air attack

As concerns grew on Wednesday that Russia was preparing to launch a significant air attack in retaliation, the United States suspended operations at its embassy.

Under its revised nuclear doctrine, Moscow will now be able to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear countries that are backed by nuclear powers, and if it comes under “massive” air attack, too.

Separately, the US embassy in Kyiv said it had "received specific information of a potential significant air attack on 20 November".

Efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, with a US envoy expected to return to Lebanon for talks over a possible deal, amid an escalation of Israel’s air attacks across the country.

For them, a devastating air attack on Iran is a seductive prospect.