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Sky News understands Sir Keir Starmer will chair a COBRA meeting this afternoon, following the situation in the Middle East.

The UK prime minister has landed back in London, after attending the G7 summit in Canada. 

COBRA - which stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A - is often called in times of emergency, such as civil unrest or flooding.

Earlier, we reported the families of diplomats in Israel had been withdrawn from the region (see our 10.07 post).

Concerns are also growing that Donald Trump may involve the US in action against Tehran.

Here are some of the latest pictures from Israel.

An Iranian missile attack has levelled homes in Rishon LeZion, in central Israel.

Crowds gathered outside to look at the damage.

By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent

Russia is getting nervous about Donald Trump鈥檚 trigger finger, and it shows.

The comments from Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov - warning the US against joining Israel鈥檚 military campaign - betray Moscow's growing unease that it could be about to lose its closest Middle Eastern ally.

Russia has strong ties with Iran, which have deepened since the Kremlin鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.

These were formalised in a strategic partnership pact that the two countries signed at the start of the year.

So at first, Russia seemed to view its ally's conflict with Israel as an opportunity to gain leverage. 

The Kremlin was quick to offer its services as a potential mediator. 

If Vladimir Putin could persuade Tehran to back down and return to nuclear talks with Washington, he'd potentially have a favour to cash in with the White House over its military support for Ukraine.

But the offers to mediate fell on deaf ears. 

A 'critical' situation for the Kremlin

And with Donald Trump threatening to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Moscow has switched to crisis mode - fearful of losing its second key regional ally in six months, after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

So, as well as Ryabkov, other senior figures have taken to the airwaves.

Russia鈥檚 spy chief Sergei Naryshkin called the situation "critical". 

And according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the world is "millimetres away from catastrophe" due to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Russia's peace push 'spectacle'

It's quite the spectacle - a country that's been waging war on its neighbour for more than three years is now urging others to show military restraint.

That's because US involvement poses serious consequences, not just for Iran, but for Russia too.

Donald Trump dismissed the words of his own national intelligence director yesterday, who said as recently as March that Iran is not building nuclear weapons. 

When Tulsi Gabbard's testimony to Congress was put to Trump, he responded: "I don't care."

But there is one thing the president likely will care about, our correspondent James Matthews points out, which may influence his thinking.

Speaking on the Trump 100 podcast, he said: "In the minds of many will be Iraq 2003.

"Weapons of mass destruction that, of course, turned out not to exist.

"To this day, that darkens the legacy of George W Bush - and that won't be lost on Donald Trump."

Listen to the full episode below...

Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News he is "worried" about escalation in the Middle East.

The British prime minister spoke to our political editor Beth Rigby yesterday.

Rigby breaks down her eight-minute chat with the prime minister, where Starmer admits: "I'm worried about escalation... I'm worried about escalation in the region."

His words come as Donald Trump is reportedly considering direct involvement.

Watch her full analysis below...

Israel says it has attacked 40 Iranian targets today.

These include, according to the IDF, missile infrastructure, storage sites and military operatives.

Russia warning to US

Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry has warned the US against wading into the conflict.

It went as far as to warn Washington against even considering such action and comes as Donald Trump is mulling his options in the Middle East.

Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, according to Russia's Interfax news agency, said: "This would be a step that would radically destabilise the entire situation."

In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service Sergei Naryshkin was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical.

Our military analyst Michael Clarke is in place and taking your questions on the Iran-Israel conflict.

He's with our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, and together they'll be breaking down what Iran's nuclear ambitions really are, and what regime change would actually look like.

Click on the link below to watch live and follow our updates...

The streets of Iran鈥檚 capital have been largely deserted today amid Israeli attacks.

Occasional cars and men on scooters sped by the closed shops and stores, after Donald Trump warned everyone should evacuate "immediately".

Israel, repeating a tactic employed frequently in Gaza, has also told residents in a southwestern part of Tehran to evacuate so it could strike military installations.

Combined, they have led to large numbers fleeing Tehran.

Iranian media has reported heavy traffic on roads leaving the capital, heading north. 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is giving remarks now, according to Iranian media.

The country's supreme leader has just said Israel has made a "huge mistake", promising they will be "punished".

He added people will not forget the blood of "martyrs" and the attack on their territory.

Mehr News Agency reported he "praised the steadfast, courageous, and timely behaviour of the Iranian nation".

He also warned "any US military intervention will undoubtedly cause irreparable damage", hitting out at "threatening and ridiculous statements" made by Donald Trump.

The US should know Iran will not surrender, he added.

It comes after Trump called for an "unconditional surrender" and reports he is considering a strike on Iran.

An Israeli drone has been shot down in Iran, the Israeli Defence Forces has said.

No injuries were reported after it was blown out the AG百家乐在线官网 by a surface-to-air missile, the force added.

Meanwhile, seven drones launched towards Israel from Iran were shot down in the occupied Golan Heights area this morning, according to the IDF.

Our Middle East correspondent Ali Bunkall explained earlier that the night had seen less fighting than before - see our 8.56 post.

Despite this, tit-for-tat strikes have continued.