Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240929

A hezbollah stronghold. The Israel Defense forces said it targeted locations including Weapons Production facilities and storage sites that, it said, were under civilian housing. Simonjones has the latest. Explosions, screaming. New strikes overnight on Southern Beirut. Israels military said it was targeting buildings storing hezbollah weapons underneath them. Hezbollah denied they were arms depots. Explosions. Earlier, a series of massive explosions. It is thought the target here was the hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. It is unclear whether he was in any of the buildings that were hit. Iran, which backs hezbollah, has called the attack a dangerous, game changing escalation. In the aftermath of the blasts, Bbc Correspondent Hugo bachega on the ground in Southern Beirut faced hostility from angry crowds. This is one of the roads leading to dahieh. We tried to get out of the car but we were stopped by a group of men. There is chaos, there is tension, we have seen crowds gathered by the road with rucksacks and bags apparently trying to leave dahieh. Into the night, queues to leave the Southern Suburbs. Israel had ordered people to evacuate some buildings for their own safety. Others took refuge on the seafront. Hezbollah has continued Firing Rockets on Northern Israel. Prime minister netanyahu, are you agreeing to a Ceasefire Deal or not . At the Un General Assembly in new york, israels Prime Minister was defiant. Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, i have come here today to say enough is enough. Chanting palestine will be free but his speech was met with protests. It is time to face the truth, and the truth is, unless netanyahu is stopped, unless this government is stopped, war will encompass all of us. The us is calling for restraint. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism. The way it does so matters. The choices that all parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on. The us has said again that the way forward is through diplomacy, not conflict. Simon jones, bbc news. Rami abukalam is a british lebanese journalist Living In Beirut who heard fridays explosions in beirutjust before he was about to drive through the area to pick up his cousin from the airport. Its been really scary. I mean, you know, iwas going to pick up my cousin from the airport, which is not far from where the strikes were. And, yeah, i mean, it was clearly the largest and loudest set of blasts that i think weve heard. You know, theres been a lot of explosions, a lot of sonic booms. But this was clearly, yeah, unprecedented in scale. Theres a fear in the air here that i think i havent seen personally since the 2006 war. You know, wherever you go, people are talking about, you know, wheres the next place thats going to be hit . And, you know, a lot of people here are pretty resilient to war. You know, theres been a lot of conflict over the last couple of decades, but there is a lot of fear here. And, yeah, nobody knows whats going to happen next. The British Government keeps telling us that, you know, nationals here should try and leave on the earliest available flight. Most flights are cancelled. The only carrier thats still running flights is the lebanese carrier, the Middle East airlines, and theyre fully booked for weeks. You know, so the flight that im leaving on on monday i booked about a week ago. It was the earliest flight i could get. So ive been waiting, you know, day after day to get out of the country. And, yeah, obviously, its just got worse and worse each day. Its really sad. I feel like im leaving the country for the same reason for the second time and, you know, in a decade, and, you know, this is my country. I love this country. You know, i come here to visit family and its a beautiful place. But, yeah, i cant tell you how sad it is to feel that once again, i have to leave because it doesnt feel safe. We will take a look at what we know now about Hassan Nasrallah. Hes the leader of lebanons militant Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement with close links to iran and one of the best known and most influential figures in the Middle East. Born in 1960, Hassan Nasrallah grew up in beirut� s Eastern Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood. He became leader of hezbollah in 1992, at the age of 32, after his predecessor was assassinated in an israeli helicopter strike. He has played a Key Role in turning hezbollah into a powerful political and military force. Under his leadership, he has helped hezbollah Train Hundreds of fighters from the palestinian Militant Group hamas and hes also obtained missiles and rockets from iran for use against israel. In his most recent speech, nasrallah blamed israel for Detonating Thousands Of Pagers and Radio Handsets used by hezbollah members, which killed 39 people and wounded thousands more, and said it had crossed all red lines. He also acknowledged the group had suffered an unprecedented blow. There has been speculation that he was the target of these most recent israel strikes. I can bring you some breaking years that we have until this moment not known whether those strikes have hit him, but the Afp News Agency says the Israel Army says his Brother Word Mac chief Hassan Nasrallah eliminated in a root strike. That confirmation coming through in the last few moments as we were taking a look at the history of the man. Israel saying that the chief Hassan Nasrallah has been eliminated in a strike in beirut. 0ur Correspondent is in jerusalem. Just getting this Breaking News in the last few minutes there about the leader. Yes, it is not from afp alone, we have had a statement from the Israeli Military saying that Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world, as they put it, confirmation that the leader of hezbollah has been killed. Throughout this period of escalation over the last few months, israel has been making the calculation that iran, which backs hezbollah, is not ready to get involved directly in this conflict in a full scale regional war. Well, the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah is going to put that theory to the test. Nasrallah is going to put that theory to the test. Remind us ofthe theory to the test. Remind us of the significance, theory to the test. Remind us of the significance, the of the significance, the potential implications of this moment. It potential implications of this moment. ,. , moment. It would be a huge moment moment. It would be a huge moment. We moment. It would be a huge moment. We know moment. It would be a huge moment. We know that moment. It would be a huge moment. We know that over moment. It would be a huge moment. We know that over the last few Weeks Israel has managed to eliminate very senior Military Commanders within hezbollah in a series of strikes, but by taking out the leader of the group, in power for several decades, this is a huge moment. As i say, the significance is, where does this lead us . Because hezbollah, funded and Backed By and set up by iran to oppose israel, and to now have its leader taken out, iran is going to be under enormous pressure to be under enormous pressure to respond. To be under enormous pressure to remind to be under enormous pressure to resond. , ~ i. ,. To respond. Thank you very much for that. To respond. Thank you very much for that i to respond. Thank you very much for that. I want to respond. Thank you very much for that. I want to to respond. Thank you very much for that. I want to head for that. I want to head straight to beirut, hugo is therefore us. Hugo, we had these reports that he had been targeted, but Hassan Nasrallah, until a few minutes ago, we had no confirmation as to what had happened. Now we have that confirmation from the Israel Armed Military that he has now been killed. Been killed. Exactly, and as john was been killed. Exactly, and as john was saying, been killed. Exactly, and as john was saying, this been killed. Exactly, and as john was saying, this is been killed. Exactly, and as john was saying, this is a i john was saying, this is a significant moment because Hassan Nasrallah, the powerful leader of hezbollah, had been leading the group for decades, and he was highly influential and he was highly influential and had been leading these attacks, these hezbollah responses to what was happening in gaza. The fear in lebanon has always been that this country would end up being dragged into a conflict with israel, the wider conflict that could have unpredictable and catastrophic consequences for this country and it seems this is exactly what is happening now. It seems that the Israeli Military is carrying out a wide offensive against hezbollah with widespread Air Strikes and now killing the head of the group. The Israeli Military will see it as a successful operation, in degrading and weakening hezbollah, which is a powerful organisation, its always been seen by the Israeli Military is much more powerful than hamas. It is a group of Tens Of Thousands of rockets, including Precision Guided Missiles that can strike deep inside israel, and the Israeli Military has been trying to weaken hezbollah to destroy some of the infrastructure used by the group, but i think the indications are that this operation will continue after killing Hassan Nasrallah, to try to degrade hezbollah and weaken the group so its no longer poses a threat to israel and all the residents of israel. , and all the residents of israel. ,. ,. , israel. Taught us through what we know about israel. Taught us through what we know about the israel. Taught us through what we know about the specific we know about the specific strikes here that are believed to have killed him. He strikes here that are believed to have killed him. Strikes here that are believed to have killed him. He was it was a to have killed him. He was it was a massive to have killed him. He was it was a massive strike to have killed him. He was it was a massive strike last i it was a massive strike last night, the most powerful strike that Hit Beirut in this conflict. We could hear the strike from here in downtown beirut, about six or seven kilometres from dahieh, hezbollah� S Stronghold. There was Chaos And Panic in dahieh, i was there after the attack and crowds of people were trying to leave. Let me give you a sense of what is happening here right now. This is the square in central beirut and hundreds of people are here, they spent the night here after leaving dahieh, and as you can see, lots of families here, women, children, a lot of people could only bring bags and rucksacks with some belongings. Afterfleeing and rucksacks with some belongings. After fleeing their houses during those israeli Air Strikes last night and also overnight, this morning more warnings from the Israeli Military that were urging residents to evacuate part of dahieh, the Israeli Military accusing hezbollah of Hiding Weapons Facilities underneath civilian buildings. The indication that these Air Strikes will continue, hezbollah in a statement overnight was using those residential areas to hide weapons, but the accusation is that hezbollah has been using the civilian population as human shields. This is the impact on the population, tents have been set up here and it is putting a lot of pressure on the lebanese authorities who are struggling to cope with the shared number of casualties from these Air Strikes and also with Tens Of Thousands of people being displaced because of the conflict. Of the conflict. Thank you. We will no of the conflict. Thank you. We will go back of the conflict. Thank you. We will go back to of the conflict. Thank you. We will go back to john of the conflict. Thank you. We will go back to john in will go back tojohn in jerusalem. Resort some of the impact there, hugo showed us, other strikes. Can you put into context what this latest development means when it comes to Israels War aims, effectively, its strategic priorities, emotionally strikes across the border . How does the killing of Hassan Nasrallah fit into that . It killing of Hassan Nasrallah fit into that . ,. ,. , into that . It is a huge victory for israel into that . It is a huge victory for israel at into that . It is a huge victory for israel at this into that . It is a huge victory for israel at this stage. Into that . It is a huge victory for israel at this stage. You | for israel at this stage. You had prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling the un general Assembly Yesterday that he was vowing to defeat hezbollah and this is clearly a huge blow to the organisation. They will have some sort of Succession Plan in place but you must remember that over the last few weeks and months, israel has taken out many of these senior figures within this brother taoiseach, so that Succession Plan might not be immediate. Within hezbollah. There have been barrages fired this morning, they have been relatively unsophisticated, i suppose. But although hezbollah has lost a lot of its senior leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah, it still has a huge arsenal of missiles, some of which are much more deadly and it has got guided missiles capable of reaching all parts of israel, and if it chooses to use those, they are going to be much more damaging to israel. There will be a huge welcoming in israel that Hassan Nasrallah has been killed, the operation against hezbollah is much more popular, the country is much more united in the need for that than it is for the continued operation in gaza, where many people feel the government should have done more to get the hostages out. There is a huge backing for the operation against hezbollah. Israel has vowed to get its citizens able to return to the north, 60,000 who have not been able to live in their homes for the past year. It will see this as a significant move towards beating hezbollah. As a significant move towards beating hezbollah. Thank you. One more beating hezbollah. Thank you. One more line beating hezbollah. Thank you. One more line on beating hezbollah. Thank you. One more line on this, beating hezbollah. Thank you. One more line on this, afp. Beating hezbollah. Thank you. I one more line on this, Afp News Agency again saying that a source close to hezbollah says contact with Hassan Nasrallah was lost since friday night. That appears to marry up with the release of information we have had on the Israeli Military, they said they have eliminated the threat of Hassan Nasrallah. Now afp quoting a source close to hezbollah saying contact with Hassan Nasrallah lost since friday night. Lets go back to hugo in beirut. Hugo, talk us through what a blow this will be for hezbollah, how does this impact the dynamic now offer conflict . Of the conflict . What we are seeing is this is going to be a massive blow and we have seen that this is coming after a series of assassinations targeting key hezbollah leaders and commanders over the last few weeks. 0bviously Hassan Nasrallah was the head of hezbollah for decades, and this is a powerful organisation, it is a powerful organisation, it is much more than a militia, it is much more than a militia, it is a political party in lebanon, it has representation in parliament, it is part of the government, so it is a huge blow for hezbollah, and it is difficult to see how they will go forward and be able to organise any response, senior commanders have been killed, we are seeing those attacks, targeting the Communications Network of the group, meaning group has difficulties carrying out its communications. It is a significant blow for hezbollah, it is also a very dangerous and delicate moment for lebanon because of hezbollah� s important and relevant in this country. Again, very difficult moment for the lebanese. As you can see, hundreds of people affected by what is happening across the country. Authorities saying they are struggling to cope with the number of casualties from those israeli Air Strikes around 800 killed as a result of those attacks and Tens Of Thousands of people displaced from their homes in the south, east, two hezbollah strongholds in lebanon. Lots of pressure on authorities as well. 0bviously pressure on authorities as well. Obviously the significant development and really unclear what will happen next. Not only for the country but in terms of what hezbollah will do. I for the country but in terms of what hezbollah will do. What hezbollah will do. I want to ick what hezbollah will do. I want to pick up what hezbollah will do. I want to pick up on what hezbollah will do. I want to pick up on one what hezbollah will do. I want to pick up on one for what hezbollah will do. I want to pick up on one for you to pick up on one for you mentioned stop very crucial you pointed out that hezbollah as an organisation is intertwined with the fabric of the country, with the fabric of the country, with governance, politics there. Give us a sense of how Hassan Nasrallah was viewed by the political establishment there and also ordinary people on the Streets. On the Streets. That has been one of the on the Streets. That has been one of the key on the Streets. That has been one of the key questions on the Streets. That has been j one of the key questions here in lebanon since the beginning of these attacks a year ago, because a lot of people outside hezbollahs Base Support was saying hezbollah was dragging lebanon into a war with israel and was not interested in the countrys interests. The countrys interests. The country has been suffering for years from a severe economic crisis and people said this conflict was not in lebanons interest. Going to dahieh, son of some of hezbollahs areas, people were defiant and said these attacks would not destroy their determination to resist and still supported hezbollah, still supported Hassan Nasrallah map obviously outside hezbollahs support base, there were some people uncomfortable with the idea of having a strong hezbollah acting within a state and being able to determine when lebanon was at peace or at war. A lot of people across the country are shot by the level of destruction, by the impact on the civilian population because of these israeli Air Strikes, but for some people, they will not be extremely upset or sad to see a weakened hezbollah and perhaps this could mark a change in the relationship between lebanon and hezbollah. Thank you for that. To remind people of the timeline of what we have just discovered. Significant strikes in beirut which we have been aware of for a while. We were reporting that the seeming target of those strikes had been Hassan Nasrallah, head of hezbollah but we have no confirmation overnight as to whether he was hit or alive or not. Then, just in the last few minutes also, we have heard from the Israeli Military that he had been killed. They then released a statement on Social Media saying Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world. Then Afp News Agency reporting sources close to hezbollah said they had lost contact since friday night. That is the timeline of what we know so far. 0ur Correspondent is injerusalem. John, talk us through the significance of this. ,. ,. , this. Let me tell you what is happening this. Let me tell you what is happening now. This. Let me tell you what is happening now, within this. Let me tell you what is happening now, within the i this. Let me tell you what is i happening now, within the last few minutes we have heard loud explosions overjerusalem, probablyjust explosions overjerusalem, probably just there you explosions overjerusalem, probablyjust there you can make out a cloud in the sky, and that looks like where a missile has been intercepted by Israels Iron Dome Missile Defence shield. Reports from our team in defence shield. Reports from ourteam in the defence shield. Reports from our team in the north of jerusalem have said they can hear the sirens going off. We have not had any signs in jerusalem but certainly the explosions we have heard in the last few minutes are the loudest my team says they have heard injerusalem in the last few days. Heard in jerusalem in the last few da s. Heard in jerusalem in the last few claye few days. That gives you a sense of few days. That gives you a sense of the few days. That gives you a sense of the context few days. That gives you a | sense of the context under which this is unfolding and we are seeing pictures of Hassan Nasrallah on the screen as we are seeing you as well as the skyline in beirut and you just showed the smoke over of where you are. Give us a sense, the context, of how this development fits in to what is happening where you are. It is hue for happening where you are. It is huge for israel, happening where you are. It 3 huge for israel, they will see this as a major step on the way to victory against hezbollah. We heard Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he was determined to defeat hezbollah, and as i said earlier, israel has made calculation that iran, which backs, funds, Fans Hezbollah to oppose israel, they do not want to get involved in a full scale regional war israel. While the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah will put that theory to the test, we have heard sirens going off all morning in Northern Israel, but it does appear given what we have seen here injerusalem in the last few moments that some of those rockets are now being fired from lebanon and getting much deeper and much closer to jerusalem itself. Deeper and much closer to jerusalem itself. Thank you for that. I jerusalem itself. Thank you for that i want jerusalem itself. Thank you for that. I want to jerusalem itself. Thank you for that. I want to give jerusalem itself. Thank you for that. I want to give you jerusalem itself. Thank you for that. I want to give you be that. I want to give you be social Media Statement released by the Israel Defence forces, saying the hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had been killed. Statement on the account there says that Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise world. This statement follows a series of strikes overnight in beirut which israel said were targeting him and other hezbollah commanders as well. Lets go to beirut, hugo is our correspondence there you has been talking us through the significance only of this Breaking News that the head of hezbollah has been killed, we have had that confirmation. You 90, have had that confirmation. You go, talk us through again what we know about the strikes here that could have potentially led to his death. To his death. This Air Strike, a powerful to his death. This Air Strike, a powerful air to his death. This Air Strike, a powerful Air Strike, to his death. This Air Strike, i a powerful Air Strike, happened last a powerfulairstrike, happened last night, you could actually hear the explosions from central beirut. Again, we are about seven kilometres from dahieh, Hezbollahs Stronghold in the south of beirut. It was a massive explosion, it was from the Israeli Military, and the site of the explosion showed that several buildings had collapsed, huge crater was created as a result of the impact of those Air Strikes. Again, this is significant, a powerful man, a long time leader of hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, decades in power, and obviously extremely influential here in lebanon. Again, hezbollah, considered a Terrorist Organisation by many western countries, it is more than a militia, it is a political party with representation in parliament and is part of the government here, it is a huge social organisation here. It is part of society and has a strong base of support not only here in beirut but also in the south of the country, in the east, and this news will come as a shock for many of its supporters stop but even people who oppose hezbollah stop going back to the idea of many of hezbollah � s critics have been saying that since they started these attacks against israel, hezbollah was dragging lebanon into a conflict with israel that was not in the countrys interests. Any are still digesting the news that has been announced by the Israeli Military that Hassan Nasrallah is dead, but for a lot of people, it could be seen as perhaps the start of a new chapter in the relationship between hezbollah and ii on. This is a group that has been weakened. And ii on. This is a group that has been weakened by these attacks, huge, widespread Air Strikes targeting the Groups Infrastructure across lebanon and the high profile assassinations and now the head of the group has been killed. Hugo, thank you. In terms of any direct immediate response, what are the calculations from hezbollah now . What considerations will they be making right now . We considerations will they be making right now . We see that hezbollah up making right now . We see that hezbollah up until making right now . We see that hezbollah up until now making right now . We see that hezbollah up until now have i hezbollah up until now have been measured, if you like, in its attacks on israel because they think hezbollah is an organisation supported by iran. Iran has spent a lot of time and money arming hezbollah, backing band, and it is vital for iran to have a strong presence in lebanon on next to israels borders. It is part of the axis of resistance, part of Irans Deterrence against part of Israels Defence against iran. Apparently there was no interest from hezbollah to launch a wider conflict with israel because it would be devastating for the group. We have not seen hezbollah deploy its most sophisticated weapons. They have missiles that can strike deep inside israel. Another concern has been that any kind of wider conflict between Israel And Hezbollah could force other iranians back groups across the region, including The Houthis in yemen, Tojoin Hezbollah in this fight. There have been attacks from The Houthis, but we have not seen any kind of co ordinated campaign between these groups to attack israel. Early days, the News Hasjust emerged from the Israeli Military that Hassan Nasrallah has been killed, but obviously real concerns that this could spark a wider regional conflict. Spark a wider regional conflict. ,. ,. ,. , conflict. You for that and thank you conflict. You for that and thank you to conflict. You for that and thank you to john conflict. You for that and thank you to john as conflict. You for that and | thank you to john as well. Conflict. You for that and i thank you to john as well. A thank you tojohn as well. A reminder if you are just joining us that Hassan Nasrallah, head of hezbollah has been killed. That is according to the idf, the Israeli Military, Who Havejust released a statement in the last 20 minutes or so. Plenty of coverage to come. This is bbc news. In the last few moments, Israel Defense forces says they killed the hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in fridays strikes on beirut. Hezbollah has yet to comment. Air strikes continued into Saturday Morning in Southern Beirut where the military says hezbollah is storing weapons. Several buildings in Dahieh Hezbollah S Stronghold in the south of the city. Lets bring you the latest on the fact Hassan Nasrallah, head of hezbollah, has been killed, that according to the idf, israeli spokesperson speaking and posting on adf Social Media. Also quoting a source close to hezbollah saying contact with nasrallah was lost since friday night. We have had no formal statement from hezbollah itself. So, lets remind ourselves who Hassan Nasrallah was. He was the leader of lebanons militant Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement, with close links to iran. He was one of the best known and most influentialfigures in the Middle East. Born in 1960, Hassan Nasrallah grew up in beirut� s Eastern Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood. He became leader of hezbollah in 1992 at the age of 32, after his predecessor Abbas Al Musawi was assassinated in an israeli helicopter strike. He played a Key Role in turning hezbollah into a powerful political and military force. Under his leadership he helped hezbollah Train Hundreds of fighters from the palestinian Militant Group hamas. And he also obtained missiles and rockets from iran for use against israel. In his most recent speech, nasrallah blamed israel for Detonating Thousands Of Pagers and Radio Handsets used by hezbollah members, which killed 39 people and wounded thousands more, and said it had crossed all red lines. He also acknowledged the group had suffered an unprecedented blow. A week after that speach, hes dead. Speech. Thank you for coming on the programme. What is your reaction to this development . This could be a trigger for a major conflict in the Middle East. What does that mean . There could be a third intifada on the west bank, more fighting the saudis get sucked into what was called the vietnam against The Houthis. It could be a major, majorwill The Houthis. It could be a major, major will because it is happening at the same time as other wars. Happening at the same time as otherwars. Suddenly happening at the same time as other wars. Suddenly you get tough long term leaders like Putin And Netanyahu being resistant to world pressure. This is popular in israel unlike what was happening in gaza. There was a great demand amongst the israeli population to have a Go At Hezbollah, not only return the israelis who had been moved out. Although it is not generally known, in my new book that is out this week, israels forever well, the israeli air. Was about to Go At Hezbollah in the first few hours after the 7th Of October when hamas attacked. This could be one of the most dangerous period since the missile crisis. But it is a pattern, it is happening over and over again. As you mentioned in your introduction. Hassan this rather came into power because of a previous assassination. Hezbollah is a movement, more than one man. The final Point Thatis than one man. The final point that is important, israel wants to destroy restore its deterrence. It lost its deterrence. It lost its deterrence massively during the hamas attack. That was not mossad, it was military intelligence failure, a massive one. Mossad, the external intelligence is still very effective and has been proving that in their last three weeks by Pinpoint Accuracy in killing the leadership of hezbollah. Whether there will be a ground invasion, i am whether there will be a ground invasion, iam not whether there will be a ground invasion, i am not sure. Whether there will be a ground invasion, iam not sure. The israelis have learned surely from their previous two incursions. This could be a major war or the israelis hope it is by decapitating the leadership it will reduce the pressure. It all depends on iran. It is holding back these missiles, not because of any mercy to the israelis in haifa and so on, that massive amount of accurate weaponry is mainly to do with deterrence of america, not so much the israelis. America, not so much the israelis israelis. In the immediate term, israelis. In the immediate term. What israelis. In the immediate term, what do israelis. In the immediate term, what do you israelis. In the immediate term, what do you think. Israelis. In the immediate i term, what do you think that calculations are here being made by hezbollah for any kind of response . Made by hezbollah for any kind of response . Hamas, which was much weaker. Of response . Hamas, which was much weaker, kept of response . Hamas, which was much weaker, kept on of response . Hamas, which was much weaker, kept on firing much weaker, kept on firing more home made rockets and still does by the occasional missile. Hezbollah has dug in. It is much better defended, much better forces. It is much better defended, much betterforces. They are much betterforces. They are much betterforces. They are much better trained by the terrain as iranians and they have much betterfaith. They will take a few days to reorganise. The control has been utterly destroyed by very good israeli intelligence and incredible tactics. But it is not strategy. Those Pages Havent ended the war, they havent ended the war, they have probably angered people. A lot of lebanese do not like it. A lot of them feel that hezbollah is representative of lebanese resistance. What will they do . In the run lets them they do . In the run lets them they will fire more Ultraprecise Weapons in the next few weeks. Probably that will happen. D0 next few weeks. Probably that will happen will happen. Do you think It Chances will happen. Do you think it changes in will happen. Do you think it changes in any will happen. Do you think it changes in any way will happen. Do you think it changes in any way the changes in any way the calculations around a proposed ceasefire . It calculations around a proposed ceasefire . Ceasefire . It is unfortunate that the most ceasefire . It is unfortunate that the most powerful ceasefire . It is unfortunate that the most powerful country in the world, america, the president , i do not know if he can walk straight, let alone think straight. At the moment the americans have no influence battle. We see that when netanyahu made his speech at the united nations, totally ignoring the ceasefire demands. That is the core. How do you stop this . We all know you need a two solution. Before that, a ceasefire in gaza. Before that, a ceasefire in lebanon. That is asking a lot when you have no leadership at all in america. As i mentioned, the attacks on hezbollah, removing that threat against Northern Israel is very popular. There are no hostages ban. It is very popular in israel. Netanyahu is determined, he talks about victory. There is a feeling the israelis come at once and for all, of course it is not going to happen because he is totally hostile to a two state solution, he still believes military victory is possible. There is no military solution in the Middle East, there has to be political settlement. That means that netanyahu has to be removed, not assassinated, he may lose the next election when whenever it comes. ~ next election when whenever it comes. ~ ,. , next election when whenever it comes. ~ g , next election when whenever it comes. ,. ,. ,. , comes. Thank you. Just one more line to bring comes. Thank you. Just one more line to bring you. Comes. Thank you. Just one more line to bring you. It comes. Thank you. Just one more line to bring you. It is comes. Thank you. Just one more line to bring you. It is from line to bring you. It is from the israel Army Chief we had from earlier on, talking about the reaction and what happens now on Israels Side saying this is their words from the afp news wire. Israel Army Chief vows to reach anyone who threatens israel. This is after nasrallah is reported to have been killed. Vowing to reach anyone who threatens israel. We have been saying of course the strikes on Beirut And Lebanon from israel over the last couple of days. A view of the impact on the ground. Lets speak to ettie higgins, Deputy Representative of Unicef Lebanon shejoins me from beirut. Thank you for coming onto the programme. Thank you for coming onto the programme thank you for coming onto the programme. Good morning. It is reall a programme. Good morning. It is really a very programme. Good morning. It is really a very difficult really a very difficult situation here this morning. Just talk us through the situation on the ground, the damage that has been done and how it has impacted people . The damaue how it has impacted people . The damage has how it has impacted people . Tue damage has been how it has impacted people . Tte damage has been immense. How it has impacted people . Tt2 damage has been immense. As how it has impacted people . Tt2 damage has been immense. As i was waiting for this interview to start, i got a message from one of our colleagues in one of humanitarian Front Line partners, he said the situation is hysterical there this morning. So many have been killed, including parents of one of their humanitarian stuff. And others as well. Hearing beirut is here in beirut, i have been speaking to other un colleagues, who are out on the ground together with unicef teams who have seen thousands of displaced that are all over the Streets of beirut, who desperately require assistance. The humanitarian community and the united Nations Community are calling together to try to support the government in efforts to urgently find accommodation for the thousands of people who evacuated their homes in the Southern Suburbs in other parts of beirut overnight desperately to try to find safety. Can of beirut overnight desperately to try to find safety. To try to find safety. Can i ask what to try to find safety. Can i ask what binding to try to find safety. Can i ask what Binding Safety i to try to find safety. Can i ask what Binding Safety means . What other provisions . We know people are on the move. People have been sleeping in their cars to try to get away from areas that are being hit. What about the more serious cases . Families have been separated and destroyed. What support do they need . We and destroyed. What support do they need . They need . We are finding an increasing they need . We are finding an increasing number they need . We are finding an increasing number of increasing number of unaccompanied and set separated children. They have lost 15 members of one family. We are desperately looking for relatives that can take care of her while we put her in an emergency alternative care. Today, people need absolutely everything from Drinking Water to mattresses, blankets, we are mobilising teams to provide first aid. There are over 500 shelters across. 0ver first aid. There are over 500 shelters across. Over 700 shelters, surrey, across lebanon. There are more opening every hour. More than 100,000 people are seeking safety in the shelters built the resources are running out by the minute. Theyjust cannot keep up with the level of need. The hospitals have been inundated with those who have been injured and who are themselves very traumatised, themselves very traumatised, the Health Workers and Front Line workers. We are flying in emergency medical supplies. We flew in 100 metric tonnes last week and want to fly and more this week. It is very difficult to find those aircraft to come in and delivered the goods. We are doing what we can in what we have on the ground. Time is of the essence given the magnitude of the crisis and the level of entries we are dealing with In House Facilities and trying just to get clean Drinking Water to people to survive. You mentioned people and that palace, they are on the Streets, On The Beach Last Night was that taking shelter under bridges. It is a really catastrophic situation in beirut this morning. We can still see whether bombings had taken place overnight and have continued this morning. In continued this morning. In terms of getting the logistics, given obviously what we have been witnessing in gaza, well aware of the difficulties and struggles of moving age around and getting logistics in place, clearly a different situation in lebanon. Talk is through some of the challenges. Is it an example of loading up trucks and getting stuff in question is moving things around easier, clearly easier, than in gaza . What are some of the challenges around it . Tt what are some of the challenges around it . , , around it . It definitely comes with its risks. Around it . It definitely comes with its risks. One around it . It definitely comes with its risks. One of around it . It definitely comes with its risks. One of our with its risks. One of our teams was moving to one of the shelters this week. There was an Air Strike 300 metres away just before they deploy to the shelter. After 30 minutes, after the area was seen, the team delivered life saving aid. There are huge risks and tragically the un family last two of its own colleagues in lebanon. It is a very volatile situation and has a lot of risks for our teams were just to move around to deliver this assistance, we have packed ten tracks overnight ready to be deployed at seven oclock this morning all as soon as it was safe to do so. We are now loading up another 20 tracks of whatever size we can get. It is very, very difficult to know, given the Evacuation Orders are continuing, in the last 20 minutes we have just been told to evacuate another hospital in the Southern Suburbs of beirut. We are in talks with the Ministry Team to try to make sure there are places for these people who are being evacuated. We have also received an urgent request to mobilise at least 30 more Mobile Health Teams and to look at deploying further medical equipment and medical supplies that are urgently needed. Maybejust supplies that are urgently needed. Maybe just on the side of the Streets. Needed. Maybe ust on the side of the Streets. Of the Streets. Thank you so much for of the Streets. Thank you so much for coming of the Streets. Thank you so much for coming onto of the Streets. Thank you so much for coming onto the i much for coming onto the programme painting a picture of the situation on the ground in beirut and across lebanon. Thank you. Just to remind you of that Breaking News. In the last a0 minutes or so, the news that Hassan Nasrallah, the head of hezbollah has been killed. I just want to bring you the very latest we have on this. A clip from the Idf Chief of staff just shared this clip, edited 52 second video, what appears to be a briefing alongside other army officials. I just want to bring you some of the lines that came from that. This is a quote. In the end, after a lot of preparation, the Israeli Military activated their plan in lebanon to Target Nasrallah in lebanon to Target Nasrallah in a strike at the headquarters. It was the right time and was done in a very precise way. This is not the end of our Tool Box and have more capacity going forward. Underlining that message that Hassan Attach0ther has been killed. John donnison has been standing by. John donnison has been standing b. ,. , John Donnison has been standing by. The Israeli Military has confirmed by. The Israeli Military has confirmed hassan by. The Israeli Military has confirmed hassan a by. The Israeli Military has confirmed Hassan A Trial i by. The Israeli Military has. Confirmed Hassan A Trial has been eliminated, to use their term. It is a hugely significant and dangerous moment. Israel has vowed to defeat hezbollah. It is in effect at all with hezbollah. Taking out its leader, who has beenin taking out its leader, who has been in charge of the powerful iranian backed group in devon on four decades is really, really worrying. Up until this point in israel has made the calculation that iran, who founded hezbollah, is not ready to get directly involved in a full Scale War with israel. The killing of Hassan Nasrallah will put that theory to the test. All morning we have had Barrage Rockets being fired out of southern lebanon. Just after the moment when the confirmation from the side of israel saying hassan has Hassan A Trial has been killed, we heard pretty close to where we are here injerusalem, just on the skyline behind me we saw saw what looked like a Hezbollah Rocket being shot down by Israels Missile Defence system. That is something we have not seen in jerusalem in the last few weeks. It does seem that hezbollah is pushing forward now, launching rockets further into israel. Whether that is in direct response to what israel has said about the killing of hassanis has said about the killing of hassan is rather, we dont know. Certainly the next few hours and days are going to be very concerning. Hours and days are going to be very concerning. Thank you very much. So, lets remind ourselves who Hassan Nasrallah was. Hes was the leader of lebanons militant Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement, with close links to iran. He was one of the best known and most influentialfigures in the Middle East. Born in 1960, Hassan Nasrallah grew up in beirut� s Eastern Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood. He became leader of hezbollah in 1992 at the age of 32, after his predecessor Abbas Al Musawi was assassinated in an israeli helicopter strike. He played a Key Role in turning hezbollah into a powerful political and military force. Under his leadership he helped hezbollah Train Hundreds of fighters from the palestinian Militant Group hamas. And he also obtained missiles and rockets from iran for use against israel. In his most recent speech, nasrallah blamed israel for Detonating Thousands Of Pagers and Radio Handsets used by hezbollah members, which killed 39 people and wounded thousands more, lets speak to Frank Gardner our Security Correspondent this is huge, a massive escalation. Israel throwing down the gauntlet to around me basically saying, we are not going to tolerate this any more, we are going to take about this militant Organisation Iran has built on the northern border. This has repercussions throughout the whole of the Middle East. Hezbollah is bigger than lebanon. It has been fighting in syria in support of the president against an insurgency there, it has trained fighters in iraq, yemen and around the Middle East. It is arounds means of projecting the iranian islamic revolution. Accused of activities, Terrorist Activities, Terrorist Activities to Terrorist Organisation. Hassan nasrallah is revered by many shiite muslims. He is disliked by pretty much all the sunni arab governments but revered by a lot of people and there will be cause for revenge. How will iran react to this . This is israel saying, the gloves are off. They targeted a building where they knew he was, underneath. In a residential area. There are several senior commanders with him systematically hezbollahs entire Command Structure has been dismantled, like watching a Predator Pick apart the carcass of an animal, first of Pager Explosions and then these Air Strikes, Pager Explosions and then these airstrikes, a Pager Explosions and then these Air Strikes, a lot of lebanese civilians are getting killed in the process. The Death Toll is very high already, over 800. In the last war between Israel And Hezbollah in 2006, never over 1000 people rapidly who were killed over 3a days. We are nearly at that figure after just a week. Nearly at that figure after just a week. Nearly at that figure after ust a week. ,. , just a week. Frank, where does this leave just a week. Frank, where does this leave those just a week. Frank, where does this leave those conversations. This leave those conversations about of escalation . There is regional conflict. The ceasefire. Theres big questions we have been talking about frankly four months and months and months. How does this change the perception, the operation, how they are viewed . It is very clear that under Benjamin Netanyahu, the israeli Prime Minister, israel has no intention of stopping and backing down. They think they have hezbollah on the back that, on the ropes and are going for broke. Clearly they dont think there is any value in having a 21 day ceasefire, which is what many of israels allies have been calling for. At the time that Benjamin Netanyahu was delivering his Speech Yesterday at the un, he already knew he had signed the orderfor this. Already knew he had signed the orderforthis. He already knew he had signed the orderfor this. He had given the Go Ahead for this operation and is well is that picture of him on the phone saying that yes, do it. The plans for this were drawn up already some time ago. Israeli intelligence which dropped the ball massively in October The 7th is now being held by israelis as being back up held by israelis as being back up the top of its form. They have incredible sources as to where people are. I think some people are saying this is because there is so much poverty in South Lebanon that some people are desperate and they have agreed to work for they have agreed to work for the israelis. They would be considered as traitors, of course. The fact is hezbollah is being dismantled bit by bit. Thank you so much for that. Our Security Correspondent giving his immediate reaction to the hugely significant development that the head of hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has been killed. 0ur Correspondentjon donnison is injerusalem. Took us through the sequence of events and how they unfolded, what we know and what we do not. ,. , what we know and what we do not. , m not. Isil those strikes in southern not. Isil those strikes in Southern Beirut not. Isil those strikes in l southern Beirut Yesterday Evening huge explosions. I saw those strikes. It was thought that Hassan Nasrallah was the Target And Israel confirming today he has been eliminated. The statement said Hassan Charlie was one of the worlds most influential terrace and with more capability to terrorise. Hassan nasrallah. It is a hugely significant moment because we will now have to watch for the response from hezbollah and potentially erans response. Hezbollah was backed, funded and founded by eran. Their involvement in the conflict has been relatively limited up to this point. It has not got directly involved. Israel made the calculation that iran does not want to get involved in an open war with israel itself but the assassination of Hassan Shiloh will put that very much to the test. Already this morning, sirens have been going on Northern Israel even as far south as jerusalem. Northern israel even as far south asjerusalem. Hassan as roller. We appear to hear rockets being shot down by the israeli defence system. The next few days will be very concerning indeed. Next few days will be very concerning indeed. Thank you very much concerning indeed. Thank you very much for concerning indeed. Thank you very much for that concerning indeed. Thank you very much for that and concerning indeed. Thank you very much for that and thank| very much for that and thank you tojohn and frank and hugo, are correspondents who have been bringing you the latest as we have been reporting for the last 50 minutes or so, the head of hezbollah has been killed. That is according to Israeli Military sources. Those strikes confirmed overnight were targeting him and in their eyes they have successfully eliminated him. This is bbc news. Hello. Some welcome dry weather for much of this weekend in areas hit badly by floods through the past week, but there is more rain to come. 0ur Rainfall Forecast chart showing the amounts between now and tuesday, shows that whilst scotland is dry across england and wales, mainly from later sunday onwards, we could widely see around 20 to 30mm darker spots. Even more than that, and these areas could change a little bit there. Nothing untoward for this time of year, but given the fact the ground is so saturated, the risk of flooding could return for one or two. So worth keeping an eye on the forecast before that wet and windy weather arrives later on sunday, though a lot of dry and bright weather to come certainly through today. Best of the sunshine to the south and the east continues, although a bit more cloud compared with the morning. More cloud over northern england, scotland, Northern Ireland will bring one or two spots of rain, more particularly though across the highlands, hebrides, 0rkney and in towards argyll and bute, vast majority staying dry. And after a chilly start this morning, its going to stay on the cool Side Today at around 11 to 15 degrees. Rain to start with tonight, then across the far north of scotland pushing its way towards shetland. Some clearer skies at times elsewhere. And whilst it might not be quite as chilly as last night for some of you, four or five degrees in some eastern towns and cities could get lower than that in countryside. To give you a bit of a sunday chill, but under a ridge of high pressure, many will be dry. The Big Change comes from this spiralling its way in a next area of Rain Bearing low pressure with it, though some stronger winds. Winds touching Gale Force quite quickly towards the southwest. The rain spreading in towards the southwest. Wales and Northern Ireland in the morning, on and off elsewhere. Bright Start Cloud increasing. Best of the weather. The further north you are across scotland. Exception being shetland. Further showers to come here though as we go through sunday, and then heavier bursts of rain into the southwest later as The Rain eventually arrives into the midlands. Another cool day by and large. A wet and windy evening then with gales around southern coast. The more persistent rain starts to push its way in by this stage, as a low pressure through Sunday Night into monday works its Way Eastwards and stalls where it stalls will dictate who sees the heaviest of The Rain. One thing to keep an eye on at the moment, though, it looks like it could be parts of east anglia, northern england. Sunshine and showers to the south. More persistent rain in Northern Ireland. A brighter day to the North East of scotland, but Feeling Cold in the wind. And some of that rain could linger into tuesday. Live from london. This is bbc news. The Israel Defense forces says they killed the hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in fridays strikes on beirut. Hezbollah has yet to comment. Hezbollah, funded by, Backed By, set up by iran to oppose israel, and now to have its leader taken out, iran is going to be under enormous pressure to respond. Air strikes continued into Saturday Morning in Southern Beirut where the military says hezbollah is storing weapons. Several buildings in dahieh Hezbollahs Stronghold in the south of the city. These are live pictures, you can see smoke still rising across the skyline of beirut. Hello. Welcome to the programme. We start with Breaking News. In the last Hour Israel has claimed to have killed the leader of hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in an overnight strike on beirut. This is the scene live in Lebanons Capital you can see the smoke still rising. Lets quickly remind ourselves who Hassan Nasrallah was. Hes was the leader of lebanons militant Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement, with close links to iran. He was one of the best known and most influential