Israel missile strike near Iran nuclear facility fuels fears of escalation | BBC News

World leaders have called for restraint in the Middle East, after a missile strike on Iran at a site close to nuclear facilities.

It took place at Isfahan in the centre of Iran, where there is an airbase, several nuclear sites, and a missile factory.  

US officials called it an Israeli missile strike. Iranian media said drones were involved. Israel has not commented officially on what happened.

Iran has played down the incident but said it shot down a number of drones. There were also reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq.
 
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of lowering tension in the Middle East. He refused to comment on reports that Israel had informed Washington of its actions ahead of the attacks.

It comes after Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, in retaliation for an airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria which killed several Iranian top military officers.

Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lucy Williamson in Jerusalem, Sarah Smith in Washington and chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet.

#BBCNews

[houm]

Whats with the choice of the misleading image in the thumbnail??

[michaeltingban]

My name is Michael and I'm from Nimba county, Republic of Liberia.
I do not support war in any country, what I do support is peace.

As a Librarian, I experienced war which was not even between countries but amongst the Liberian citizens.
Imagine, there were no advance weaponry in that war but it was quite unprecedented.
I still live with those memories.
In short, I say NO to war and YES to peace.

War has no winner!

[Xwarrior-dlkz]

How come the drones converted to missiles by the Western media? 😂😂😂

[TennesseeHomesteadUSA]

The story has shifted from nuke facility attacked, to attack near a nuke facility, to attack on an airfield. The story has morphed with "nuke" scare tactics in the tabloids.

[Obihann]

Iran News: Nothing happened.

Also Iran News: Everything is back to normal. 🙄🤫

[EtzEchad]

Iran to Israel: 300 missiles launched 3 hits.
Israel to Iran: 3 missiles launched 3 hits.
Sounds about right.

[bullybar]

“Fuels Fears”. Can you insert “Media” before that?

[AR-cqhp]

Hitting iran? Where? With what? Oh those three pizza delivery drones??

[Londonergreenlover]

Disappointed did he say?! These lot are hungry for war😮

[mkkiani-tech]

It was not a missile strike because as we know a missile launch can be detected by, and the fragments can be forensically investigated. But there was no detection, so it had to be drones which have limitations. Israel has not announced nor claimed an attack. So Iran rightly attributes the explosions to accidents. But Iran knows Israel has used drones on its territories, so defences will be tightened over coming years to a point when one feels it is safe enough for it to attack without the other having the ability to retaliate. The best laid plans of mouse and men...

[depmvry]

I feel (I could be horribly horribly wrong). I feel there are too many inconsistencies.

[avex]

so 3 shot down cardboard drones are now missiles strike 🤔

[IvanMectin]

It looks fake. It's a poor man's fireworks display.

[OnlyNims]

Iran was aiming at Al-Aqsa Mosque, so basically Israel prevented its destruction. The irony. 🤔

[شهنشاه]

😂They have attacked with pizza drones, and you see this BBC headline

[generaljg]

Iran shouldn't defend itself from Israel because thats antisemitic, antisemitism is not acceptable

[Nimbusk_rider]

Are both countries really willing to fight full scale war?

[Aioah...]

I heard it was just Taylor swift throwing a big party for Taylor swift day. The evolution of self proclaiming your own " birthday month "

[MichaelSolomon-hrzt]

Wtf are you doing looking in my house?

[elhannesia]

Listening to news outlets these days blowing things out of proportion is like listening to a bunch of playful 10 year old kids yapping and yelling at the same time desperately competing to get your attention.