Speaking to journalists at the close of the G7 in Capri, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declines to answer repeated questions about explosions in Iran and reports of Israeli retaliatory strikes, saying Washington was "not involved in any offensive operation". G7 host and Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani says "the United States were informed at the last moment," without giving details. Israel had warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at it almost a week ago, in response to a deadly strike that levelled Iran's consular annex at its embassy in Syria. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES