Alex Ritson

He doesn't want to put boots on the ground.

He made it clear that it would be up to the Iranian people to do that.

Remember, during the protests of last month, he called on them to take control of your institutions.

Well, the Iranians saw that when they take to the streets, that the security forces have lethal force, that they're able and willing to use

The death toll is in the many thousands.

It's still being counted.

There are still people, there are still families who don't know the fate of their loved ones.

So it is a very unpredictable and a very perilous time.

And this time, President Trump, unlike the lead up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, he didn't go to the

UN Security Council.

He didn't try to build a coalition in the region.

He is doing this just with Israel.

He seems to believe that right and history is on his side.

But we have seen no evidence that this preemptive attack described by Israel, that there was an imminent Iranian threat on Israel or on the United States.

So a new war has been unleashed.

And this morning in these early hours, no one can say with certainty

when and how it will end.

Lise Doucette talking to Samantha Simmons.

And that's all from us for now.

If you want to get in touch, you can email us at globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk.