Latest news with #StuartRamsay
Sky News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel-Iran live: 'Explosions heard' in Qatar after 'credible threat' by Iran against US base
Watch Q&A: Our experts answer your questions Presenter Jayne Secker has been putting your questions to our experts - international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay. Hundreds of you got in touch about the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at the weekend and the conflict in the Middle East. Ramsay has been in Iraq this week reporting on the crisis, while Waghorn was in Geneva last week covering talks between European leaders and Iran's foreign minister. Watch below as they answer your questions. Six missiles fired towards US bases in Qatar - report With explosions heard over Qatar moments ago, a report in the US suggests six missiles have been launched at the country. Axios, citing an Israeli official, reports Iran has targeted US bases in Qatar. The news site, along with the Wall Street Journal, had earlier reported Iran was preparing to fire missiles at the bases. Explosions heard over Qatari capital - report Reuters news agency is reporting a series of explosions over Doha, the capital of Qatar. As we've just been reporting - see the posts below this one - a "credible Iranian threat" has been observed on the country, which hosts a huge US air base. 'Credible Iranian threat' to US base in Qatar According to a Western diplomat, cited by Reuters news agency, there has been a credible threat against the al Udeid air base in Qatar since midday today. In addition, the Wall Street Journal reports Iran has positioned missile launchers for a potential attack on US forces. As we just posted below, the closure of Qatari airspace is extremely significant, coming within hours of the UK and US warning its citizens there to take shelter. This all comes after the US carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Donald Trump visited the al Udeid air base in May. Analysis: Qatar airspace closure 'extremely significant' - and signals a threat is real By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor Qatar's decision to close its airspace is extremely significant, following the US and UK advising its citizens there to shelter in place earlier today. Doha International Airport is a key global hub for international air travel and a symbol of Qatar's influence and prestige across the world. This would not be a decision taken lightly, and must be down to very specific intelligence about a direct threat to the country. Qatar is home to al Udeid Air Base, the biggest US military base in the Middle East, and around 8,000 troops are based there. Britain's RAF also has a presence there. The US has been waiting for Iran's response to its strikes on its nuclear sites, and if they are targeting al Udeid, this would be one of the more extreme options they could have chosen. If Iran does target al Udeid, and inflict any American casualties, that would surely provoke a huge US response and more risk of President Trump being further drawn into a longer confrontation. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, others will follow - UK foreign secretary The UK's foreign secretary has been speaking in Parliament this afternoon, answering questions around the Israel-Iran conflict. Responding to a question on the legality of any potential UK involvement, David Lammy warned Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. "We are in agreement that Iran and the regime in Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and all of our efforts are designed to ensure that that is the case," he said. "And the whole House [Parliament] will understand that this is not just about Iran, the region and global security - it is because we have to remain steadfast in our commitment to not see nuclear proliferation. "And if Iran got a nuclear weapon, clearly, there would be others in the region that would seek to follow." For context: Israeli leaders argued Iran could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat, while US intelligence and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessed Tehran was not actively pursuing a bomb. The IAEA had, though, declared that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years on 12 June. Israeli arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran - report Police in Israel have reportedly arrested a man on suspicion of spying for Iran. According to Ynet, a 27-year-old from Tel Aviv is being detained until Thursday for allegedly carrying out tasks for an Iranian official. Detectives found the suspect had been in contact with the official for several months, documenting homes of elected officials and military bases, the report added. The suspect is also accused of receiving thousands of dollars in virtual currencies for his tasks. Alleged spies have also been arrested in Iran since this conflict began. Earlier today, reports suggested Iran has executed a man convicted of collaborating with Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad - see our 6.49am post. Qatar shuts airspace temporarily after US and UK warnings We've reported today that both the US and UK have warned its citizens in Qatar to shelter in place. The US has said that warning is out of an "abundance of caution", and Qatar had said the advice doesn't reflect the situation. But the Qataris have now temporarily shut down its airspace, the foreign ministry has just confirmed. It added the move has been done to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. This comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the US after strikes on its nuclear sites. Explosions heard in southwest Iran Iranian media is reporting an explosion has been heard in the southwest. According to Fars news agency, air defences have been activated in the city of Ahvaz. UK confirms RAF flight has evacuated British citizens from Israel Foreign Secretary David Lammy has confirmed that an RAF flight evacuated British citizens from Israel to Cyprus today. Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, he says the group will be brought home "this evening", and more flights will follow. Lammy says a booking portal opened yesterday for those British citizens in Israel who want to leave. Going forward, he says those with the "greatest need" will be prioritised. The foreign secretary again urged people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to register their presence with the British embassy to receive the latest updates. Sky News understands that the UK's chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, was aboard the flight as he had been in Israel.
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel-Iran live: Qatar shuts airspace after US and UK warnings; watch live Q&A with Sky News experts
Iran has asked Russia's Vladimir Putin for help today, while vowing revenge against the US for its strikes on nuclear facilities at the weekend. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack Iran. Watch live as our experts answer your questions, and follow the latest on the conflict, below. 16:47:08 Watch live now: Our experts answer your questions Presenter Jayne Secker is putting your questions to our experts - international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay. Hundreds of you have been in touch about the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at the weekend and the conflict in the Middle East. Ramsay has been in Iraq this week reporting on the crisis, while Waghorn was in Geneva last week covering talks between European leaders and Iran's foreign minister. Watch live via the stream at the top of the page as they answer your questions for the next 30 minutes. 16:58:01 Israeli arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran - report Police in Israel have reportedly arrested a man on suspicion of spying for Iran. According to Ynet, a 27-year-old from Tel Aviv is being detained until Thursday for allegedly carrying out tasks for an Iranian official. Detectives found the suspect had been in contact with the official for several months, documenting homes of elected officials and military bases, the report added. The suspect is also accused of receiving thousands of dollars in virtual currencies for his tasks. Alleged spies have also been arrested in Iran since this conflict began. Earlier today, reports suggested Iran has executed a man convicted of collaborating with Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad - see our 6.49am post. 16:47:00 Qatar shuts airspace temporarily after US and UK warnings We've reported today that both the US and UK have warned its citizens in Qatar to shelter in place. The US has said that warning is out of an "abundance of caution", and Qatar had said the advice doesn't reflect the situation. But the Qataris have now temporarily shut down its airspace, the foreign ministry has just confirmed. It added the move has been done to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. This comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the US after strikes on its nuclear sites. 16:22:01 UK confirms RAF flight has evacuated British citizens from Israel Foreign Secretary David Lammy has confirmed that an RAF flight evacuated British citizens from Israel to Cyprus today. Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, he says the group will be brought home "this evening", and more flights will follow. Lammy says a booking portal opened yesterday for those British citizens in Israel who want to leave. Going forward, he says those with the "greatest need" will be prioritised. The foreign secretary again urged people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to register their presence with the British embassy to receive the latest updates. Sky News understands that the UK's chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, was aboard the flight as he had been in Israel. 16:08:22 UK follows US in telling citizens in Qatar to 'shelter in place' The UK's Foreign Office has followed the American example by telling British citizens in Qatar to "shelter in place". Earlier, the US issued the same warning to Americans in Qatar. Qatar's foreign ministry insisted the advice did not reflect the situation in the country. The Foreign Office said: "Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. "Follow instructions from local authorities." Further updates will be issued as the situation develops, the Foreign Office added. 15:55:01 Iran could attack American forces 'soon', sources tell Reuters The US believes Iran could carry out retaliatory attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon, two US officials have told Reuters. One of the officials said the attack could happen within the next day or two. But the sources also told Reuters that Washington was looking for a diplomatic resolution. Trump's intervention over the weekend has raised fears of an escalation in the region. While Trump repeatedly said on the presidential campaign trail last year that the US should not be involved in what he called "forever wars", over the weekend the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran. Trump then warned against retaliation by Iran, saying it would be "met with force far greater than what was witnessed" over the weekend. 15:42:54 IDF warns Tehran residents to 'stay away' from military areas The IDF has issued a warning to residents in Tehran, telling them to stay away from certain areas in the coming days. In a message on X, the IDF said Israel's army would "continue to strike military targets in the Tehran area". "For your safety, we ask you to stay away from weapons manufacturing plants, military headquarters, and security institutions affiliated with the regime," the IDF said in a statement. 15:38:31 Watch foreign secretary update MPs on Israel-Iran conflict David Lammy, the UK's foreign secretary, is updating MPs now on the Israel-Iran conflict. It comes following weekend strikes by the US on Iranian nuclear sites. You can watch and follow the speech via our Politics Hub - just click below. 15:36:01 US strikes on Iran 'did not violate international law', Rutte says Back to Mark Rutte, who has been taking questions from reporters ahead of the NATO summit. Asked about the US strikes on Iran over the weekend, he has said America did not violate international law. Trump said over the weekend that the strikes caused "monumental damage". However, the scale of the destruction is not yet clear.
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
What happens next after US strikes on Iran? Dominic Waghorn and Stuart Ramsay answer your questions
After the US strikes on Iran, what is likely to happen next? And how could the Iranian response affect the UK? Our experts, international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn and chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, are here to answer your questions
Sky News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Caught up in the crossfire: Reporting from an urban war zone
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Rampant gang violence has surged in Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, with authorities struggling to cope. Swathes of territory are under the control of rival armed gangs who carry out widespread murders, rapes and kidnappings. Our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and senior foreign producer Dominique van Heerden have been in Haiti, where they saw parents taking children to school approach a Port-au-Prince intersection as automatic gunfire burst from the turret of an armoured police vehicle. They join Niall Paterson to share their experience of being in Haiti, what it's like covering warzones, and what's next for the people of Haiti.
Sky News
20-05-2025
- Sky News
Haiti crisis: How did gangs take over country? Is it past point of no return? Watch Q&A with Stuart Ramsay
Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and senior foreign producer Dominique van Heerden have answered your questions after a reporting mission took them into the middle of Haiti's gang violence crisis. Catch up in the stream below.
