18 Jan 2024

Fighting intensifies in Gaza, Hamas officials say

From Morning Report, 7:40 am on 18 January 2024

Now to the Middle East, where Iran has admitted carrying out a deadly strike in Pakistan.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said two children were killed and three others were injured in the missile and drone attack, which hit a village in the south-western border province of Balochistan.

Iranian state media says the strike targeted a sunni militant group in the province, but Pakistan called it a blatant breach of its sovereignty and has recalled its ambassador to Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, has accused Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza and said Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea would stop when Israel ceased its action in Gaza.

The U.S military this week said it seized Iranian weapons that were being transported by boat to Yemen for the Houthis and the U.S and UK has launched strikes against the rebel group.

For more on these developments, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to Morning Report.