Ex-UK military chief says 'low level attrition' between US and Iran to continue

 

Former Commander of UK Joint Forces Command has been speaking to our colleagues on BBC Radio 4's Today programme about what the US strikes mean for regional tensions.

General Sir Richard Barrons notes that the US signalled that they would act, giving Iran "some time to remove its commanders from harm’s way".

Despite fresh action, he says that the fact both parties have made it clear they don't an escalation provides "something of a safety net".

"In circumstances where good will is as rare as unicorns, we are going to find that a low level of attrition continues," Barrons adds.

He says this is unlikely to change until the "strategic pattern is changed" - either by this year's American presidential election or by an improvement in the situation in Gaza.