The chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, has been killed by an Israeli strike aimed at Iran’s nuclear sites just after 10am AEST.

2GB Afternoons host Michael McLaren says the world will be holding their breath to see how Iran responds.

“Iran are capable of a significant response, it’s whether they’re willing to go there, and then risk the retaliation, which may be more than just from Israel … they would have war-gamed this,” he said.

The Israeli strike on Iran has been described as a substantial escalation, which has been a “long time coming” by a former Australian Foreign Minister.

Alexander Downer claims Israel will go to any measure to avoid a second holocaust at the hands of Iran.

“The Israelis have made it clear that if Iran were ever to get a nuclear weapon, that would be an existential threat to Israel … they’re going to stop it, no matter what,” he said.

Listen to more highlights from Afternoons with Michael McLaren below: