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announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news" >> "bbc world news america." iran and israel indicate there will be no further retaliation. the u.s. house of representatives prepares to work on billions of dollars of funding for ukraine. and we sit down with the nobel peace prize winner. ♪ welcome to "world news america."

u.s. officials are urging de-escalation in the middle east after an apparent israeli strike on iran overnight friday. iran has indicated it has no plans to retaliate after iranian media had unconfirmed reports of explosions in a province home to several nuclear facilities. two u.s. official said the israeli struck iran. israel has not publicly commentary iran has been on high alert after the unprecedented missile and drone raid on israel saturday. the rainy an attack was in retaliation for a presumed is really --israeli airstrike that killed 13 people including seven military officers. the white house press secretary explains the american position and heightened regional tensions. >> we have been very clear from here from the beginning that we do not want to see this conflict escalates.

we continue to consult with our allies and partners including in the region, and to reduce further risk of escalation. >> caroline hawley reports on the latest updates from the region. [explosion] reporter: according to iranian authorities, no harm was done. on an arabian news agency, a reporter said he is outside of the nuclear facility and there is nothing going on. the international nuclear watchdog confirmed there had been no damage to any nuclear sites. in case anyone in a ran woke up, iranians tv showed pictures of calm, complete with soothing music. supporters of the regime, the president significantly made no much in of last night's events,

focusing instead on the barrage of missiles and drones iran fired at israel last weekend. >> this move was necessary, obligatory, unifying come at a source of pride and power for our great country. reporter: almost all of iran's missiles and drones were shot down by israel with the help of the u.s., u.k., and other allies, but this was a huge escalation. the first time a ran had ever attacked israel directly after decades. it prompted international alarm. it was iran's response to this strike by israel on an iranian diplomatic compound in damascus at the start of the month, targeting a senior military commander. an attack iran said on its sovereign territory to which it was bound to respond. >> we are speaking with a senior

fellow for the fun nation of defense of democracy. how significant is this israeli strike? >> i think with the distance and perspective of time, it will become more and more significant. technically significant, politically significant, perhaps even gop strategically significant. so much about the deterrence literature is both psychological and informative. in this instance, israel promised in advance of the iranian missile and drone barrage that if israeli territory was struck, iranian territory would be struck. so it was just a matter of when, not if this would come. some say the lack of a public responses because the bonded administration may have considered ain't that may have constrained israelis from responding in a parallel fashion.

but the more that is coming out about the israelis using aircraft rather than drones, so contrary to the reporting come it shows an exceptionally capable air force either penetrating uranian air defenses, meaning either the defenses do not work or firing from outside. anchor: what messages israel sunday what that? >> technical capability, the ability to target things that matter to the regime. iran knows this. if the iranians fired over 300 cruise missiles and drones, israel has fired only three missiles. they have disabled at least part of a radar complex that may have been feeding into the larger picture that covers one of iran's nuclear facilities. it sent a salient message the israeli can penetrate something the iranians hold dear. and today was the iranian leader's birthday. anchor: the iranians have

indicated they do not want to retaliate. do you think both sides are able at this point to draw a line under this tit-for-tat escalation? >> even if they do withdrawal, it certainly does not do away with the shadow war between iran and israel nor dampen the stated objective of the islamic republic when it says israel. it might be worth noting all three parties are the same page, that something may be afoot here. anchor: where does that leave the west? --the u.s.? we know antony blinken kept repeating de-escalation. how much influence does it have when both sides are eager, keen to show they will not accept retaliation? >> it has been the philosophy of the biden administration, de-escalation, de-confliction, while both iran and israel will even larger displays of force that convey a political message.

in the short term, the quest for de-escalation can underwrite the next batch of escalation. we have seen that by the failed attempt to get iran to come back to the table for a nuclear deal. sometimes it emboldens the adversary. in the case of israel remains to be seen if there was some behind the scenes constraining or some working out as far as a quit pro quote -- a quid pro quo. gaza is the priority after six months for the netanyahu government. as far as containing the iranian nuclear threat. anchor: where does this leave israel's war in gaza? >> it takes the focus back towards gaza politically. it is just a matter of green lighting the operation, a matter of the optics for prime minister netanyahu. that comes with a timetable, the optics and politics of 2024, an election year in washington. anchor: thank you so much for

joining us again on "bbc news." there has been a search and commitment by western countries to support ukraine within two years into his effort to repel russia's invasion. friday the nato secretary-general announced the alliance will give ukraine more air defense systems. the netherlands defense minister pledged more than 200 million euros for air defense and artillery ammunition. saturday the u.s. is expected to vote on six to $1 billion of aid to ukraine. it is widely to pass -- it is expected to pass. the republican speaker of the house mike johnson is risking his job bringing ukraine aid to a vote. friday a third republican supported a motion to oust mr. johnson from the speakership. speaker johnson insists he is doing the right thing. the cia director warned without u.s. support, ukraine could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024.

congress will be voting on aid in the wake of more deadly attacks on ukrainian civilians. friday russian missiles struck a rail station and maternity hospital in the central region. local official say at least seven people were killed including an eight-year-old child. president florida mirza linsky told nato members friday ukraine needs at least seven patriot or other air advanced systems. >> putin must be brought down to earth and our skies must become safe again. and it is real and it depends fully on your choice. choice when a life is equally valuable everywhere. choice, you have equal attitude to all partners, choice that we are indeed allies. anchor: a democratic congressman, the wrecking member on the u.s. select committee on intelligence, has supported

sending aid to ukraine since russia invaded and i spoke to him a little earlier. congressman, today's procedural vote means the foreign aid package will come to the floor for a vote tomorrow. do you think will be a straightforward process for this to pass? >> i do. i think each of the elements of this bill which are ukraine, israel, gaza humanitarian aid, l all pass with very substantial majorities. it casts a sad light on where we have been these past two months because it will show this institution which is supposed to be a majority run institution has been held captive by a small number of members who to the speaker's credit he finally decided to sideline so we can move ahead to with helping ukraine, israel, the brutal humanitarian situation in gaza and other objectives. anchor: we spoke to the ukrainian prime minister in washington this week. he said the country needs the

aid yesterday, as he put it. if you get a sense as to how quickly the aid could get to the front lines? if it is passed tomorrow and passed by the senate as well? >> i do, and i couldn't agree more. the senate passed their equivalent bill to month ago. the two-month delay in the house has literally been lethal for far too many ukrainians, it has opened up ukrainians to attacks on power plants, created misery in ukraine for a two-month politically partisan driven debate we will hopefully resolve tomorrow. the good news is, and i spent a fairmont of time with the defense apartment and other agencies, i think once the bill passes and is signed by the president, getting ammunition and aid into ukraine is a matter of days, not weeks or months. anchor: speaker of the house has essentially put his job on the line bringing these aid packages to the floor. are you concerned if there is a motion to vacate, for him to be ousted as speaker we could see

the house immobilized once again in chaos? >> well, the house has sort of been in chaos for a very long time, starting from the days it took kevin mccarthy both to win the speakership and subsequent to his ouster the three weeks it took republicans to elect a new speaker. chaos sort of the norm around here. what i care most is we get the ukrainian aid past, that we support our democratic allies in ukraine against vladimir putin. then what the republicans want to do, i'm a democrat, the minority party, that is their thing. but i will tell you speaker johnson is doing a courageous thing because he is very much risking his job. he has an unmanageable party and he is doing the right thing. i don't know where that takes us, but i do appreciate the fact the speaker, late though it may become has done the right thing to allow this country to do what we should have done long ago and stand side-by-side with ukrainians. anchor: i want to ask about the escalation between iran and

israel. the white house is not commenting. politico is reporting the biden administration once to stay quiet on the latest strikes to let the moment essentially pass without it getting into a full-scale war. what do you think of that? >> i'm not quite sure how i would comment on white house strategy. what i can absolutely comment on is the tit-for-tat, the punch and counterpunch which started with the israelis attacking the diplomatic facility in damascus and killing a number of republican guard officers, it needs to stop. both sides have made their points. i don't believe either side come israel or iran, are interested in a full-scale regional war. we are certainly not interested in that because there are too many ways the united states could get brought into such a war. i'm not quite sure what the president's strategy is. i will trust him on that. what i will say now is the time for this punch and counterpunch which is a vague nearest -- which is a dangerous standoff to stop so we can back to the

challenges that already existed in the israel-gaza conflict. anchor: from your position in the house and a ranking member of the intelligence committee, do you get the sense the israeli s are listening to the white house on the need to not further escalate the situation? >> i think the hallmark of the last several months has been the extent to which the premonition or of israel has not listened to the united states, has not listen to the president of the united states, frankly to the point of embarrassing the president of the united states. i cannot tell you how embarrassing it looks to the united states to have israel come our closest ally and friend, being forced to build a pier out of the mediterranean into gaza because the israelis will not permit the united states to do what it needs to do to address the humanitarian situation. i'm very sad to report this, but i really do not believe the prime minister of israel has taken the president of the united states' views into account as all. anchor: we believe the conversation there.

congressman, think you so much for joining us. >> thank you. anchor: with the ukraine aid to build looming in congress, ukrainian leaders have been telling us they are cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the vote. just before the show i spoke with the cowinner of the nobel peace prize in 2022 and head for the center of's civil liberties in key. you have been speaking with people about what is happening in a crane, briefing members of congress as well. what message have you been telling people? >> probably two messages. first, this is not a war between two states, this is a war between two systems. if we cannot stop what happens in ukraine, he will go further, he will attack the next country, and we cannot envision a future where the united states will have to send their people to europe to defend the world against this.

the second message is russia is planning a new invasion and we are ready to fight for our freedom and human dignity, but we cannot fight with empty hands. we need weapons and military support from the united states congress has to be unblocked. anchor: you have been receiving while you were here text messages some -- from some friends were on the front lines. what are they describing to you? >> they are waiting for the russian attack. they have no heavy artillery. it was a gentle goodbye. anchor: that must be difficult to read. >> it's a war. war, it's possibly the worst thing which can just happen in human life, and this is

something which i can't get used to as a human. i can't get used to the numerous deaths on the battlefield, the numerous deaths and deep fear, the numerous deaths in occupied territories. we have to stop russia. russia will stop only when it will be stopped. anchor: do you think the message you have been sharing with people, the two messages, that they are resonating in the u.s.? >> i'm sure that they resonate because we are not just having a two-party majority support. for eight months, people have support of the united states of america. i visited seven american universities in different parts of the country. i always face a warm welcome because our fight for freedom something which is very understandable for people in the united states. we are funding for a freedom in

all senses. freedom to be an independent country, not a russian colony, freedom to preserve our ukrainian identity, not to be forced to educate our children as russians, and for freedom to have our democratic choice. anchor: you wrote in the financial times sometimes you were asked about the fact ukraine cannot expect to defeat pressure on the battlefield, that it should take some sort of agreement, a deal so this terrible war can stop. what do you respond to that? >> i understand people who don't know the logic of the regime can have such wishful thinking, but believe when you desire ukraine, peace will not come. occupation will come. i know what russian occupation is about because i have been there 10 years. occupation is a real horror. i spoke with hundreds of people who survived.

they told me how they were beaten, raped, smashed into wooden boxes, fingers cut, nails ripped out. one woman told me about these things. we cannot leave our people alone for torture from the occupation. we have no moral right to do this. anchor: these are war crimes and abuses you have been documenting as part of your work. how do you think that has changed over the last three years as this war has been going on? >> it has become more and more intense. before the large-scale war started, russia pretended it was a civilized country. your member how russia tried to hide their crimes -- you remember how russia tried to hide their crimes with weapons. now russia doesn't hide anything. just recently russia destroyed the energy power plant in ukraine, which means we will have winter without electricity, heating, water, light, internet,

mobile connections. we are expecting a very difficult future. but regardless of this, 73% of ukrainians say we will endure this war as long as it takes. we will not give up our freedom. anchor: so much is said precisely about that incredible resilience of the ukrainian people. how are people coping now as the war has stretched into a third-year? >> we try to help each other. it is very difficult during a large-scale war. it is total uncertainty. you cannot just plan your day. you cannot plan your next several hours. you have no idea when the next russian air attack will start. you live in the atmosphere of constant fear about your beloved ones. and you can cope with all of this only with helping each other.

for these two years of large-scale war we have seen a huge fight of solidarity across the country. ordinary people doing extraordinary things. i don't know what will be in the future. i'm just sure freedom will prevail sooner or later. but i'm confident that we will be in the history, people who went through this dramatic times with dignity. anchor: thank you so much for the conversation today. >> thank you very much. anchor: a full panel of 12 jurors and six alternates has been seated in donald trump hush money trial. the jury of seven men and five women will consider evidence in the first of its kind trial to determine if mr. trump covered up payment to adult film actress stormy daniels to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she says they had. mr. trump denies any affair. outside the courthouse shortly after the jury was selected, a

man set himself on fire. the police say the man threw conspiracy based pamphlets into the air before setting himself alight. authorities have now identify the man as a florida resident and he is alive in the hospital but in critical condition. officials don't believe he was targeting any person or group. the biggest election in the world is underway in india, with millions lining up to vote despite very high temperatures. almost a billion people are eligible to vote, roughly one in eight of the entire population of the world. more than 13 million indian citizens who live abroad can also cast ballots, but i will have to return to india and person to do so. although voting starts today it will take place in seven phases over the next six weeks with the result announced on june 4. india's prime minister is aiming for a rare third consecutive term in power. our correspondent reports. reporter: this is the line of men and women waiting to cast their vote.

we are in a rural part of the northern state. what is behind me as a school which for the day has been converted into a polling booth. inside the classrooms there are electronic voting machines. this is not a paper ballot. people go in, press a button, and that is how their vote is registered. some of these people have cast their vote. i'm just going to show you what happens after that. if you look at that, she has just cast her vote. that is the ink with which your finger is marked, a sign that you voted. this is 102 constituencies voting today, this is one of them. there are around 160 million people voting today, nearly 970 million people eligible to cast their vote. the prime minister and his party are seeking a third term in power.

dozens of opposition parties have banded together to take him on. we have been asking people the key issues on which are on their minds as they go into cast their vote. they have been talking about price rise, unemployment, a lot of people especially women have been talking about security, people have also been talking about democracy. anchor: finally, if you have a taylor swift fan in your household, you will know there is double excitement today about her new album. the tortured poet's department was released this morning, then just hours later she announced a second installment with another 15 tracks. speaking about her secret double album on instagram, swift said she had written so much tortured poetry in the past two years and wanted to share it all. swifties around the globe will be listening for her songs' hidden meanings. you can always find more on all of our days news on our website,

bbc.com/news. you can also had to social media, twitter, and instagram. thank you so much for watching "world news america." do stay with bbc. announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james. bdo. accountants and advisors. cunard is a proud supporter of public television. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ william: good evening. geoff bennett and i'm none the was are away. tonight, israel allegedly strikes back at iran retaliating for last week's