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Israel-Iran live: US base targeted by Iranian missiles - but sources say Iran may have given warning

Iran has targeted a US military base in Qatar with missiles. But sources tell Sky News Iran may have given advanced warning to the Americans and some Gulf nations - which could offer an opportunity for de-escalation. Watch and follow the latest below.

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Analysis: This is a moment of huge jeopardy - and Israel's key to what happens next

As it appears Iran's attack on US facilities in Qatar has concluded, we've just been hearing from our correspondents about what could happen next.

Our US correspondent Mark Stone, in Washington DC, says it's still a moment of "huge, huge jeopardy", with potential for miscalculation on either side despite Iran appearing to have warned the Qataris in advance.

In the longer term, though, Stone says the question is: "What is the plan for the day after?"

He adds Tehran may feel this evening's attacks draw a line under the American strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend, but the Israelis seem to remain clear "they want to continue with this".

Striking echoes of history

"For Israel, America's actions on Saturday night were not the end of it," Stone says. "For Israel, they want to keep going. To what end?"

Regime change has been floated by Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, but they "have to have a plan".

There are some "striking echoes of history", Stone continues.

He says America had "absolutely no plan for what came after" its invasion of Iraq in 2003. 

"And the consequences of that invasion are being felt today."

Is Netanyahu ready for a protracted war?

Our correspondent Cordelia Lynch is in Tel Aviv, and she explains Israelis are "unfazed" by the daily ritual of running out to the bomb shelters.

Netanyahu "has already warned of the potential for a protracted war at the very least".

"This Iran, he believes, represents an existential threat - this is something he has had designs on for three decades," Lynch says.

"I think the notion of a quick exit from Israel is highly unlikely, and we are not seeing any kind of framework laid out for regime change, any hint of what they plan to do beyond the strikes that they are still carrying out with regularity."

Even Netanyahu's fiercest critics are supporting this operation, but there is "a lot that could happen", Lynch adds.

The lack of US casualties could mean Trump decides not to respond right now, and "there is still a glimmer" of potential for diplomacy.

But the Israeli leadership is pursuing this "with great enthusiasm and gusto".

No abnormal radiation levels in region, Gulf Cooperation Council says

After the US and Israeli strikes targeting nuclear facilities in Iran, there have been concerns in the Middle East about any knock on effects for the region.

The UN's nuclear watchdog has warned about the dangers of bombing such sites but has not found any unusual levels of radiation since. 

Now, the general secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council has reached a similar conclusion, according to its emergency management centre. 

It says no abnormal radiation levels have been detected in any of its member countries since the Israeli attacks on Iran began on Friday 13 June.

Environmental and radiation indicators remain within safe and technically permissible levels, the council said.

But it added it would continue to monitor radiation levels.

The council has six members - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran 'will continue retaliation' - but also ready to 'begin diplomacy'

A senior Iranian official has told Reuters that Tehran will continue its retaliation in response to US strikes over the weekend.

In the same remarks, he also said Iran has the "necessary rationality" to begin diplomacy after "punishing the aggressor".

He added that Israeli and US attacks must stop if they seek negotiations.

Alarm in Baghdad as Iraqi and Syrian bases put on alert

By Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent in Erbil, Iraq

The whole region has been on high alert, but that has stepped up a notch after Iran fired missiles towards Qatar, and air defence systems were activated over an airbase in Iraq that's home to the US and Iraqi military.

Sources tell Sky News that a new alert order has been issued to all military bases and airfields in Iraq and Syria.

The same sources have indicated alarm in Baghdad that the capital could also come under fire, but as yet, there has been no indication the city is coming under attack.

Iraq doesn't want to be dragged into a war

In Erbil, home to a US airbase near the city's international airport, we heard the engines of two jets passing overhead shortly after the Qatari attack was confirmed.

The airspace here is closed to all but military aircraft.

Iraq finds itself in the centre of this crisis, because of its geographical location and the requirement of the government to maintain good relations with both the United States, whose bases it hosts for security reasons, and Iran - its neighbour and ideological partner.

The government doesn't want to be dragged into a war, yet it might well find itself in that predicament if the crisis escalates further.

UK doesn't rule out sending further capabilities to Middle East - as extra RAF jets arrive

UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard has addressed this evening's Iranian attack on US bases in Qatar.

Speaking in the House of Commons earlier, he said it was a "fast-changing situation" and the government is "monitoring it closely".

"Members [of parliament] will also understand that I will not be able to give details at this stage," he added.

"But the UK government utterly condemns any escalation."

Iran must 'get serious', says minister

Pollard said the UK has upgraded measures to protect its personnel in the region to their "highest level".

Additional RAF jets have arrived in the Middle East and "we will not rule out sending further capabilities if they are required".

"We have robust measures in place to protect our armed forces personnel, and their safety is our top priority," he said. "That is why we have been calling for de-escalation and diplomacy."

He echoed the prime minister's call for Iran to return to the negotiating table, saying military retaliation would not bring the crisis to an end.

"The only off-ramp for Iran is to get serious and return to diplomacy."

Iran targets US military base - the main things you need to know

It's been almost two hours since we first caught wind of an Iranian air attack against a US military base in the Middle East - which came to fruition not long after that.

Here are the main things you need to know in five bullet points:

  • Iran has launched missiles towards an American air base in Qatar - a quick retaliation after the US hit its nuclear sites over the weekend;
  • Air defence systems worked as intended to prevent any casualties at al Udeid, according to Qatar and US officials;
  • Sky News understands Iran may have tipped off the US and the Gulf states beforehand, which our lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim said might provide an opportunity to de-escalate the crisis;
  • Donald Trump has been in the White House Situation Room with senior officials, but there's no sign yet of how he might respond - he had hailed the weekend attacks on Iran as a huge success;
  • In the meantime, several Gulf states - including Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain - are keeping their airspace shut.

Stay with us for more updates and analysis through the evening.

Oil prices drop sharply as Iran retaliates

By James Sillars, business and economics reporter

Oil prices have fallen sharply after Iran's missile attack on US bases in Iraq and Qatar.

Brent crude was trading at almost $77 a barrel beforehand but is currently down 4.7% at $72.

Some may see this attack as an escalation in the conflict.

But there is a reasonable explanation for the decline.

Perhaps the missile attacks are being viewed as a face-saving exercise by Iran in response to the US strikes on its nuclear interests?

If so, the oil price shift can be put down to a sigh of relief, among oil traders, that Iran did not take revenge by targeting or disrupting oil and gas shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

No impact on US base in Qatar and no other sites attacked - report

More to bring you now on Iran's retaliatory strikes against US bases.

According to the Reuters news agency, which cites a US military official, no Iranian attacks have been detected at any base other than in Qatar.

Iranian state media had earlier reported a base in Iraq was also targeted - see our 17.58 post.

In Qatar, there was no impact on the al Udeid airbase, the official added.

Military sources told Reuters earlier that air defence systems were activated at the al Asad airbase in Iraq for fear of a potential attack.

No casualties reported in Iranian attack - US officials

There have been no reports of US casualties, according to our US partner network NBC News, after the Iranian missile attacks.

Citing two defence officials, NBC reports that the US has confirmed al Udeid air base was attacked by "short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today".

At this point, there are no casualties as a result of those strikes, they added.

Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq shut airspace

Kuwait has shut down its airspace until further notice, according to local news agency Kuna.

This comes just as Bahrain announced its also closing its airspace as a "precaution", while news agency INA reports Iraq has done the same.