—— isfahan. iran reports that flights to tehran, isfahan and shiraz and airports in the west, northwest and southwest have been suspended. an iranian source tells reuters that its air defence system has been activated in the region. it was activated against, quote, "an object suspected to be a drone". in newsagency telling officials there had been three explosions heard near an army base in the city's north—west so we are getting more details coming in and we will continue to update the story as we get it. joining me live is mark kimmitt, former us assistant secretary of state for political—military affairs. it's great to have you on tonight with us as we get these details about a potential what we believe to be an israeli missile strike on iran. as you are hearing these reports coming in, what details stand

out to you?— out to you? firstly, if this is true, it out to you? firstly, if this is true. it says _ out to you? firstly, if this is true, it says israel - out to you? firstly, if this is true, it says israel is - true, it says israel is attacking the isfahan nuclear facility. three reactors there that form the concrete for the fourth reactor. isfahan really is, to a great extent, the centre of the iranian nuclear programme, both in terms of training, research and fact, some would say the development of the nuclear capability so it is a likely site that israel would hit because again, the greatest fear that the israelis haveis greatest fear that the israelis have is not continued missiles today but a nuclear capability tomorrow. we today but a nuclear capability tomorrow— today but a nuclear capability tomorrow. we have heard, of course, several— tomorrow. we have heard, of course, several times - - tomorrow. we have heard, of course, severaltimes - not l course, several times — not only from us presidentjoe biden but several world leaders— telling israel to make sure to mediate any response to the retaliation, if there is one, do not take it too far. what an attack on an area of

iran but has nuclearfacilities fall into that category? would that be a major escalation in this tit—for—tat conflict? in this tit-for-tat conflict? in the this tit—for—tat conflict? in the eyes of the israelis and minds of the israelis, yes, it would be an escalation but how are they going to respond? it's clear that last week, iran is shot enough of its long—range missiles that they do not effectively have a second strike capability anymore. so, if there was a response that comes out of iran with the capabilities that we are aware of, it would have to be done by proxies. they don't have the drones, nor do they have the missiles to make a significant second strike on israel.- second strike on israel. what did ou second strike on israel. what did you make _ second strike on israel. what did you make of— second strike on israel. what did you make of the - second strike on israel. what did you make of the timing . second strike on israel. what| did you make of the timing of this reported missile strike? is this only coming a few days, what? five days after iran sent the barrage into israel. is it sooner than you may have expected? sooner than you may have “meted?— sooner than you may have expected? it's actually later that i would _

expected? it's actually later that i would have _ expected? it's actually later that i would have expected. j expected? it's actually laterl that i would have expected. i would have expected the israelis to hit hard and hit early and hit fast. i understand there were some political deliberations that help this up a bit but if israel is trying to reset deterrence and send a strong message to iran, this is actually a little bit later than i would have expected them to respond. the than i would have expected them to remind-— to respond. the us of course, as we said. — to respond. the us of course, as we said, very _ to respond. the us of course, as we said, very vocal- to respond. the us of course, as we said, very vocal in - as we said, very vocal in saying, you know, israel should be careful here but also saying it would not participate in any sort of israeli retaliatory action against iran. doesn't look to you here that israel went it alone? —— does it look. it could very well be the case but we will not know until we start seeing the bomb damage assessment, until we get more information. i think it's a little premature to be making that determination. i would be surprised if the we did at

least provide some intelligence, particularly from our satellites or overhead, but i want to wait until we see more and hear more before i make that determination. irate more and hear more before i make that determination. we are heafina make that determination. we are hearing now _ make that determination. we are hearing now from _ make that determination. we are hearing now from the _ make that determination. we are hearing now from the md - hearing now from the afd newsagency and i want to bring you this line here, reaching out to the israeli military and officials there saying, "we do not have comment at this time". we do know that when iran launched its attacks on israel, these were very much telegraphed in advance. he heard may be hours ahead of time that iran planned on launching some sort of strike on israel. is it noteworthy at all to you that we haven't really heard any confirmation yet from israel one way or the other about what has been taking place?— taking place? yes, but for different _ taking place? yes, but for different reasons. - taking place? yes, but for different reasons. many i taking place? yes, but for- different reasons. many people say one of the reasons that the iranians had to respond to the killing of the irgc officials

inside of syria was because, for the first time in a long time, the israelis started announcing their activities and when you start announcing that to the real world, it kind of inspires and almost requires a response on the part of your adversary. this notion of no comment seems to go back into the long—standing policy of the iranians to admit nothing, to accept nothing and to explain nothing, which is — i'm glad to see they have gone back to that if they are doing that because in many ways, the lack of information, the lack of bluster actually comes down but of all comes down the situation a bit. i of all comes down the situation a bit. ., ., _, of all comes down the situation a bit. ., ., ., a bit. i want to come back to something — a bit. i want to come back to something you _ a bit. i want to come back to something you said - a bit. i want to come back to something you said earlier i a bit. i want to come back to l something you said earlier and believe this is israeli missile strike took place is near isfahan —— calms down. what more do we know about that

area, and you mentioned this could be a target that would involve some sort of nuclear facility in iran?— facility in iran? certainly. anyone _ facility in iran? certainly. anyone can _ facility in iran? certainly. anyone can get _ facility in iran? certainly. anyone can get on - facility in iran? certainly. anyone can get on the i facility in iran? certainly. - anyone can get on the internet and look at isfahan. look at wikipedia and you will see isfahan is a long—standing nuclear target. a long—standing area of nuclear concern for both the israelis, primarily, the iea, iea in particular. i think it's generally accepted isfahan is sort of ground zero, no pun intended, of the iranian nuclear programme.— nuclear programme. mark kimmitt, _ nuclear programme. mark kimmitt, i _ nuclear programme. mark kimmitt, i want _ nuclear programme. mark kimmitt, i want you - nuclear programme. mark kimmitt, i want you to - nuclear programme. mark. kimmitt, i want you to stay right there, if you don't mind. we will bring in michael singh, the washington institute, joining us here. thanks for joining us here. thanks for joining us. ringing you up to date on what we know, we are hearing an israeli missile has hit iran, coming from cbs news,

our partner, and we are trying to bring as many details to our viewers as we can but in terms of what we know right now, what's your reaction to what seeing tonight?— seeing tonight? well, if in fact these _ seeing tonight? well, if in fact these initial _ seeing tonight? well, if in fact these initial details i seeing tonight? well, if in| fact these initial details are true, it looks like it would be a fairly limited israeli retaliatory strike. and that i think is what we largely expected. the notion that israel was not going to respond to a direct attack on its territory from iran was always far—fetched but i think if, in fact, this is the response, so far it looks like a response thatis far it looks like a response that is meant to both deter but also send a signal that is de—escalatory, by not being too widespread, not being too splashy and israeli officials so far been relatively quiet. and i think the ideal scenario is this strike has happened, bubbly was much more effective, frankly, than the iranians strikes were but —— probably. but if it is sufficiently small

in scale, they can frankly deny that it ever happened and close this particular chapter of the israel — iran confrontation. mark, bouncing it over to you in the scale of this attack and we only know what we know so far but as it appears now, does it appear limited to you? would this be something that may be designed to limit the damage, get in a counter attack and then call it even, essentially? well, what mike is probably saying is at their peril, he's probably one of the foremost experts in dc on this but there are other reports coming in that they are irgc elements hit in syria and baghdad, so i think mike is right. if there is one attack into iran proper was hossein amir—abdollahian and there is some plausible deniability, and some attacks against irgc in syria and iraq, what they do is a matter of

course, mike is right —— was isfahan. it's limited, focused and in many ways de—escalatory. it's interesting to know now that we are hearing again from some sources and again we will be working to confirm this but this is coming from reuters, saying there was pre— notification to the united states from the israelis, that's coming from an unnamed source. michael singh, we've been talking so much about the role of the us here is a very close ally of israel. joe biden very vocally warning, prime minister benjamin netanyahu about a forceful response, wanting to make sure that israel showed restraint. does it surprise you at all then, there may be some sort of pre— warning happened between israel and the us? ida. warning happened between israel and the us?— and the us? no, not surprising at all. israel— and the us? no, not surprising at all. israel and _ and the us? no, not surprising at all. israel and the _ and the us? no, not surprising at all. israel and the united - at all. israel and the united states_ at all. israel and the united states may sometimes disagree on this— states may sometimes disagree on this but there is very close co—ordination militarily between the two and while israel_ between the two and while israei is _

between the two and while israel is unlikely to ask the us for— israel is unlikely to ask the us for permission or perhaps even — us for permission or perhaps even to— us for permission or perhaps even to give it full details, israel_ even to give it full details, israel would want to notify the united — israel would want to notify the united states because the united _ united states because the united states because the united states has assets in the region- — united states has assets in the region— and air base in qatar and— region— and air base in qatar and other_ region— and air base in qatar and other places like kuwait and other places like kuwait and the _ and other places like kuwait and the uae and elsewhere. and so, any— and the uae and elsewhere. and so, any israeli action against iran— so, any israeli action against iran potentially brings risk to the us— iran potentially brings risk to the us interests and us forces and so — the us interests and us forces and so israel, as an ally of the — and so israel, as an ally of the us, _ and so israel, as an ally of the us, will want to do that. the — the us, will want to do that. the risk— the us, will want to do that. the risk that israel takes in doing — the risk that israel takes in doing this is because they know the us— doing this is because they know the us was not keen to see this kind _ the us was not keen to see this kind of— the us was not keen to see this kind of strike. as always a risk— kind of strike. as always a risk that— kind of strike. as always a risk that us officials will leak— risk that us officials will leak or— risk that us officials will leak or speak to the media and it's interesting that so far, the — it's interesting that so far, the only— it's interesting that so far, the only confirmation we have of these — the only confirmation we have of these attacks seems to be from — of these attacks seems to be from us— of these attacks seems to be from us officials and so hopefully, fully the biden administration will keep american officials relatively quiet — american officials relatively quiet about this. if israeli officials _ quiet about this. if israeli officials are also trying to be quite — officials are also trying to be quite in _ officials are also trying to be quite in an effort to remain sort — quite in an effort to remain sort of— quite in an effort to remain sort of de—escalatory... quite in an effort to remain sort of de-escalatory. .. does it stand out _ sort of de-escalatory. .. does it stand out to _ sort of de-escalatory. .. does it stand out to give _ sort of de-escalatory. .. does it stand out to give and - sort of de-escalatory. .. does | it stand out to give and again, we heard from iran on saturday, right before the strikes

happened and there was plenty of telegraphing going on and there is a difference, a stark contrast. we have not yet heard from any israeli officials to confirm whether or not this was indeed 100% israel's doing. yeah, no, ithink indeed 100% israel's doing. yeah, no, i think that again is potentially a signal of de—escalation that the israelis are not— de—escalation that the israelis are not rubbing the iranians's face — are not rubbing the iranians's face in — are not rubbing the iranians's face in this. the iranians will -et face in this. the iranians will get the — face in this. the iranians will get the message. remember in 2007— get the message. remember in 2007 when israel destroyed a syrian — 2007 when israel destroyed a syrian nuclear reactor in syria. _ syrian nuclear reactor in syria, there was no commentary from _ syria, there was no commentary from israeli officials. syrian officials _ from israeli officials. syrian officials essentially denied it happened. there was no further exchange — happened. there was no further exchange of fires between the two _ exchange of fires between the two this _ exchange of fires between the two. this is in keeping with some — two. this is in keeping with some patterns in the region, i would — some patterns in the region, i would say _ some patterns in the region, i would say-— some patterns in the region, i would sa . ~ ., ., ., would say. again, a reminder of the breaking _ would say. again, a reminder of the breaking news-2 _ would say. again, a reminder of the breaking news-2 us - the breaking news—2 us officials coming cbs news, our us partner, and israeli missile has hit iran. reports from within iran say they have been explosions heard in the centre of the country. we also know

that several flights has been suspended within iran and we are also getting reports now, this is from the afd news agency, saying that israel's military is saying "sirens have soundedin military is saying "sirens have sounded in northern israel —— apf. mark kimmitt, what is the potential here now that we could see some sort of retaliation? we know has below, a proxy and ally of iran, is there across the northern from israel —— has below. it’s israel -- has below. it's always— israel -- has below. it's always been _ israel -- has below. it's always been the - israel —— has below. it�*s always been the wildcard. while israel does not have the capability for its second striker a significant second striker a significant second strike because of what they used up in their attack last saturday —— hezbollah. the wildcard had always been hezbollah, they have the range the iranians don't have and a quantity of insoles of the iranians don't have and that before their targeting is probably better than the iranians as well so if the iranians as well so if the iranians are pulling hezbollah

into this fight, i think it brings a different dimension to what is going on here. if this isjust an what is going on here. if this isjustan iranian what is going on here. if this isjust an iranian retaliation, mike is right. probably not a lot to worry about. but if the iranians decide to ramp it up ljy iranians decide to ramp it up by bringing in their hezbollah colleagues, it's a different game. colleagues, it's a different name. ~ ~' . colleagues, it's a different name. �* " ., ., colleagues, it's a different name. . ., colleagues, it's a different name. ~ ~ ., ., .,~ game. mike, what do you take about the _ game. mike, what do you take about the potential _ game. mike, what do you take about the potential for - about the potential for retaliation here? could it be from iran? could it be from one of the many other proxies that are there in the region? i think we are seeing initially is that— think we are seeing initially is that potentially, there was a relatively limited strike in iran— a relatively limited strike in iran and _ a relatively limited strike in iran and then maybe also some israeli — iran and then maybe also some israeli strikes on iranian interests in syria and iraq and i've interests in syria and iraq and i've seen— interests in syria and iraq and i've seen those reports as well but mark— i've seen those reports as well but mark is right that hezbollah, in lebanon and also some _ hezbollah, in lebanon and also some iranians sources in syria, are more — some iranians sources in syria, are more capable of quickly responding to israel. i will say, — responding to israel. i will say, though, iwould responding to israel. i will say, though, i would take these reports — say, though, i would take these reports may be with a little bit of — reports may be with a little bit of a _ reports may be with a little bit of a grain of salt in the sense— bit of a grain of salt in the sense that i'm under the impression that those sirens are going off almost nightly

over— are going off almost nightly over the past several months in israel — over the past several months in israel and _ over the past several months in israel. and so, i think it would _ israel. and so, i think it would have to wait to see if this— would have to wait to see if this is— would have to wait to see if this is something different or 'ust this is something different or just the — this is something different or just the usual sort of exchange of fire — just the usual sort of exchange of fire we've been seeing across— of fire we've been seeing across the northern border of israel — across the northern border of israel. ~ ., ., israel. were removed from the comments _ israel. were removed from the comments from _ israel. were removed from the comments from eran's - israel. were removed from the comments from eran's foreign| comments from eran's foreign minister earlier in new york around un meetings saying about if israel were to strike back, then, quote, the next response from us would be immediate and at a maximum level, was that maybe some gameplay? how seriously should we take this kind of comments? normally we would not take _ kind of comments? normally we would not take it _ kind of comments? normally we would not take it seriously - would not take it seriously from — would not take it seriously from the iranians because the foreign— from the iranians because the foreign minister is not that significant figure in iran and probably wouldn't be in a decision—making meeting about the iranian response. we take it more — the iranian response. we take it more seriously in light of the i3— it more seriously in light of the 13 april missile mirage by iran against israel so sensitivities and worries are heightened at the moment but of course _ heightened at the moment but of course the easy way for eran to

escape — course the easy way for eran to escape that life or promise is to simply— escape that life or promise is to simply refuse to acknowledge that there has been an israeli attack— that there has been an israeli attack on _ that there has been an israeli attack on iran and initial indications are that the iranians are really downplaying anything — iranians are really downplaying anything that has occurred and we will— anything that has occurred and we will see if that lasts but that — we will see if that lasts but that would be away them to escape _ that would be away them to escape that life as it were. michael, _ escape that life as it were. michael, this is something i asked mark but i want to put to you, what do you make of the timing? it is only five days after he launched those attacks over the weekend late on saturday. is this earlier than you would expect? is this, mark thought, a bit late? it is tou~h thought, a bit late? it is tough to _ thought, a bit late? it is tough to know _ thought, a bit late? it is tough to know because l thought, a bit late? it is tough to know because israel took— tough to know because israel took time to decide. i think the — took time to decide. i think the fact— took time to decide. i think the fact that israel did not respond right away in reflexive way again probably contributes to the — way again probably contributes to the fact that there is perhaps a bit of a de—escalatory signal here. israel. _ de—escalatory signal here. israel, giving a bit of time to

consult, _ israel, giving a bit of time to consult, maybe to telegraph some — consult, maybe to telegraph some signals as well, maybe we'll— some signals as well, maybe well tell— some signals as well, maybe we'll tell the iranians that israel— we'll tell the iranians that israel is _ we'll tell the iranians that israel is not interested in expanding the conflict or escalating. expanding the conflict or escalating-— expanding the conflict or escalating. expanding the conflict or escalatinr. ~., ~' ., escalating. mark kimmitt and michael singh, _ escalating. mark kimmitt and michael singh, stay _ escalating. mark kimmitt and michael singh, stay where . escalating. mark kimmitt and | michael singh, stay where you are. i want to bring our viewers who arejoining are. i want to bring our viewers who are joining us up—to—date on the breaking news. this is what we know at this hour, so to remark us officials are telling cbs news, our us news partner, that an israeli missile has hit iran, this taking place in the last hour or so. you see on the map where the explosion was, this was in the north—west of iran in the city of isfahan early friday morning, it's all coming according to the country's semi—official newsagency, you see that the distance between the capital tehran. we are hearing from you running nvidia saying it occurred near the city's international airport, with do not get an explanation or possible cause. israeli army officials have yet to comment.

isfahan, a four hour drive from the capital, as you see there, also home to a larger airbase, also home to a larger airbase, a missile production complex and several nuclear sites. iranian state media reporting at this out that those nuclear sites are currently safe. the incident comes as tensions remain high across the middle east after an unprecedented missile and red attack on israel over the weekend. iran has been a highlight after israel is that it would respond to any running attack against it. we know also at this hour the commercial flights have been paused over eran's major cities including isfahan and tehran according to state media and the reuters news agency. we'll bring you updates on the story as we get them. they want to bring back our guests, mark kimmitt, former assistant secretary of state in the us for political and military affairs and michael singh, manning director at the washington institute, also former senior director of

middle east affairs at the white house. thank you, both, for being here. mark, iwant white house. thank you, both, for being here. mark, i want to come back to you. we've had from several nations really warning israel to show restraint. we had even today from the un secretary general warning that the region was on the verge of a broader conflict. do you think that those warnings were factored into any potential response that we might be seen from israel tonight or as we heard from parameter netanyahu, he said israel won't take instructions from any countries other than their own —— prime minister. i other than their own -- prime minister-— minister. i think we need to caveat everything _ minister. i think we need to caveat everything by - minister. i think we need to . caveat everything by reminding ourselves of the old military axiom, the first reports are usually wrong. but if we know what we know and it is correct, candidly, i think the israelis were going to do what they thought was in the best national interests and i think there are not listening to international advice and it

would seem to me that they are using well thought out plans, well thought out strategy, the iranians think very carefully about their moves and it would appear in this case that the israelis have very carefully thought out their moves as well. i don't necessarily think the international influence had much of a decision—making in netanyahu's mine, for goodness sakes, he is completely ignoring what president biden is saying, i don't know why he would listen to any international institutions, so they are going it alone, they are doing what's best for their own country, they think, and if these reports are correct, it seems they've been fairly nuanced and strategic, responding to a very strategic move on the part of the iranians.— move on the part of the iranians. ~ . . ., ., iranians. michael, iwant to ask, iranians. michael, iwant to ask. why — iranians. michael, iwant to ask. why do _ iranians. michael, iwant to ask, why do you _ iranians. michael, iwant to ask, why do you think - iranians. michael, iwant to| ask, why do you think israel might see a retaliation as so

important? why would they not just as president biden said take the win, 99% of the missiles and drones did not even reach the country during the attack on saturday, why do you think israel might see it is important that they launch some sort of counter—attack? potentially tonight? i think the israelis understand the argument that president biden made. — argument that president biden made, your opponent has failed, wow allow— made, your opponent has failed, wow allow the failure to sort of lingo, _ wow allow the failure to sort of lingo, his last letter on the — of lingo, his last letter on the matter. rememberthat of lingo, his last letter on the matter. remember that this was the — the matter. remember that this was the taboo breaking attack by iran— was the taboo breaking attack by iran against israel, the first—ever ever running attack against — first—ever ever running attack against israel. i think the israelis _ against israel. i think the israelis probably, even though the attack was spectacularly unsuccessful, want to send a message _ unsuccessful, want to send a message to iran that that kind of attack— message to iran that that kind of attack will always bring a cost — of attack will always bring a cost for _ of attack will always bring a cost for a run, that there will always— cost for a run, that there will always be _ cost for a run, that there will always be retaliation. the iranians _ always be retaliation. the iranians don't get in their minds _ iranians don't get in their minds that this can be their new— minds that this can be their new way— minds that this can be their new way of responding to every israeli — new way of responding to every israeli attack, that they will be deterred from doing that.

and this _ be deterred from doing that. and this is a matter of where you sit— and this is a matter of where you sit is— and this is a matter of where you sit is where you stand, nobody _ you sit is where you stand, nobody wants to see instability in the — nobody wants to see instability in the middle east, the israelis don't want to see it, but only— israelis don't want to see it, but only israel would have to live with _ but only israel would have to live with that sort of ever present _ live with that sort of ever present threat of directly running attacks, but i think that's— running attacks, but i think that's what they want to address with this retaliation. we mentioned that most of the air traffic over iran has been suspended and we can look now at a lifelike website that really attracts planes in real time. you can see the airspace around the run, there are very few planes in the air right now. that would seem to indicate of course that this drug taking place, precautions are being put in place in iran, we know that the air defence system has now been activated in the country as well but interesting to see the visuals there, very few planes active in iran, we were looking at this little bit earlier, we were seeing some flights turning away from iran to

potentially land elsewhere in the region. mark, i want to come back to you. what we know is that on saturday that that attack by iran, we've been calling it unprecedented because it was the first attack on israel by iran launched from its own soil. now seeing we believe to be retaliation from israel on iranian soil. where does this put us now in terms of the ongoing shadow war now really coming into the light between these two countries, nowa nowa totally different plane here? i nowa nowa totally different plane here?— nowa nowa totally different plane here? i think the most important — plane here? i think the most important thing _ plane here? i think the most important thing is _ plane here? i think the most important thing is to - plane here? i think the most important thing is to find - plane here? i think the most| important thing is to find who the wii and ice are. for those of us on the outside of the region, we may in fact be thinking that the world has changed. forthe thinking that the world has changed. for the israelis and iranians, this is a new step but it is certainly not unexpected. the war in the shadows that we've talked about for years and years is now out

of the shadows. i am glad to see that you have generally to remarket rational actors here, between orion and israel, they seem approaching this with rational thinking in terms of how they attack and how they respond to —— two rational. i don't necessarily believe that we are any different after this attack than when the iranians attacked saudi territory when they attacked a few years ago. so i don't see any reason for this to spiral into a regional conflagration conflagration but sometimes misperception, miscalculation and mischief comes into play, but this seems to be rolling itself out according to script. michael, what are _ according to script. michael, what are you _ according to script. michael, what are you make - according to script. michael, what are you make of- according to script. michael, what are you make of the i what are you make of the relationship now between iran and israel, what we were seeing, we really haven't quite seen before?—

seen before? obviously it is still early — seen before? obviously it is still early going _ seen before? obviously it is still early going here - seen before? obviously it is still early going here and i seen before? obviously it is still early going here and so j still early going here and so it's hard _ still early going here and so it's hard to say right now where _ it's hard to say right now where this will proceed. but remember, after the killing of oasem — remember, after the killing of qasem soleimani and 2020, iranians _ qasem soleimani and 2020, iranians responded with a brochure of missiles in a us airbase _ brochure of missiles in a us airbase in _ brochure of missiles in a us airbase in iraq, al asad airbase _ airbase in iraq, al asad airbase. because frankly i think— airbase. because frankly i think they wanted to respond in a strong — think they wanted to respond in a strong way to what had been an unprecedented action. in a way, — an unprecedented action. in a way, this, _ an unprecedented action. in a way, this, while more extreme, certainly— way, this, while more extreme, certainly the iranians right against _ certainly the iranians right against israel was much larger than _ against israel was much larger than 2020 against the us airbase, has sort of similar hallmarks. just as that attack in 2020, _ hallmarks. just as that attack in 2020, the pair of attacks did not— in 2020, the pair of attacks did not really then create a new — did not really then create a new pattern between the us andy brown, _ new pattern between the us andy brown, it's not necessarily the case _ brown, it's not necessarily the case that— brown, it's not necessarily the case that this will be the pattern— case that this will be the pattern between iran and israel going _ pattern between iran and israel going forward, i suspect both would — going forward, i suspect both would rather go back to the sort — would rather go back to the sort of— would rather go back to the sort of old rules of engagement as it _ sort of old rules of engagement as it were — sort of old rules of engagement as it were then continue this kind — as it were then continue this kind of— as it were then continue this kind of exchange.— kind of exchange. that's interesting _ kind of exchange. that's interesting to _ kind of exchange. that's interesting to hear. i kind of exchange. that's interesting to hear. that kind of exchange. that's i interesting to hear. that the former rules of engagement really included working more

through proxies, fewer direct attacks, a lot of it we've been seeing playing out on the northern boundary between hezbollah and israel over the past many days and months after the attacks of 7 october. now what seeing and again a strike by israel being reported on a run, much more out in the open, mark kimmitt, mike bryan, i want to take the opportunity to say goodbye to our viewers on pbs say goodbye to our viewers on was —— say goodbye to our viewers on pbs —— michael singh. thank you forjoining us. the breaking news tonight coming in in the hour that to remark us officials telling cbs news our us partner that an israeli missile has hit iran, an explosion heard north—west of the identity of isfahan early friday morning according to the country's semi—official newsagency and we can show it to you on the map, jennifer, kokomo city's international airport and we've not yet had an explanation from errani

media on possible cause. it's been reported american media that it was an israeli strike. isfahan, about a four hour drive from the capital of tehran, home to a large airbase, the major missile production complex and several nuclear sites, erroneously better reporting the nuclear sites are safe at this hour. the incident comes with tensions high across the middle east after iran's unprecedented missile under attack on israel on the weekend. iran has been highlighted after israel said it would respond to annie running against it and i believe we have those images we can show commercial flights in the area and they've been paused over iran at�*s major cities including isfahan and tehran. that's all according to iranian state media and the reuters news agency. will monitor the details they come in. we want to play you as well

the iranian foreign minister today in new york at the united nations, he had warned just hours ago about repercussions if israel did indeed retaliate. let's listen. translation: in case of any use of force by let's listen. translation: i�*i case of any use of force by the israeli regime, and violating our sovereignty, the islamic republic of iran will not hesitate to assert its inherent rights to give a decisive and proper response to it to make the regime regret its actions. i want to bring back michael singh, with us tonight as we continue following the breaking news, planning director of the washington institute, former senior director of middle east affairs at the white house. i want to talk about where these strikes and explosions are happening, this is isfahan, a city outside tehran and we heard about some of the assets that are there including military, we believe there are

nuclear development sites in isfahan as well. what kind of facilities do you think there might be considered legitimate targets by israel and would there be anything that israel might consider out of bounds? i think there are many potential targets for israel and isfahan but the ones which are obviously most clearly present themselves would be military sites, such as airstrips, for example, as well as nuclear sites. there are several significant nuclear sites in isfahan. it seems from initial reports that the nuclear sites were not hit. although we will have to see how this develops in that perhaps it was in fact the military sites, maybe airstrips, may be the military portion of the airport that was hit and that could be a signal and a sense from israel, you hit the airport or military sites but that's then also a signal that we are capable of hitting the nuclear sites in isfahan so maybe a bit of a double message for both retaliation and a signal of what could come down the road

if the conflict continues. brute if the conflict continues. we have been _ if the conflict continues. we have been reaching out to officials at the pentagon at the bbc and we got a response back and it's almost a nonresponse with officials of the pentagon say we don't have anything to offer at this time but i think is interesting to look at the us, israel's biggest ally, joe biden had been awarded against a major retaliation on behalf of israel. to look ahead a little bit, how might you expect the us to respond to a strike by israel on iranian soil? i think the us probably anticipated this. we obviously saw messages from president biden and other people discouraging this action and a belief they understood there was a good chance israel would retaliate anyway, and they will be looking to see what happens now. just like the rest of us will be following reports of what was struck exactly what

was damaged, they will be paying close attention to how iran responds and bear in mind that if iran does wish, in fact, to de—escalate or sort of have a less flamboyant response, they may still respond quietly, covertly or in the ways they might have in the past, you know, through proxies for example. and that would be just as concerning to the us in terms of the risk us interests, allied interests in the region and they would need to be aware of that response potentially as well. �* , , ., ., ., well. there's been a lot of talk recently _ well. there's been a lot of talk recently since, i well. there's been a lot ofj talk recently since, really, the beginning of the month for the beginning of the month for the potential of miscalculation on either side here, either israel or iran. there were reports from officials that seemed to indicate that israel may have miscalculated its strike which really started this whole string of events on a diplomatic compound in syria. israel did not see that is something that would be escalatory. clearly, iran saw

it differently. they then