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Traffic incidents

The following traffic incidents and congestion for M4 have been reported by Highways England, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales or Transport for London (TfL) in the last two hours:

M4 Roadworks

The following roadworks have been reported by various highways agencies and official transport sources.Click on a roadworks item to view more details on the traffic map.

The M4 is a motorway in the United Kingdom that connects London and South West England. It runs from London to South Wales and it is a crucial part of the English transport network.

The M4 was first proposed in 1927 and construction began in 1958. It was completed in 1971, running from London to Reading, Berkshire and later extending to South Wales.

The M4 is one of the major roads in the UK and a significant part of the economy. The M4 has been upgraded in certain sections and currently consists of 146 miles (235 km) of motorway.

The M4 is one of the safest motorways in the UK. According to the Department of Transport (DfT), the M4 had a collision rate of just 0.41 per million vehicle kilometres between 2017-2018. This is lower than the UK major-road average of 0.71.

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Get in touch with us or stay up to date with our latest news and updates.

Live Email Traffic Alerts

Get live email alerts whenever there is a traffic incident or roadworks on the M4 that may cause congestion or jams.

LEGAL NOTICE

Please remember that it is against the law to use your mobile phone, tablet or any electronic device without a hands-free kit whilst driving.If you're caught by the police using any device that can send or receive data whilst driving or riding a motorcyle you'll get an automatic fixed penalty notice, 6 points on your licence and a fine of £200.A court could also disqualify you from driving.

Elsewhere on the web:

Official source of traffic updates.

Transport for London's (TfL) portal for transportation in London.

The Welsh government's traffic information service for Wales.

Live traffic conditions and news for Scotland's road network.

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Latest live M4 traffic news

Live m4 traffic news and updates for m4 junctions, plus real time travel reports on delays, accidents, roadworks and snow.

The M4 is the main road running between London and South Wales, passing via Slough, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea along the way. Much like the rest of the UK’s road network, the M4 has its areas most likely to cause tail backs – primarily where it joins the M25 on the west of London and also where it meets the M5 near Bristol. Naturally, accidents, roadworks and other traffic issues cause delays, so it pays to be on top of your journey before you start your engine.

There used to be a toll road charge to cross the M4 Severn bridge that joins England and Wales, but after 52 years, the charge was scrapped on December 17th 2018.

Generally the majority of the M4 tends to stay relatively clear, but the 189-mile route can see extra congestion during rush hour and summer holidays. If you’re planning to use any section of the M4 motorway, this page will be a useful aid for travel alerts, live updates and an incident map for both westbound and eastbound lanes.

Scroll down to find live tweets on the latest traffic conditions on the M4.  

M4 live motorway cameras

If there is traffic disruption on the M4 you can keep up to date on any delays with live traffic cameras for the eastbound and westbound M4.

M4 weather report

Details of the latest weather warnings in the M5 area from the Met Office...

• Met Office South West weather report

The history of the M4 

The Ministry of Transport first proposed a new road from London to South Wales in the 1930s. Plans for the M4 as one of the first major post-war trunk roads were produced in 1956 and construction began in 1961. The Chiswick flyover, a short section of elevated dual-carriageway built to reduce the impact of traffic travelling between central London and the west, opened in 1959 and later became part of the new M4 route. The section from J18 to the west of Newport was opened in 1966, including the Severn Bridge, which is now part of the M48.

The English section of the motorway was completed in December 1971 when the 50-mile stretch between Maidenhead and Swindon was opened for public use. The Welsh section was finished in 1993, when the Briton Ferry bridge opened. The Second Severn Crossing opened in 1996, and motorways on either side of the river carried the M4 over the new crossing when construction was finally completed. 

•  M5 traffic: live news updates

M4 junctions

All of the M4 junctions on the southbound and northbound carriageways are detailed below... 

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London travel news LIVE: Updates as disruption hits rush-hour trains between Waterloo and Clapham Junction

LIVE – Updated at 08:45

Trains between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction are expected to be disrupted during the evening rush-hour until 6pm.

National Rail says all lines towards Clapham Junction are now open, following a fault on a train near Vauxhall.

But train services may still be cancelled, delayed or revised, with disruption predicted to continue until 6pm.

All suburban services from London Waterloo are not calling at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction and Earlsfield until further notice,” says National Rail.

Meanwhile passengers travelling from Waterloo or Vauxhall to Clapham Junction, are asked to use services for Reading and Windsor.

Follow latest updates below.

Severe delays on Elizabeth line

Severe delays between Paddington and Reading/Heathrow due to overhead line problems in the Ealing Broadway area.

Van fire closes A3 southbound

The Southbound A3 from South Lane to Tolworth Roundabout has been closed due to a van fire causing lengthy tailbacks.

Delays on Elizabeth line

Minor delays are being reported on the Elizabeth line by Transport for London between Paddington and Reading /Heathrow due to overhead line problems in the Ealing Broadway area.

M25 closures tonight

Drivers have been warned there will be closures on the M25 tonight.

National Highways Southeast said the road would be closed anti-clockwise from junction six to junction five and clockwise from junction seven to junction eight between 10pm and 5am Wednesday.

A five-mile section of the road in Surrey was closed last weekend.

Disruption hits trains between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction until 6pm

Trains between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction are expected to be disruption throughout the evening rush-hour, until 6pm.

Lines towards Clapham Junction blocked, disruption expected until 4pm

Due to a fault on a train between Vauxhall and Clapham Junction some lines towards Clapham Junction are blocked, says South Western Railway.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised, it warns. Disruption is expected until 4pm.

Fire alert at Notting Hill Gate caused by nearby bonfire

The London Fire Brigade has said it responded to reports of a smell of smoke at Notting Hill Gate Underground Station.

Firefighters conducted a search and found the smell was coming from a bonfire at a nearby property.

The Brigade was called at 12.07pm and the incident was over for firefighters at 12.52pm.

Firefighters from North Kensington fire station attended the scene.

Minor delays to Circle line

There are currently minor delays on the whole line due to an earlier fire alert at Notting Hill Gate.

Change to District line disruption

The District line was part suspended between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road - because of a fire alert at Notting Hill Gate.

It is now severely delayed.

Hammersmith and City Line delays now over

Earlier delays on the Hammersmith and City Line have now ended.

There are minor delays on the Piccadilly Line and DLR, while the District Line is part-suspended.

District Line part-suspended over fire alert

There is currently no District Line service between High Street Kensington and Edgware Road.

TfL says it is responding to a fire alert at Notting Hill Gate.

Minor delays on Hammersmith and City Line

We just reported that a good service had been restored to the Hammersmith and City Line, but TfL now says there are minor delays again due to “a member of staff taken ill on train earlier at Aldgate East”.

Hammersmith and City Line disruption now over

TfL says earlier severe delays on the Hammersmith and City Line are now over, and that a good service is now running across the line.

Euston trains delayed by 'animals on the railway'

Trains running between London Euston and Watford Junction in north-west London may be delayed by up to 15 minutes due to “animals on the railway” around Kensal Green, says TfL.

Minor delays on Central Line and DLR

Earlier severe delays on the Central Line have been downgraded by TfL to ‘minor’. They are affecting services between White City and Ealing Broadway/West Ruislip.

Minor delays are also still affecting the DLR between Stratford and Canary Wharf.

There is a good service on all other TfL lines.

Severe delays on Central Line westbound

There are severe delays westbound on the Central Line between Leytonstone and White City, says TfL.

This is due to a faulty train at Liverpool Street which is reportedly being repaired.

Elizabeth Line and Great Western Railway disruption now expected until 9.30am

Disruption to train services into London, caused by a signalling fault in the Taplow area, is now expected to last until 9.30am, says National Rail.

Services affected are:

• Elizabeth line between Reading and Abbey Wood
• Great Western Railway between Penzance / Paignton / Carmarthen / Weston-super-Mare / Worcester Shrub Hill / Oxford and London Paddington

District Line delays over, DLR delays continue

Delays on the District Line have now ended, says TfL, but minor delays on the DLR between Stratford and Canary Wharf continue.

District Lines delays downgraded to minor

Earlier severe delays on the District Line have been downgraded by TfL to ‘minor’.

The delays are affecting the stretch between Turnham Green and Ealing Broadway in both directions, and between Towel Hill and Earl’s Court westbound early.

One lane closed and traffic tailing back on M4 westbound

Traffic is tailing back on the M4 westbound, where one lane is closed due to a crash.

The congestion is affecting the M4 between junction 3 at the A312 The Parkway, for Hayes, and junction 4 for Heathrow and Uxbridge.

Elizabeth Line disruptions expected until 9am

Disruptions are expected to affect the Elizabeth Line right through rush-hour this morning.

A fault with the signalling system at Taplow means trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London, says National Rail.

As a result, Elizabeth line trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 15 minutes.

Delays hit commuters on DLR

Minor delays are affecting the DLR this morning, between Stratford and Canary Wharf.

This is due to a faulty train at Poplar, says TfL, which adds there is a good service on the rest of the line.

Severe delays on District Line

There are severe delays on a large stretch of the District Line this morning.

The delays are affecting the section between Earl's Court and Ealing Broadway/Richmond, and are due to an earlier signal failure at Turnham Green, says TfL.

Featured News

Welcome to our M4 traffic search page.

The traffic news and updates for the M4 motorway are updated by the minute during the day and overnight to help you find the latest M4 traffic news for today.

We feature M4 traffic news relevant to today, current M4 traffic reports and updates.

Information about M4 roadworks.

Information about the latest congestion on the M4 that could delay your journey down the M4 motorway.

M4 accidents, incidents and other delays.

Thank you for using M4Traffic.co.uk we do our best to feature the latest M4 motorway news to help you avoid the congestion and delays using the M4.

Come regularly to see our latest M4 updates!

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Travel updates

We want to get you the infor­ma­tion you need so you can plan your journey.

Travelling now?

Live traffic and incident information from Traffic England

Travel alerts (breaking news)

Updates on active major incidents that may impact your journey.

Travelling later?

Build your own traffic report about issues on our network that may impact your journey now or in the future.

Daily closure report

Advance notification of full closures on England’s network. Now filterable online (.XLS file still available for those that need it).

Abnormal loads

Application forms and guidance material useful when wishing to make an abnormal loads movement by road in England.

Motorway service access guides

The guides will help you plan where to stop for a break at any one of the 114 motorway service areas across England.

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Our social media channels give you important information about using our roads safely and help you see what is happening on our road network.

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We provide a range of mobile services designed to allow you to stay in touch with our latest information and traffic updates on the move.

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For traffic flow information please visit Traffic England

HELP! Please sign our petition to reinstate the live CCTV traffic camera feeds for the M4

As most of you will have already seen, back in December, National Highways, the government body who control and operate the CCTV cameras on the M4 (and the rest of England) restricted access to their feeds, freezing the images on that date and not allowing third parties like us to give you the access to the latest traffic images you previously enjoyed.

We've been working hard to get this access restored but have unfortunately met with nothing but bureaucratic red tape and a response of "no, because we said so" from National Highways.

Road users in Scotland and Wales don't have this problem; their government bodies put the needs of the public first and have created ways for third-party providers to build fast, helpful services, now used by thousands of UK motorists daily.

The more people that sign, the quicker this can be resolved, so please share!

We have been told by National Highways that the camera feeds for the M4 in England will be reinstated shortly. Please check back.

If the images are not updating, please check back later.

Enter a custom name for this camera if required, then click the route you wish to save it to.

Enter a custom name for this Bookmark, or just click save to keep it as it is.

Are you sure you wish to remove this camera from ALL routes? If you only wish to remove this camera from a specific route please Cancel, go to the Route in question and remove it from there.

Latest CCTV traffic image from camera #1282 on the M4 road.

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M4, A40 and A470 traffic updates as long delays hit roads

More than two million holidaymakers will head overseas this weekend, amid warnings of traffic jams and delays at ports

• Updated 19:21, 21 JUL 2023

Road users saw high levels of traffic on Friday at the start of the summer holidays. With the majority of schools in England and Wales breaking up for the summer, it had been predicted there would be a surge in holidays between Friday and Monday.

On Friday afternoon, there were delays of up to 40 minutes on part of the M4 in south Wales and heavy congestion across the Prince of Wales bridge on the M5 heading towards Devon and Cornwall.

More than two million holidaymakers will head overseas this weekend, amid warnings of traffic jams and delays at ports. Airports will see hundreds of thousands of passengers, traffic is likely to be disrupted by downpours, and train strikes are due to take place on Saturday.

On Twitter, Traffic Wales South has warned motorists to plan ahead and to leave earlier or later to avoid the congestion. Follow our live updates on travel news below:

Congestion has eased

Traffic has eased around the main problem areas.

Heavy traffic starting to ease

Congestion is easing on the M4 with delays westbound at the Brynglas Tunnels down from 40 minutes to 10 minutes.

Latest congestion update

Latest congestion update from Traffic Wales South.

• M4 westbound now from junction 23A Magor to junction 26 Malpas.
• M4 eastbound from junction 29 Castleton to junction 27 High Cross - now clear.
• A465 eastbound at Dowlais Top.
• A465 westbound, Cefn Coed.

Delays on the M5 too

It is not just in Wales where there are delays. Over the bridge there is heavy congestion on the M4.

The latest from Highways England shows:

M5 - SOMERSET - NORTHBOUND

Long delays due to holiday traffic on M5 Northbound from J25 A358 (Taunton) to J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way ( Clevedon ). Traffic in patches.

M5 - SOMERSET - SOUTHBOUND - BRISTOL

Long delays due to holiday traffic on M5 Southbound from J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead) to J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way ( Clevedon ).

Long delays in the Mumbles

Holiday traffic and roadworks mean long delays in the Mumbles this afternoon.

It is particularly bad northbound on the A4067 Mumbles Road at the Woodman Pub. Congestion to Mumbles. In the roadworks area.

The current congestion points in south Wales

Latest congestion update from Traffic Wales:

• M4 westbound now from Prince of Wales Bridge to junction 26 Malpas.
• M4 eastbound, from junction 29 Castleton to junction 27 High Cross.
• A465 eastbound at Dowlais Top
• A465 westbound at Cefn Coed.

Busy around Cardiff this afternoon

Traffic maps are showing that traffic is very busy around Cardiff too.

Long queues heading west

The traffic cameras on the M4 are showing that traffic is queuing westbound from the Brynglas Tunnels back to the Prince of Wales Bridge.

This was at the former toll plaza.

This is at the Coldra

40-minute delays on the M4

Traffic monitoring system is showing that the delays at the M4 Brynglas Tunnels westbound is now 40 minutes.

The M5 heading towards Devon and Cornwall is also extremely busy.

A470 in Powys shut due to crash

A section of the A470 between Llandinam and Caersws in mid Wales is currently closed due to a crash, Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed.

ROAD CLOSED | The A470 between Llandinam and Caersws is currently closed due to a collision. If possible, please avoid the area and find an alternative route. Thanks pic.twitter.com/CrKNJzFmUs — Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Police (@DyfedPowys) July 21, 2023

Traffic cameras show congestion and tailbacks at different parts of M4

Camera images from Traffic Wales show traffic building on different sections of the M4 in south Wales:

Coldra West (Eastbound)

Magor West (Eastbound)

Caerleon East (Westbound)

J25 Caerleon (Eastbound)

Langstone (Westbound)

Queuing traffic between J27 and J30 of M4

According to traffic monitoring service Inrix: "Queuing traffic due to holiday traffic on M4 Eastbound from J30 A4232 Pentwyn Link Road (Cardiff Gate) to J27 B4591 Glasllwch Crescent (Highcross)."

'Brace yourselves for increased traffic, longer journeys, and the occasional traffic jam' - Traffic Wales

The school summer holidays are in full swing, which means one thing: the roads are about to get a whole lot busier! Brace yourselves for increased traffic, longer journeys, and the occasional traffic jam. Remember to plan ahead, pack some snacks, and take a deep breathe. pic.twitter.com/AHL1yRk76x — Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) July 21, 2023

Fishguard to Rosslare ferry service suspended

The Fishguard to Rosslare ferry service has been suspended until further notice due to "operational reasons".

A statement from Stena Line, which operates the service, said no sailing will take place between both ports on Friday and Saturday. The company said:

Due to operational reasons, sailings of the Stena Nordica have been temporarily suspended until further notice. Passengers will be offered alternative Stena Line sailings, or transferred to Irish Ferries sailings from Pembroke Dock, SA72 6TW (0245hrs and 1445hrs). If you're happy to transfer to Irish Ferries, there is no need to contact us as your booking will be automatically transferred. Stena Line apologise for any inconvenience caused.

More than 12m to make getaway trips by car this weekend along - RAC

According to the RAC, drivers are set to make an estimated 12.6m getaway trips by car this coming weekend, a figure that exceeds the average annual exodus before the pandemic.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said:

There’s no doubting the UK remains an ever-popular holiday destination with millions of drivers expected to take to the roads at the end of this week as schools in England and Wales close for summer. With the West Country leading the pack when it comes to the most popular part of the country to visit, it means routes heading south and west are likely to encounter some of the longest queues. Anyone using the M5 southbound from Bristol should anticipate bumper-to-bumper traffic, with those travelling outside peak periods most likely to have a better journey. We’re seeing an enormous increase in breakdowns this year as drivers dependent on their vehicles for leisure and work contend with cripplingly high prices, leading to some scrimping on car maintenance as a result. It’s for this reason we’re urging drivers to take action to avoid a summer surge of breakdowns.

More congestion on roads in south Wales

Congestion | 12:53 #M4 travelling Westbound J24 Coldra to J26 Malpas. #M4 travelling Eastbound, J29 Castleton to J27 High Cross. #A449 travelling Northbound from #M4 J24 Coldra to Coed-y-caerau. #A465 travelling Eastbound, Dowlais Top. https://t.co/8rPvCyirTK — Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) July 21, 2023

Family 'devastated and traumatised' after death of woman in M4 crash near Prince of Wales Bridge

A family says they are “incredibly devastated and traumatised” after the death of a 58-year-old woman in a car crash on the M4 near the Prince of Wales Bridge earlier this week. Police and paramedics were called to the scene of a serious crash on the eastbound side of the motorway between junctions 22 and 21 during the early hours of Monday morning (July 17).

Two cars were involved in the collision and both left the carriageway, resulting in several casualties. Avon and Somerset Police, Gwent Police and the National Police Air Service were all in attendance as a section of the motorway was closed for 17 hours.

Two woman died from injuries sustained in the crash, one of whom has been named as 58-year-old Saado Hussein. Her family said:

We are incredibly devastated and traumatised by the tragic events that occurred earlier this week. We are grateful for the support of our family and friends, including the wider Bristol community at this difficult time.

Mrs Hussein and the other victim, who was in her 60s, were both from Bristol.

Congestion builds heading out of Carmarthen

The below image shows traffic building near the B&Q roundabout in Carmarthen.

Further delays between junctions 30 and 26

#M4 : Eastbound : J30 Cardiff Gate to J26 Malpas : Congestion : Delays possible : #TrafficWalesAlert — Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) July 21, 2023

Congestion between junctions 27 and 29 of M4

Traffic Wales is recommending motorists allow additional travel time as there is congestion on the eastbound side of the motorway between junctions 27 and 29.

Congestion | 11:10 #M4 travelling Eastbound, J29 Castleton to J27 High Cross. Plan ahead and allow additional travel time. pic.twitter.com/f4XGRkAxcG — Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) July 21, 2023

Traffic returned to normal at M4 near Newport

Traffic has returned to normal on the eastbound stretch of the M4 at J27, following earlier congestion.

Man taken to hospital after A40 crash

A man has been taken to hospital after a crash between a car and a motorcycle which closed a main road in west Wales for several hours. The collision happened shortly after 5pm on Thursday on the A40 near Llanddewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire. The road was closed for more than for hours, reopening at around 9.30pm.

The Welsh Ambulance Service sent three vehicles to the scene of the crash, and one man - who was riding the motorcycle - was taken to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen for treatment. The severity of any injuries sustained is not known.

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said:

We were called to a collision involving a car and motorcycle on the A40 Penblewin to Llanddewi Velfrey at shortly before 5.10pm yesterday (July 20). The motorcyclist was taken to hospital by ambulance. The road was cleared by 9.30pm.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said:

We were called yesterday at around 5.08pm to reports of a road traffic collision on the A40 near Llanddewi Velfrey. We sent one emergency ambulance and two rapid response cars to the scene. One patient was transported to Glangwili Hospital for further treatment.

No major problems on M4

Most of the M4 in south Wales is moving freely at the moment, with no major incidents to report.

The below pictures was taken between J35 and J34 at 9.20am.

Both lanes reopened on M4 at J48

Traffic is easing around junction 48 of the M4 at Hendy. One lane of the westbound side was closed earlier due to a crash.

All lanes are now open.

Busy traffic expected later today

Traffic Wales has issued a breakdown of peak traffic times at different points in south Wales throughout Friday.

They say the M4 at Coryton will be busiest between 11am and 5pm, the A40 around Carmarthen will be busiest between 3pm and 5pm, the peak time for the A470 at Pontypridd will also be between 3pm and 5pm, and the M4 at Port Talbot is expected to be very busy between 10am and 2pm.

One lane of M4 closed at junction 48

There is queuing traffic on the westbound side of the M4 near junction 48 due to an accident.

According to traffic monitoring service Inrix: "One lane closed and queueing traffic due to an accident on M4 Westbound at J48 A4138 Pontardulais Road (Hendy/Llanelli). Lane one (of two) is closed."

Higher levels of traffic expected on Friday due to start of summer holidays

We are expecting higher levels of traffic on Friday due to the start of the summer holidays and the fine weather. This year, plan ahead leave earlier or later to avoid the congestion. These are the busiest times and places last year pic.twitter.com/q08omMAt9b — Traffic Wales South (@TrafficWalesS) July 18, 2023

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• Most Recent

M4 accident live: Updates after coach and car crash near to Heathrow Airport causes miles of traffic

There are long delays after an earlier collision which has closed three lanes along the motorway, a man in his 50's has been rushed to hospital

• Updated 17:44, 4 AUG 2022

A serious collision has closed three lanes along the M4 close to Heathrow Airport. A coach and car have crashed, causing queues which stretch back to Ealing. One man in his 50's has been rushed to hospital following the collision.

The collision happened at around 11.10am today (Thursday, August 4) and initially closed all four lanes along the M4 Westbound, Junction 4. The crash happened close to the turn off for Heathrow/Uxbridge.

One lane was re-opened at 11.45am as emergency services attend the scene. Currently, the man in his 50's is the only person who has been injured.

A Metropolitan Spokesperson said: "Police were called at 10:53hrs on Thursday, 4 August to reports of a collision on the M4 near Junction 4. Officers and London Ambulance Service [LAS] attended. At the scene a car had been in collision with a coach.

"A male aged 50s, who had been travelling in the car, was taken by LAS to a west London hospital. We await an update on his condition. The westbound carriageway was closed to traffic after Junction three.

"Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue. Anyone who witnessed this collision or has dash-cam footage should call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 2687/4AUG."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.56am today (4 August) to reports of a road traffic collision on the M4.

“We sent a number of resources to the scene including two ambulance crews, medics in two fast response cars, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART). We treated a man at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.”

Traffic update website, Inrix, said: "Three lanes closed, long delays and queueing traffic for two miles due to accident, a coach and a car involved on M4 Westbound at J4 (Heathrow / Uxbridge). Congestion to Heston Services before J3 (Hayes), and on the A312 either side. After a crash at 11:10. All stopped until 11:45, when lane four (of four) reopened."

Follow below for live updates.

• Man rushed to hospital after crash 13:19

All lanes now open but congestion remains

All lanes have now re-opened following the collision at around 11.10am today (Thursday, August 4).

Initially all four lanes along the M4 Westbound, Junction 4 were closed.

Three lanes have been closed for five hours whilst recovery work was ongoing.

Now, all lanes have re-opened but congestion is still tailing back around three miles to Brentford.

A man in his 50s has been taken to hospital following the crash.

Travel time increases as barrier repairs need to be carried out

Travel time past the earlier accident on the M4 has increased to 45 minutes.

A car and a coach were involved in a collision along the M4 Westbound, close to J4, Heathrow/Uxbridge.

The coach has been recovered but the car remains in the slip road. A man in his 50s was taken to hospital after the crash.

Barrier repairs are needed to the hard shoulder. It is not yet clear how long this will take.

Coach recovered but car still on road with no change to delays

The coach involved in the earlier crash has been recovered but the car is still on the motorway's slip road.

One lane of four is open along the M4 near J4, close to Heathrow/Uxbridge.

There is no change in traffic as congestion is still building up all the way back to Brentford.

It is expected to take 30 minutes to bypass the accident.

A man in his 50s has been taken to hospital.

No change in delays as three lanes still closed

There has been no change in congestion and queues following an earlier crash on the M4.

Only one lane of four is open and Inrix is expecting that it will take 30 minutes to get past the incident.

The collision happened at around 11.10am today (Thursday, August 4) and initially closed all four lanes along the M4 westbound, Junction 4.

The crash happened close to the turn off for Heathrow/Uxbridge.

Man rushed to hospital after crash

One man in his 50s has been taken to hospital following this morning's collision.

It is thought that the man was driving a car which then collided with a coach, on the M4, close to J4.

Currently, the man is the only person who has been injured.

"A male, aged 50s, who had been travelling in the car, was taken by LAS to a west London hospital. We await an update on his condition. The westbound carriageway was closed to traffic after Junction three.

One man rushed to hospital following crash

One man has been rushed to hospital following this morning's crash in West London.

At 11.10am a car and a coach are thought to have collided along the M4, J4, close to Heathrow Airport.

The London Ambulance Service sent four veichles to the scene and took a man to the major trauma centre.

A spokesperson from the LAS said: "A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.56am today (4 August) to reports of a road traffic collision on the M4.

“We sent a number of resources to the scene including two ambulance crews, medics in two fast response cars, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).

“We treated a man at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre.”

Travel time extended with emergency services still on scene

Congestion is increasing as emergency services deal with the incident.

Inrix travel updates have said that the time to pass the accident, near J4 Westbound, has increased to 30 minutes.

This was 25 minutes at 12.30pm. A coach and a car are thought to be involved in the accident close to Heatrhow Airport.

MyLondon await updates from emergency services.

Where the crash happened

The crash happened along the M4, close to J4, at the exit for Heathrow/Uxbridge.

A car and a coach are thought to be involved in the collision which has closed three lanes of the motorway.

Queues are extending for six miles on the westbound side of the motorway after the crash at 11.10am. Injuries are currently unknown.

What we know

• Three lanes are closed along the M4 westbound following an earlier crash.
• A car and coach are thought to have collided at around 11.10am this morning.
• The accident happened close to J4 (Heathrow/Uxbridge).
• Four lanes were closed but one has now opened follwoing the crash.
• There are delays of up to six miles which tail back along the motorway to Ealing.
• MyLondon has contacted emergency services for an update.
• Heathrow Airport
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M4 motorway

Last updated by National Highways on 16/04/2024 12:00

M1 northbound between J34 and J35 (Sheffield / Rotherham) • Broken down vehicle

M6 southbound between j19 (tabley interchange) and j18 (middlewich / holmes chapel) • broken down vehicle, m23 j9 northbound exit (before fast slip) (horley / gatwick airport) • broken down vehicle.

M180 westbound between J1 and M18 (Hatfield) • Congestion

Last updated by TWMC on 16/04/2024 12:00

No current traffic alerts for Wales

Last updated by TSCC on 16/04/2024 12:00

No current traffic alerts for Scotland

Traffic for england, scotland and wales.

Traffic alerts, news and travel information for all motorways and trunk roads are provided by National Highways, Traffic Wales Management Centre and Traffic Scotland Control Centre. They are updated every five minutes. The information detailed above is for unscheduled priority incidents only.

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M6 southbound between j19 and j18 | southbound | broken down vehicle | cheshire west and chester.

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M180 westbound between j1 and m18 | westbound | congestion | doncaster district, a12 southbound between a134 and a133 | southbound | congestion | essex, m1 northbound between j34 and j35 | northbound | broken down vehicle | sheffield district, m23 j9 northbound exit (before fast slip) | northbound | broken down vehicle | west sussex.

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M4 : Eastbound : J45 Ynysforgan : Maintenance work : Exit slip road closed : 02/04/24-19/04/24 2000-0600 :

A470 : Both directions : Cefn coed : A4054 Junction : Road closed : Local diversions in place 22/04/24-27/04/24 2000-0600 :

A483 : both directions : broad street: builth wells : 15/04/24-20/04/24 : 2200-0600 : maintenance work : road closed : local diversions in place, a483 : both directions : high street: builth wells : 15/04/24-20/04/24 : 2200-0600 : maintenance work : road closed : local diversions in place, m4 : both directions : j23 rogiet to prince of wales bridge : maintenance work : eastbound : road closed : westbound : 1 lane closed : 15/04/24-17/04/24 2100-0600 :, a40 : northbound : raglan to gibraltar tunnels : resurfacing work : road closed : entry slip road closed : 15/04/24-20/04/24 2000-0600 :, m48 : westbound : j1 aust to j4 m4 j23 rogiet : maintenance work : exit slip road closed : 15/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, m4 : eastbound : j47 penllergaer to j46 llangyfelach : maintenance work : road closed : 15/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, m4 : westbound : j30 cardiff gate to j32 coryton : maintenance work : entry slip road closed : 16/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, m4 : westbound : j30 cardiff gate to j32 coryton : maintenance work : road closed : 16/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, a470 : southbound : upper boat : maintenance work : exit slip road closed : 16/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, m4 : westbound : j38 margam to j43 llandarcy : maintenance work : entry slip road closed : 16/04/24-19/04/24 2000-0600 :, a465 : both directions : cefn coed to dowlais top : improvement work : road closed : diversions in place via a4060 and a470 : 18/04/24-19/04/24 2000-0600 :, a465 : both directions : cefn coed to dowlais top : improvement work : road closed : diversions in place via a4060 and a470 : 17/04/24-18/04/24 2000-0600 :, m4 : westbound : j38 margam to j43 llandarcy : maintenance work : entry slip road closed : 14/04/24-17/04/24 2000-0600 :, a55 : both directions : j17 conwy morfa to j16 puffin roundabout : tunnel closed : contraflow : width limit 3.25m : 08/04/24-23/04/24 1900-0600 :, a5 : both directions : menai suspension bridge : improvement works : weight limit 7.5 tonnes : : 02/01/24-01/09/25 :, a470 : now clear : southbound : nantgarw to coryton.

M4 : Now clear : Eastbound : J28 Tredegar Park to J26 Malpas

M4 : now clear : eastbound : j33 capel llanilltern, a4232 : now clear : northbound : a48 interchange to m4 j33 capel llanilltern, m4 : now clear : eastbound : j34 miskin to j33 capel llanilltern, a4232 : now clear : southbound : m4 j33 capel llanilltern to a48 interchange, a470 : now clear : northbound : nantgarw, m4 : now clear : eastbound : j44 lon las to j43 llandarcy, live travel news for scotland..

Information is supplied direct by Traffic Scotland.

J16 M8 J17 Great Western Rd (East) Queue | Scotland Live Traffic Updates

J2 M77 J01 Dumbreck (South) Queue | Scotland Live Traffic Updates

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• M25 | Kent | Carriageway Closure | Long Delays 60 minutes 16th April 2024 Region: South East Road Affected: M25 Description of incident: The M25 in Surrey is closed clockwise between J5 (A21, Chipstead) and J6 (Godstone) due to a collision involving two cars and a lorry. Incident updated: 16/04/2024 03:36:54 AM Traffic delay information supplied by Highways England, for further details please see here: incident details. The latest… Read more : M25 | Kent | Carriageway Closure | Long Delays 60 minutes

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Live: M5 lane closed due to emergency repairs

It is not known how long the southbound lane will be closed for

• Updated 12:09, 14 APR 2024

A lane has been closed on the M5 to enable emergency repairs to be carried out. The closure is on the southbound carriageway from Junction 27 A361 (Tiverton) to Junction 28 A373 Honiton Road (Cullompton/ service area).

According to news alert service Inrix, traffic has been coping well. It is not known why the road repairs are required or how long they will take.

We'll bring you the latest on the M5 in the blog below.

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Usual slow traffic on Alphington Road at the Seven Stars Traffic Lights. Travel time is ten minutes.

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Traffic coping well.

One lane closed due to emergency repairs on M5 Southbound from J27 A361 ( Tiverton ) to J28 A373 Honiton Road ( Cullompton / Service Area). Traffic is coping well.

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Advertisement

The U.S. issues new travel guidelines, warning that Iran will avenge the killings of senior commanders.

The State Department has barred its employees from traveling to large parts of Israel. Iran has repeatedly vowed to strike back over the deadly bombing this month of an Iranian Embassy complex in Syria.

• Share full article

By Liam Stack and Eric Schmitt

• April 12, 2024

Several countries including the United States have issued new travel guidelines for Israel and the surrounding region, as the Israeli military said its forces were “highly alert” for a possible Iranian strike in retaliation for the killings of several commanders.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to strike back at Israel over the bombing of an Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, this month that killed three generals and four other military officers. An American official said on Friday that Washington expects an attack by Iran against Israel that would be bigger than recent attacks in the long shadow war between the two countries, but not so big that it would draw the United States into war. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday barred its employees from traveling to large parts of Israel, the first time the U.S. government had restricted the movement of its employees in this way since the war in Gaza began more than six months ago.

On Thursday, Britain told its citizens that they “should consider leaving” Israel and the Palestinian territories “if it is safe to do so.” On Friday, India told its citizens “not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice,” while France advised people not to travel to Israel, Iran or Lebanon and evacuated the families of French diplomats from Iran.

Asked about the U.S. travel warning , Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, said at a news briefing Thursday: “We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days.” He declined to provide details about any specific information that prompted the warning.

The new guidelines bar U.S. government employees and their families from traveling to locations outside the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba metropolitan areas “out of an abundance of caution” until further notice. The State Department said U.S. personnel could move among those areas for personal travel.

The top American military commander for the Middle East, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, traveled to Israel to coordinate a response to possible Iranian retaliation, U.S. officials said.

“Our enemies think that they will divide Israel and the United States,” the Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said in a statement on Friday after meeting with General Kurilla. “They are connecting us and are strengthening the relationship between us.”

If Iran attacks, he added, “we will know how to respond.”

On Thursday, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that the armed forces were “highly alert and prepared” for any action Iran might take, even as the timing and scale of any response remained unclear. Analysts say that Tehran, which has long used a network of proxy forces to project power across the Middle East, wants to avoid igniting a full-fledged war that could drag in the United States and threaten the survival of Iran’s regime.

“For years, and even more so during the war, Iran has been financing, directing and arming its proxies — in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Yemen — to attack the state of Israel,” he said. “An attack from Iranian territory would be clear evidence of Iran’s intentions to escalate the Middle East and stop hiding behind the proxies.”

Liam Stack is a Times reporter covering the Israel-Hamas war from Jerusalem. More about Liam Stack

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

Within moments of Israel and its allies shooting down a fusillade of Iranian missiles and drones, many began wondering what the exchange would mean for the war in Gaza. Military analysts were divided .

The disappearance and death of an Israeli teenager, whose body was found in the West Bank , spurred deadly rioting by Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages, ratcheting up tensions  even further in the occupied territory.

For months, Western governments have sent weapons to Israel while fending off accusations of abetting war crimes in Gaza. But as an outcry over the civilian death toll mounts, maintaining that balance is becoming increasingly difficult .

Mobilizing the American Left: As the death toll in Gaza climbed, the pro-Palestinian movement grew into a powerful, if disjointed, political force in the United States . Democrats are feeling the pressure.

Riding Rage Over Israel: Jackson Hinkle’s incendiary commentary  has generated over two million new followers on X since October — a surge that some researchers say is aided by inauthentic accounts by the online celebrity.

Psychedelics and Trauma: Thousands of festival-goers were using mind-altering substances when Hamas-led fighters attacked on Oct 7. Now, scientists are studying the effects of such drugs at a moment of trauma .

Turmoil at J Street: The war in Gaza has raised serious concerns within the Jewish political advocacy group about its ability to hold a middle position  without being pulled apart by forces on the right and the left.

U.S. restricts travel for Israel staff as Iran attack fears rise

The United States has restricted travel for its staff in Israel , as fears grow of an imminent retaliatory attack by Iran .

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert Thursday restricting its employees and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice “out of an abundance of caution.”

The warning comes as Israel’s military vowed it would defend the country and respond, with expectations mounting that Tehran will soon strike back for the attack on its embassy in Syria that killed a number of senior commanders. The exchanges have raised fears that the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the Gaza Strip could escalate into a wider conflict.

Israel never claimed responsibility for the airstrike on its rival’s consulate in Damascus, but Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said earlier this week that Israel “must be punished and it shall be,” for what he considered an effective attack on Iranian soil.

The U.S. has promised support for its ally in the face of Iranian threats and worked to persuade Tehran to avoid significant escalation, but Israel has signaled its readiness for whatever retribution may be coming.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that a direct Iranian attack will require “an appropriate Israeli response” against Iran, while an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that the country was “alert and highly prepared” for a variety of scenarios.

“Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Thursday as he visited an air base. “We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the state of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he added.

The growing tensions in the Middle East come as Palestinians in Gaza marked somber Eid celebrations this week amid severe food shortages despite Israeli promises to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that famine in Gaza was “imminent,” after USAID Administrator Samantha Power said a day earlier that it was “credible” to assess that famine had already begun in the territory.

More than 33,600 people have now been killed in Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, in the six months of war since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed an estimated 1,200 people.

The militant group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Hamas was still seeking a cease-fire deal despite the deaths of his three sons in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this week, but talks to secure a truce and the release of remaining hostages remain deadlocked .

It remained unclear whether Iran’s retaliation would come in the form of a direct attack or through some of the web of Tehran-backed groups that have already waged attacks from Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen in recent months.

Tehran has so far avoided direct confrontation with Israel or Washington. But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that “legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor” was a necessity in the wake of the consulate strike, accusing Israel of targeting diplomatic premises in violation of international law, according to Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.

The Pentagon said Thursday that top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, had moved up his trip to Israel so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.”

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack on Israel,” and that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies remained “ironclad” despite growing criticism from Washington of its ally’s actions in Gaza.

The White House also said Thursday that the U.S. has communicated to Iran that it had no involvement in the strike in Damascus, and warned Iran not to use this attack as a pretext to escalate further in the region, or to attack U.S. facilities or personnel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held telephone conversations with his Chinese, Turkish and Saudi counterparts “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest” and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate.

“We have also engaged with European allies and partners over the past few days and urged them as well to send a clear message to Iran that escalation is not in Iran’s interest, it’s not in the region’s interest, and it’s not in the world’s interest,” spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday .

British Foreign Minister David Cameron said he had made it clear to his Iranian counterpart that the Islamic Republic must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.

“I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence,” Cameron said on X .

France warned its citizens Friday to “imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.” German airline Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines, the only two Western carriers flying into Tehran, extended a suspension of flights to the Iranian capital.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

• International

April 12, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lau, Sana Noor Haq, Adrienne Vogt , Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

USAID worker killed in Israel, agency says

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

A staff member with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) died Friday in the Israeli port city of Jaffa, the agency announced.

The male staffer was with USAID’s West Bank and Gaza mission, the agency said in a brief statement.

USAID did not provide details on the circumstances around his death or his identity or citizenship.

“He was a dedicated member of our team for more than two decades, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues,” USAID said.

USAID is working with the US Embassy to work out details about the fatal incident and its follow-up investigation, it said.

US expects Iran to carry out direct strikes against targets inside Israel, sources say

From CNN's MJ Lee and Natasha Bertrand

The United States currently expects Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel and that Iranian proxies could also be involved in carrying out the attacks, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence.  

The targets would likely be both inside Israel and around the region.

The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region that the US has hoped to avoid.

US sees Iran moving military assets including drones and cruise missiles, sources say

From Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann

The US observed Iran moving military assets around internally, including drones and cruise missiles, signaling that it is possibly preparing to attack Israeli targets from inside its own territory, according to two people familiar with US intelligence. 

It is not clear whether Iran is preparing to strike from its soil as part of an initial attack, or if it is posturing to try to deter Israel or the US from conducting a possible counter strike on its territory. 

One of the people said the US had observed Iran readying as many as 100 cruise missiles.

Some context: The Iranians want their retaliatory strike on Israel — a response to the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate last week in Damascus — to be "significant," one of the people familiar with the intelligence said. But they also want to avoid getting embroiled in a direct war with Israel and the US, CNN has reported, which is why US intelligence has assessed that Iran may use its proxy forces to launch the first attack.

Israeli settlers storm village in West Bank and kill at least 1 Palestinian. Here's what you should know

From CNN staff

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars — and leaving at least one Palestinian dead — in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

The settlers attacked Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, according to Amin Abu-Alia, the head of the village council. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

Here are other headlines you should know:

• More Israeli attacks: An Israeli airstrike early Friday killed at least 29 people and injured dozens more after troops targeted a house belonging to the well-known Al-Tabatibi family in eastern Gaza City, according to a local health official. Israeli forces also surrounded and attacked the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, wounding several journalists and at least one other person. And in the occupied West Bank, troops killed two Hamas members in a raid on the city of Tubas, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
• Hezbollah-Israel clashes: Around 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Friday evening, according to the Israeli military. Some were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israeli warplanes also carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, the IDF said.
• Iranian threats: US President Joe Biden told reporters Friday he expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," with the White House adding that there is a "very credible" threat of Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel. Additionally, the US Defense Department is moving additional assets to the Middle East region, a defense official told CNN, as the US and Israel brace for the potential attack . Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Central Command Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla on Friday discussed preparations for the  potential attack .
• Warnings amid Iranian threats: France , Germany, Canada and the United States are among countries that are warning their citizens not to travel to the region due to the threat of an Iranian attack against Israel.
• Humanitarian aid: The Israeli military does not understand how humanitarian operations work, a top United Nations official said Friday, maintaining there is a "degree of mistrust" that needs to be resolved between the IDF and nongovernmental organizations on the ground in Gaza.
• Sanctions: The European Council has  adopted sanctions  against three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad entities , in light of "their responsibilities in the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks" that occurred across Israel on October 7. The US is also sanctioning four leaders of Hamas’ cyber and drone operations based in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Friday. 

US will attempt to intercept launches at Israel if feasible, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand

The US will attempt to intercept any weapons launched at Israel if it’s feasible to do so, two US officials told CNN, in an indication of the level of ongoing cooperation between the two militaries before an anticipated Iranian attack .

US Navy forces in the Red Sea have previously intercepted long-range missiles launched from the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel. US forces in Iraq and Syria could also potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they’re launched.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, has been in Israel meeting with the country’s security leadership. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with Kurilla.

There have been a number of conversations where US officials have urged Israel not to escalate the situation in retaliating against Iran, according to one of the US officials. 

Remember: An Iranian attack is expected in response to Israel’s deadly strike of Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week.

The Damascus attack was the latest incident to stoke fears of a wider regional conflict breaking out in the Middle East during Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held a slew of calls to foreign counterparts aimed at pressuring Iran not to attack Israel.

The top US diplomat spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday, according to a readout from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken also spoke with the Turkish, Chinese and Saudi foreign ministers in recent days, Miller said.

Israeli settlers kill at least 1 Palestinian while storming West Bank village

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem and CNN’s Benjamin Brown in London

Hundreds of armed Israeli settlers stormed a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting fire to several homes and cars in one of the largest attacks by settlers this year, according to Palestinian officials. 

At least one Palestinian man was killed when shots were fired by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, according to the head of the village council Amin Abu-Alia. He said he identified the killed Palestinian as his 26-year-old relative named Jihad Abu-Alia, who was meant to get married this summer.

At least 25 others were injured in the rampage, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the scale of which has not been seen since hundreds of settlers stormed through the villages of  Turmusayya  and  Huwara  in two separate incidents last year. 

Between 1,000 and 1,200 settlers surrounded the village, and around 500 stormed it just after midday local time on Friday, blocking all the roads in the area, Abu-Alia told CNN.

He added that Israeli security forces informed Palestinian officials that the settlers were looking for a 14-year-old Israeli boy who had gone missing earlier in the day.

They attacked the village, raided homes and fired gunshots at residents, Abu-Alia said. Videos obtained by CNN show parts of the village burning, with smoke billowing over several buildings and settlers lobbing rocks. Houses and cars are seen completely burnt up, with sounds of gunfire and clashes heard in the background.

According to Abu-Alia, the Israeli military arrived at the scene at around 3 p.m. and didn’t stop the settlers from attacking the village. Israeli soldiers allowed them to raid homes, prevented Palestinian residents from moving around and blocked ambulances from reaching the injured, he added.  

Abu-Alia told CNN settlers stole approximately 70 sheep from the Palestinian village.

In response to a question by CNN, the IDF said “violent riots were instigated in multiple locations in the area” following the search for the boy.

Israel says airstrikes targeted Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes on Friday, targeting "military buildings" used by Hezbollah fighters in parts of southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The areas include the Aita al-Shaab and the Taybeh in southern Lebanon, said Avichay Adraee, I DF spokesperson for Arab media,  in a post on X.

"During the day, several shells were fired from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region, without causing any casualties. IDF forces attacked the sources of fire," Adraee added. 

The Israeli airstrikes were before the 40 rockets that were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel Friday evening and claimed by Hezbollah.

Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen "sooner than later"

From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg

US President Joe Biden expects an attack from Iran will happen “sooner than later," he told reporters at the White House Friday.

“I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later,” Biden said when asked how imminent an attack on Israel was.

Asked what his message to Tehran is right now, the president said “Don’t.”

In response to more shouted questions from reporters asking if American troops were at risk, Biden returned to the podium and said that the United States is "devoted” to the defense of Israel. 

“We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.

Remember: The United States says it is on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack following Israel's deadly strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus last week, raising fears of a wider regional war. There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said earlier Friday, following Israel’s attack on  a diplomatic compound in Syria that killed three Iranian generals.

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U.S. issues travel warning for Israel with Iran attack believed to be imminent and fear Gaza war could spread

By Debora Patta , Tucker Reals

Updated on: April 13, 2024 / 5:25 PM EDT / CBS News

Update: Iran launched drone attacks against Israel on Saturday. Read CBS News'  latest coverage here .

Tel Aviv  — Israel is bracing for a worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within just hours — the possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran in retaliation for a strike almost two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to take revenge for Israel killing its commanders, who were hit by an April 1 strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria's capital.

Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack against Israel was expected as soon as Friday, possibly to include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country. Sources have told CBS News the retaliation could include attacks carried out both by Iranian forces, and proxy groups around the region that it has been funneling additional arms to for weeks.  

The officials said it would be challenging for the Israelis to defend against an attack of that magnitude, and while they held out the possibility that the Iranians could opt for a smaller-scale attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, their retaliation was believed to be imminent. 

Asked Friday how imminent he believes an attack is, President Biden responded, "I don't want to get into secure information, but my expectation is sooner than later." The president urged Iran not to move forward, saying his message to Tehran was: "Don't."

Tehran has not indicated publicly how or when it will return fire, so it's unclear how far Iran's leaders will go. If they decide to carry out a direct attack on Israel, there's fear it could blow Israel's ongoing war against Iranian ally Hamas up into a much wider regional conflict.

With the Iranian retaliation expected at any time, the U.S. State Department on Thursday warned Americans in Israel not to travel outside major cities, which are better protected from incoming rocket fire by the country's Iron Dome missile defense system. The latest guidance noted that travel by U.S. government employees in Israel could be further restricted with little notice as things develop in the tinderbox region.

"Whoever harms us, we will harm them," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday as he visited troops at an Israel Defense Forces airbase. "We are prepared … both defensively and offensively."

On Saturday, all U.S. embassies in the Middle East were put on high alert and required to hold emergency action committee meetings. Diplomats in Lebanon and Israel were specifically told not to travel to certain areas within those countries.

Sima Shine, a security expert and former official with Israel's national intelligence agency Mossad, told CBS News it was a dangerous moment for the region, and the "most worried" she has been. She said anxiety over an all-out war was likely just as high "on both sides, in Israel and in Iran."

If Iran does choose to strike Israel directly, it could involve a complex missile and drone attack similar to the one Iranian forces launched against a Saudi oil facility in 2019 .

"They will try to do it on the military or some military asset," Shine predicted. "But the question will be the damage. If there would be many injured people, killed or injured … I think it has the potential for a huge escalation."

Shine stressed, however, that she still believes neither side actually wants a regional conflict.

U.S. "really trying to avoid war"

The U.S. sent a senior general to Israel this week to coordinate with the close American ally on any response it might make to an Iranian attack. Speaking Friday on "CBS Mornings," America's top military officer said, "we're really trying to avoid war."

"This is part of the dialogue that I have with my counterparts within the region, to include the Israeli chief of defense, who I talked to yesterday," said Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., adding that the U.S. military was "doing things not only to prevent a war, but at the same time, one of my primary things is to make sure all the forces in the region are protected."

"My role, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is to plan and prepare," Brown said. "That's one thing we do very well."

Brown's Israeli counterpart, Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, "completed a comprehensive situational assessment on the readiness of the IDF for all scenarios," Israel's military said Friday. 

"The IDF is very strongly prepared, both offensively and defensively, against any threat," Halevi was quoted as saying in the statement. "The IDF continues to monitor closely what is happening in Iran and different arenas, constantly preparing to deal with existing and potential threats in coordination with the United States Armed Forces." 

The IDF said the visiting U.S. general, Central Command chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, was taking part in the IDF's situational assessment.

The dilemma for Iran, said Israeli expert Shine, is to figure out how to deliver its promised response to Israel's attack in Syria, but in a way that does not lead to further escalation. Likewise, Shine said Israel could choose to show restraint when it responds to whatever Iran eventually does.

If either side gets the balance wrong, the consequences for the region, and even the world, could be dire.

Weijia Jiang, David Martin, Margaret Brennan and Olivia Gazis contributed reporting.

• Middle East
• Benjamin Neta​nyahu

Debora Patta is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in Johannesburg. Since joining CBS News in 2013, she has reported on major stories across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Edward R. Murrow and Scripps Howard awards are among the many accolades Patta has received for her work.

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