US destroys major bridge in Iran with retaliation strikes by Iran on Israel and Gulf

[0:00] Well, the U.S. and Israel have carried out widespread airstrikes across Iran just hours [0:05] after President Trump repeated the threat to bomb the country back to the Stone Ages. [0:11] A key bridge near Tehran was among the targets hit. Mr. Trump posted a video of its destruction, [0:17] urging Iran to agree a ceasefire deal before it's too late. [0:22] And 100 experts in international law have warned of serious violations by the U.S., [0:29] Israel and Iran in the war in the Middle East. They say that the initial attack was a clear [0:35] breach of the U.N. charter and also highlight the alarming language used by U.S. officials, [0:40] including President Trump. The experts also condemn Iran's actions both against its own people [0:46] and civilians across the Middle East. The White House says that the U.S. campaign [0:50] was making the region safer. Well, we're keeping an eye on the live shots across the skyline of [0:59] Jerusalem. [0:59] Where we have been witnessing a few strikes in the past few hours, a few plumes of stroke as [1:06] Iran continues its strikes. So let's bring in my colleague who is there, Yolande Nel, [1:11] our Middle East correspondent. Yolande, so we've had a few blasts over Jerusalem. Bring us up to [1:17] date. Well, in the early hours of the morning, there was an Iranian launch towards the center [1:26] of Israel. And we've heard that there has been quite extensive property [1:32] damage at different sites. It seems that this was a missile with a cluster warhead that was not [1:37] intercepted. But we're not hearing any reports of injuries as in relation to that, you know, [1:44] really showing that Iran still does have this capability to strike against Israel. But also [1:52] we've had reports from the Gulf in the past few hours of it striking its neighbors there as well, [1:59] with the Kuwaitis reporting a strike. [2:02] We've had reports of a strike on an oil refinery and several fires said to be in Kuwait that they're [2:09] dealing with at the moment as a result of that. And in the meantime, while those countries deal [2:17] with that, President Trump has issued quite a stark warning against Iran. Fill us in. [2:25] Yeah, so he's been putting up more posts on his Truth Social platform in recent hours. And he [2:31] has really said much more to follow, shared dramatic footage. [2:35] We've had reports from the Gulf of Iran that they're dealing with at the moment as a result of the strikes on the [2:39] B-1 suspension bridge, Iran's largest bridge that was hit by U.S. warplanes. The Iranian authorities [2:46] saying that there were picnickers in that area by the riverside. They'd gone there for the end of the [2:51] Persian New Year holidays and the eight people were killed and close to 100 people were injured. [2:57] Now, President Trump has also said in a separate post that, you know, there are strikes that could follow now on the [3:04] on energy infrastructure in Iran as well, something that he has threatened before. And we've also had [3:12] reports from Iran that there have been other sites, the Pasteur Healthcare Institute that has been [3:19] targeted, a centuries-old healthcare facility. The Iranian president, Massoud Poseshkian, [3:25] calling on international health organizations and doctors to respond to what he says is a crime [3:31] against humanity. And that goes back to the controversy [3:34] that you're referencing about civilian sites being used. Of course, what the Israelis and the [3:42] Americans are saying is that these are dual-use sites that are used by the Iranian military as [3:48] well as for civilians. I'm pointing out that Iran, too, has been targeting civilians or has fired [3:55] missiles at heavily populated residential areas when it has hit back in Israel and also has [4:02] targeted civilian areas in the Gulf. [4:04] Yolande, as always, thanks so much. Yolande Nel there, our Middle East correspondent joining us live from Jerusalem. [4:11] And as we focus on Jerusalem, I want to take you to the live images that are coming from Jerusalem's [4:19] Old City. So while we hear those blasts across Jerusalem, we are also witnessing a liturgy [4:28] in the Holy Sepulchre commemorating the Passion of Christ. It is, of course, Good Friday, a very [4:35] important day for Christians globally. The Passion of Christ referring to the final periods of Jesus's [4:43] life, the suffering that he experienced, the betrayal, the trial and, of course, the crucifixion. [4:51] Good Friday, a critical time for Christians around the world. But we're just showing you this [4:56] because this is the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. And this year, obviously, with the [5:05] backdrop of the U.S.-Israel-Iran War, Israel strictly limiting access to Jerusalem's Old City, [5:13] allowing only a small number of church leaders and local, what they describe as vetted worshipers, [5:20] into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and that liturgy now taking place. [5:30] So let's also cross over to my colleague in Lebanon, in Beirut, its capital, Lina Sinjarb, joining us live. [5:37] Lina, we were hearing about those blasts across Jerusalem. Bring us up to date what's happening [5:43] in Lebanon, where, of course, we know that Israel continues its strikes across the country. [5:52] Well, just as we were talking a few minutes ago, there was a new warning that was issued [5:58] by the Israeli spokesperson for evacuation to several areas, several neighborhoods in [6:06] the south of Beirut. So we're expecting an airstrike, an attack, [6:10] any time soon. Usually, these evacuation orders give up to 30 minutes for people to leave the [6:18] areas or stay in distance from these areas to minimize any human casualties or civilian [6:26] casualties. But in the south, it's a different situation. Airstrikes are continuing from both [6:33] sides. Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into northern Israel, and Israel is continuing with its [6:39] advancement plan in Jerusalem. [6:40] Lina Sinjarb, Israeli spokesperson for evacuation to Israel. [6:40] Lina Sinjarb, Israeli spokesperson for evacuation to Israel. [6:40] Lina Sinjarb, Israeli spokesperson for evacuation to Israel. [6:40] Lina Sinjarb, Israeli spokesperson for evacuation to Israel. [6:41] There's a new warning that's been issued about these attacks in the south of Lebanon. [6:42] While many civilians, tens of thousands of civilians, refuse to leave, and as it is Good [6:48] Friday as well, there are several Christian villages that are trapped in the south. And we've [6:54] heard them saying they're going to stay even if they need to eat the grass. Yesterday was one month [7:03] since this war started on Lebanon. The prime minister, Nawaf Salam, addressed, met with the [7:10] Cabinet. [7:10] addressed a journalist after the cabinet's, you know, talking about the realities today [7:16] condemning Israeli's expansion and saying that this, you know, violates the country's [7:22] sovereignty and territorial integrity and that it's going to leave this country in a [7:29] long, prolonged displacement crisis and a fear from occupation calling and stressing [7:36] on the international community and stressing the importance of political and diplomatic [7:43] path to end this war. [7:46] But clearly, he doesn't have the power to stop Hezbollah from firing rockets and violating [7:52] what the government called on to keep the war decision in the government's hand. [7:57] Lina, as always, thank you so much. [7:59] Lina Sinjab in Beirut. [8:01] We're going to take a short break around the world across the UK. [8:04] You're with BBC News.