat violence that we have seen. At the same time, everything that is happening across the region, whether from lebanon, iraq, serie a or elsewhere is often linked into the ongoing conflict in gaza and all of these groups including hezbollah are proxies of iran so in a way it is directly related. Do you think iran would want to directly attack israel because clearly there would be a response. Netanyahu has said if you hurt us, we will hurt you, that is a retaliation from israel if iran were to attack. , to attack. Ultimately, untilthe relatively recent to attack. Ultimately, untilthe relatively recent israeli to attack. Ultimately, untilthe relatively recent israeli strike i to attack. Ultimately, untilthe i relatively recent israeli strike on part of the iranian consulate in the syrian capital of damascus, i would say no, theres absolutely no with that person would want to take the risk of attacking israel directly. But that is really air strike into the basket is not too long ago was a major incident. And i think it has pushed iran into a corner where it has to respond to. But we have seen of the last six months is iran conductjust of the last six months is iran conduct just about everything of the last six months is iran conductjust about everything it could have done through its proxies, except for, a direct attack from iran. It is really the only response it has left on the table that has not already been witnessed over the last six months which is why i think, everyone is expecting that is exactly what will happen. And certainly listening to us intelligence, european officials, regional officials, everybody seems to be singing from the same hymn sheet which presumably means we have detected in various things that would seem to imply that this is exactly what is about to happen. If it does happen, to what extent can israel defended itself against that sort of attack, a direct attack from iran, we know israelis have pretty sophisticated Missile Defense systems, but that they still be vulnerable . Systems, but that they still be vulnerable . ~. , � , vulnerable . What youve ust said is ke. Israel vulnerable . What youve ust said is key. Israel more vulnerable . What youve ust said is key. Israel more than vulnerable . What youve just said is key. Israel more than any vulnerable . What youve just said is i key. Israel more than any government in the world, arguably, samosas sophisticated, connected network of air defences anywhere in the world. So they are as well prepared as they could be for any kind of this attack, whether using Ballistic Missiles, Cruise Missiles, one way suicide drones. Having said that, it is also possible, no matter how sophisticated and well equipped you are, for those kinds of air defences to be overwhelmed byjust a sheer number of different projectiles. That is theoretically possible and unquestionably, iran is able to do that, but looking at the bigger picture, frankly, iran, overthe last six months has been very, very risk adverse and surprisingly measured in terms of its engagement in all of his regional conflicts. So i suspect it will probably seek to do something and it looks like it could be imminent, but at the same time, i dont think it will seek to do something so dramatic that it forces a reciprocal israeli response. I think, forces a reciprocal israeli response. Ithink, ultimately, this will be something that iran feels like it has to do, but as i say, it does not want to find itself in a war that ultimately, it would not be able to win. I war that ultimately, it would not be able to win able to win. I suppose the worry for israel would able to win. I suppose the worry for israel would be able to win. I suppose the worry for israel would be opening able to win. I suppose the worry for israel would be opening up a able to win. I suppose the worry for| israel would be opening up a second front. Clearly there is a front with iran already in some ways, but to have all out war with iran at the same time they are fighting hamas in gazais same time they are fighting hamas in gaza is very difficult. I think unquestionably. Gaza is very difficult. I think unquestionably. I gaza is very difficult. I think unquestionably. Ithink gaza is very difficult. I think unquestionably. I think the | gaza is very difficult. I think unquestionably. I think the israelis have done a lot in gaza for bad and for good, but they are stretched. All of the discussion around the potential operation in the south has been held back until now. Not because of diplomatic pressure, but because of diplomatic pressure, but because the israelis do not for Combat Troops ready to conduct an operation in rafah. So, yes, as you say, if there was suddenly the prospect of an actual direct war between israel and iran, the israelis would quickly find themselves stretched. That is where all of the pressure now on the us in the region in particular is coming to the fore and that is, unquestionably, some think that the biting Administration was to find itself involved in either. That is the message channels to both sides, into the iranians. Biting Administration. Into the iranians. Biting Administration. Into the iranians. Biting Administration. Are you positive that the israelis Administration. Are you positive that the israelis would Administration. Are you positive that the israelis would want Administration. Are you positive that the israelis would want to i that the israelis would want to carry out that attack on the iranian consulate in damascus knowing that it would be likely to provoke a response from iran . It would be likely to provoke a response from iran . When we are in as intense a response from iran . When we are in as intense a conflict response from iran . When we are in as intense a conflict and as response from iran . When we are in as intense a conflict and as a response from iran . When we are in as intense a conflict and as a hot as intense a conflict and as a hot situation we have been in for the less expense across The Middle East, it is always hard to measure where ever ones redline is. Israel has been engaged in a hot conflict with iran and its proxies in syria for years now and it has conducted a number of very, very sensitive strikes against iran and iranian personnel. Unquestionably, hitting part of a conflict would generally cross most peoples redlines. Am i surprised that it happened . Not necessarily. Israel feels itself cornered by many of these iranian proxies and i think from the israeli perspective, perhaps pushing one of those redlines is trying to send the message of, back off. We know where you are, who you are, where you are operating. Maybe that was the calculation that wouldve convinced the iranians to step back. Ultimately what we are watching play out right now, is not that playing out right now, is not that playing out at all. But also as i say, iran is likely to make the calculation that it also does not want to find itself in a direct regional war. So itself in a direct regional war. So it will have to respond, yes, but not in the weight that draws itself into that kind of conflagration. So ultimately, may be both sides come out of this equation relatively intact, speaking for themselves, at least. ,. ,. , least. Very good to get your analysis. Least. Very good to get your analysis, director least. Very good to get your analysis, director of least. Very good to get your analysis, director of syrian i analysis, director of syrian Counterterrorism Programmes at the police and situate. We were talk about that barrage of rockets that has been fired into Northern Israel by hezbollah who are iranian proxies, iranian back. We arejust here from cbs who are our broadcast partners in the United States that they have been told by the Us Government official that that barrage of rockets and drones into Northern Israel from hezbollah controlling southern lebanon, totally separate from any expected iranian attack on israel. So that is quite an Interesting Development and clarification. These are some pictures, from the scene. You can see the night sky there lighting up. And that barrage of rockets, according to the Israeli Defence forces, saying a0 lunches were identified coming across from lebanese territory. Some of which were intercepted. The rest fell into open areas. The americans, the us official talking to cvs, sang about 50 rockets falling into open fields making it clear that as far as the us is concerned, this attack is totally separate from any expected iranian attack on israel in response for that attack a few weeks ago on the iranian consulate in damascus that we were just discussing there. Lets be truck Diplomatic Correspondent injerusalem. Correspondent in jerusalem. James lindell who is correspondent injerusalem. James lindell who is also following developments. Its important to be clear, hezbollah have been firing lots of rockets into Northern Israel for quite some time now. So this is not necessarily part of any white iranian response to that consulate attack. Wider response. We iranian response to that consulate attack. Wider response. We always must remind attack. Wider response. We always must remind ourselves attack. Wider response. We always must remind ourselves of attack. Wider response. We always must remind ourselves of the attack. Wider response. We always must remind ourselves of the war attack. Wider response. We always must remind ourselves of the war is l must remind ourselves of the war is notjust must remind ourselves of the war is not just confined must remind ourselves of the war is notjust confined to the borders of gaza. There has been fighting elsewhere for many, many months in as you say, cross border exchanges fired between israel and the north and hezbollah, the armed militant force, Political Movement in lebanon. His regular, common, it happens a great deal. It has been fairly calibrated by both sides ensured that it does not escalate too much. People here say that the numbers of the attacks tonight is probably at the upper level of where most of these attacks are, but it is certainly not unusual. At the moment, hezbollah are saying that this is in response to an Israeli Attack on their own positions. It has not made any connection or link to the wider iran israel conflict. If there were a direct iranian attack on israel, a big if, but certainly the white house is saying it could be possible, and that the threat is real, if there were to be such an attack, there is no doubt that israel would respond. Netanyahu has been saying, if they hurt us, we hurt them. , ~ , has been saying, if they hurt us, we hurt them hurt them. Yes. I think there is no question that hurt them. Yes. I think there is no question that israel hurt them. Yes. I think there is no question that israel would hurt them. Yes. I think there is no | question that israel would respond if it were attacked. It has made that incredibly clear. So The Americans, in an attempt to try to deter the scale of any iranian response, so that is a core part of the iranian calculus on how to respond. Iran has said that it has to make a response, it is a necessity it says because of what they see as a violation of its Toulouse International law and their own diplomatic premises in damascus which is triggered this whole attack, this whole Escalation I2 attack, this whole escalation 12 days ago. At the same time, iranians are saying that they do not wish to expand the scope of the war. So that does the parameters through which iran is having to make their decision. How do they respond in a way that projects force, power, but does not escalate this conflict. It is a very, very difficult line to tread. , ~. ,. ,. ,. , tread. So much talk about a iranian resonse tread. So much talk about a iranian response to tread. So much talk about a iranian response to that tread. So much talk about a iranian response to that attack tread. So much talk about a iranian response to that attack on their response to that attack on their conflict, our israelis worried . I know youve been out and about in jerusalem today, what is the mood, what is the sense from the israeli population with this heightened level of threat from iran . The mood here to stay level of threat from iran . The mood here to stay in level of threat from iran . The mood here to stay in israel level of threat from iran . The mood here to stay in israel was pretty here to stay in israel was pretty calm. I spent a few hours talking to people wandering the streets of jerusalem this morning, they were all in the streets, the markets packed, everyone shopping is normal appearing for sabbath meals. I saw a juggler on the streets, a dance troupe, i mean the streets were as he would normally expect. The people i spoke to, most shrugged their shoulders saying the he lived with the threat all the time. Those a resignation about it. There was not any sense of heightened concern. 0r imminent threat and how they felt. But the talk to you, james, thank you for being with us. Live from jerusalem. 0ur Diplomatic Correspondent. Still to come on The World Today. 0fficials on The World Today. Officials believe. 0fficial� s believe sudans catastrophic hunger crisis is even worse than expected well speak to a former deputy head of mission in sudan. And the results are in an investigation reveals which airports are the best and worst for Flight Delays. Around the world and across the uk. This is The World Today on bbc news. Big political stories at westminster, Police Investigating claims that the labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner may have broken electoral law following a complaint by its Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party over whether she paid the correct amount of tax on the sale of her Council House back in 2015. Angela rayner strongly denies that she has done anything wrong, but she says she will stand down if it is proved otherwise. Grea