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BBC Expert Demolishes Trump And Netanyahu's Case For Bombing Iran: 'A War Of Choice'

BBC Expert Demolishes Trump And Netanyahu's Case For Bombing Iran: 'A War Of Choice'

A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) A BBC expert has demolished Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s case for bombing Iran. Israel said the attacks were “pre-emptive” to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and firing at them. In his statement announcing the bombing, Trump said: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” But Jeremy Bowen , the BBC’s international affairs editor, dismissed those arguments. He said: “Israel used the word ‘pre-emptive’ to justify its attack - the largest in the Israeli Air Force’s history, according to the Israel Defense Forces. “The evidence is that this is not a response to an imminent threat, which the word pre-emption implies. Instead, it is a war of choice.” The military action, Bowen said, was “another blow to the tottering system of international law”. He added: “In their statements, both Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was a danger to their countries – Trump said it was a global danger. “The Islamic regime is certainly their bitter enemy. But it is hard to see how the legal justification of self-defence applies given the huge disparity of power between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.” Bowen also warned that Trump’s stated objective of regime change in Iran will be far from straightforward – and could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East. He said: “There is no precedent for regime change happening just because of air strikes. “Even if this becomes the first case of air power alone collapsing a regime, the Islamic regime will not be replaced by a liberal democracy that upholds human rights. There is no credible alternative government in exile waiting in the wings.” The Middle East expert went on: “Iran’s remaining leaders will now be calculating how to ride out the war, how to survive and how to manage its consequences. “Their neighbours, led by Saudi Arabia, will be dismayed by the huge uncertainty and potential consequences of today’s events. “Given the capacity of the Middle East to export trouble, the eruption of renewed and intensified war deepens the instability of a region and wider world that is already turbulent, violent and dangerous.” Related... Defence Secretary John Healey Won't Say If The UK Backs US And Israeli Strikes On Iran Trump Warns Iran 'Better Not' Retaliate After Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Killed By US And Israel There's One Dark Certainty About Trump's Attack On Iran

Tottenham lacking in attack, midfield, defence and ‘brain’, says Igor Tudor

Tottenham lacking in attack, midfield, defence and ‘brain’, says Igor Tudor

2-1 defeat at Fulham was Spurs’ fourth league loss in a row ‘We are always late on everything. That’s the problem.’ Igor Tudor described the situation Tottenham find themselves in as “amazing” and suggested they have just three major problems as they fight relegation: the attack, the midfield and the defence. Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at Fulham was their fourth in a row in the league and leaves them just four points above the relegation zone. “I cannot tell you anything new,” said a downbeat Tudor. “We need to find the forces inside each of us. I said to the players: ‘It’s always what you’re going to do, what you want to do with yourself,’ you know? More personality, more wish to do before reacting, plenty of things … We are lacking when we attack, we lack the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run and we are lacking behind to stay there to suffer and not concede the goal. So, an amazing situation. Amazing.” Continue reading...

Clean up operation continues after Iran strikes residential buildings in heart of Tel Aviv, Netanyahu warns of 'increasing strength' in attacks on Tehran

Clean up operation continues after Iran strikes residential buildings in heart of Tel Aviv, Netanyahu warns of 'increasing strength' in attacks on Tehran

"Emergency personnel were out in force in Tel Aviv on Sunday to help clean up and secure residential areas after Israeli authorities reported an Iranian missile struck buildings in the heart of the city on Saturday night amid rising regional tensions. Footage captured on Sunday shows the damage, with emergency personnel working to help residents gather their belongings and clean debris from the streets. Residents gather outside with their personal belongings and film the destruction. An Iranian strike also hit Beit Shemesh, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 57, with emergency workers seen on Sunday clearing rubble and searching for survivors. It comes after the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation on Saturday against Iran, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to 'destroy Iran’s missiles'. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced 'large-scale missile and drone attacks' targeting Israel. Reports indicated that US military bases across the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait, were struck amid the escalation. Trump later confirmed Khamenei’s death, describing it as "the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to reclaim their homeland." Ali Khamenei served as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the country’s highest political and religious authority, since June 4, 1989. He succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Khamenei remained in power for more than three decades, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in modern Middle Eastern history."