In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the idf began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to israeli communities in northern israel. This is the live scene in beirut, as bbc teams report hearing explosions in the capital's southern suburbs — israel has ordered the evacuation of three areas. Meanwhile the uk government has chartered a flight to help british nationals leave lebanon, scheduled to leave beirut on wednesday. It's as israeli tanks were seen gathering at the border on monday. Israel's defense minister yoav gallant said the military is prepared to use forces from the air, land and sea — to allow thousands of displaced israelis to return to their homes in the north. Meanwhile, the deputy chief of hezbollah, naim qaissem, said the groups fighters are ready to confront an invasion. He acknowledged the assassination of leader, hassan nasrallah, was a big blow — but said all fallen commanders would soon be replaced. I'm joined now by our correspondent anna foster in beirut. Good to speak to you, it's past 4am in the morning where you are, tell us more about how hezbollah might react. The momentum _ hezbollah might react. The momentum rarely hezbollah might react. Iie: momentum rarely gathered hezbollah might react. I“i;e: momentum rarely gathered here over the few hours leading up to the announcement that israeli troops had entered on for the first time since the war in 2006 between these two sides and is within the combination of what has been a very fast—moving israeli operation of the last week or so, we've seen airstrikes here in southern lebanon in the east of the country as well where is within the combination of what has been a very fast—moving israeli operation of the last week or so, we've seen airstrikes here in southern lebanon in the east of the country as well were israel said it was targeting hezbollah�*s very successfully removing and killing many of its senior members include hassan nasrallah. Now we heard from the idf that that was going to be a precursor to a ground operation, that has happened really quite quickly in a matter of days since it was first suggested by the idf. There are questions now that we will wait and see the answers to, what does a localised and targeted israeli ground operation in lebanon look like? what kind of challenges for the face? what is that mean for the many civilians were still in that area and i think crucially, what response could provoke both from hezbollah but also from their fellow iranians backed proxies here in the middle east? irate backed proxies here in the middle east?— backed proxies here in the middle east? ~. Middle east? we are reporting the uk government _ middle east? we are reporting the uk government is middle east? we are reporting the uk government is looking | middle east? we are reporting i the uk government is looking to extricate or to evacuate its british national from extricate or to evacuate its british nationalfrom lebanon, british national from lebanon, the british nationalfrom lebanon, the many civilians have such a luxury, how are they or if you can give us summary action to what's been going on in the ground there with response to these incursions and the attacks from the errors well israel?. ,. . , attacks from the errors well israel?. ,. ,. , _ israel? you are right to say that for many _ israel? you are right to say that for many lebanese that for many lebanese citizens, they don't really have a choice of where to go and for some of them, coming from those poorer areas in the south or the areas in the cities here, they haven't had any way to go as people have been living on the streets for several days now with their children, with whatever they can grab and take with them when they fled. The lebanese state has been will state of difficulty for several years now, crisis upon crisis, they had economic crisis which still goes on, electricity in this country, state electricity is very short supply, they have been times when medicines have been times when medicines have been very hard to get hold of, fuel is been hard to get a hold of and it's really ground infrastructure of lebanese society down so now they suddenly have the displaced people to try and look after it exited enormously difficult and also talk about for nationals there tried to leave as well, you mention that uk government has charted a plane of what it's going to offer seeds for payment to vulnerable british nationals and their families and dependents, they said in the first instance. The us was also doing something similar, i saw in the us embassy social media feed a few hours ago that they were similarly saying they were going to chide civilian planes to get people out. One of the great war as it is what people think back to 2006, one thing that happened there was infrastructure was taken out by israel including things like the airport, there is only one civilian airport you 11 on, you cannot get out via the southern border of into israel, you cannot get out via the east because you have serious so i think there is a concern among other governments when they look at the national cor that if for example, the airport were to be targeted again as it was nearly 20 years ago, it would be enormously difficult to get people out if they wanted to leave and if and when things become dangerous here. Anna, thank you so much to getting up to speed. Let's go now tojerusalem and our middle east bureau chief, jo floto. Get up to speed with the position and the lessons that we can learn from gaza about how israel prepares and goes in to conflict. I how israel prepares and goes in to conflict— to conflict. I think the gaza comparison _ to conflict. I think the gaza comparison is _ to conflict. I think the gaza comparison is useful, to conflict. I think the gaza comparison is useful, the l comparison is useful, the situation that has subsided in terms of how many military forces israel is committed and in the north, it's a very different terrain and it's a very different enemy that israel says it is facing there. What been hearing for the last week or so, very clear that israel was not repaired to end this conflict without addressing its major concerns about hezbollah infrastructure just across the border, for years, hezbollah has been very clear that it had a plan to cross into israel to infiltrate that area and to take communities over and they were very public about that and a few years ago, a network of tunnels was discovered for being dug underneath the border which could have infiltrated hundreds of hezbollah fighters in one go. After october 7, israel was not prepared to have that risk continue and so, any further ceasefire that broken, i think israel was concerned i would happen before it had the ability to address this issue so what we have seen now is a small operation is designed to target specific areas of concern, specific places, locations, bunkers, weapon stores and tunnels that might lead to the border because if there is an agreement to stop this, if they could just move north into lebanon but could reoccupy those bunkers, those tunnels, and very short notice. Israel has stated that its goal is to be able to return its citizens to the northern part of israel where they had previously settled, but this conflict looks like it's at the beginning stages? irate conflict looks like it's at the beginning stages?— conflict looks like it's at the beginning stages? we will see. It's the big _ beginning stages? we will see. It's the big question, _ beginning stages? we will see. It's the big question, its it's the big question, its stated position of limited and is only happening currently just over the border, we will see, i think israel cannot acknowledge that it will be able to return it citizens to the north of the country without someone else brokering the agreement. All it takes is for one group of fighters from hezbollah to continue to fire rockets into northern israel and then ceases to become that so i think things idly for the rest of world and for the region is that what starts off as a limited operation grows and grows and there are many people in israel who look back at history can see that israel goes into lebanon quickly and then leaves much more difficult. — then leaves much more difficult. ~. . , difficult. We will leave a day, thank you — difficult. We will leave a day, thank you for _ difficult. We will leave a day, thank you for speaking difficult. We will leave a day, thank you for speaking to difficult. We will leave a day, thank you for speaking to us. For more, let's speak to trita parsi. He's co—founder and executive vice president of the quincy institute for responsible statecraft, and founder of the national iranian american council. Thank you forjoining me to speak about this. A limited ground invasion, in other words use, what's your take on what we are seeing? if use, what's your take on what we are seeing?— we are seeing? if you recall the invasion _ we are seeing? if you recall the invasion of _ we are seeing? if you recall the invasion of gaza we are seeing? if you recall the invasion of gaza was. We are seeing? if you recall. The invasion of gaza was also supposed to be limited, not particularly long we were supposed to be finishing by november of last year and here we are so, i think it is a bit dangerous tojust we are so, i think it is a bit dangerous to just uncritically repeat the language that is used, by hezbollah or by israel at this point, none of these plans are making sure that these are short and proven to be effective, it doesn't seem particularly like that this will be either. They are a fighting force on southern lebanon for the israeli's and on the other hand, the israeli's have already struck hezbollah in a very lethal way with the elimination of the top leadership and the hacking of the communication. None of that, nevertheless, suggested this easily going to be a limited campaign. This easily going to be a limited campaign. You talked about the _ limited campaign. You talked about the killings _ limited campaign. You talked about the killings of limited campaign. You talked | about the killings of hezbollah leadership as well as the compromise of their telecommunications networks with those walkie—talkie explosions. Just remind us about the ability that hezbollah is in comparison to what we saw in gaza with hamas. Hezbollah is a very large arsenal of longer age missiles, more effective and sophisticated and most likely that israel is not entirely certain as to whether hezbollah has them or not. Hezbollah has been using drugs and other types of technology quite effectively even already back to 2006 in the middle east to be beyond that. However, under those capabilities can be effectively used if the communication systems continues to be compromised. In fact, this is reminiscent of what happened in 2000 and 65 the roles were reversed. Hezbollah actually manages to hack the israeli communication systems which then gave a significant edge and advantage despite the fact that israel is militarily far superior. — fact that israel is militarily far su erior. �*. ,. , far superior. And i want to get our far superior. And i want to get your thoughts _ far superior. And i want to get your thoughts on _ far superior. And i want to get your thoughts on iran far superior. And i want to get your thoughts on iran next your thoughts on iran next because they are a key to hezbollah and the supply a lot of their weapons and machinery, what role are they playing here and do you think they will get drawn in more direct conflict with israel? i drawn in more direct conflict with israel?— with israel? i think at this oint with israel? i think at this point from _ with israel? i think at this point from the _ with israel? i think at this point from the israeli point from the israeli standpoint, they don't seem to care if there is a red line 11 on at all. The official positions of the need to intervene because hezbollah is strong enough to defend itself and defend ii on but if that troops to be untrue, given what israel already has managed to do to has than it would be put to expectation on iran from the other elements of the so—called acts of resistance, it is very high and already a narrative of betrayal that is spreading that they have not stood up for hezbollah or hamas for that matter in the manner that they have expected that it would. Iran is in a very dire situation, do not want all—out war with israel, they believed that the tenure who wants a larger war and drag the us into it and they have been very careful to do what is into a trap. Careful to do what is into a tra. I,. , careful to do what is into a tra. . , ~' ,, careful to do what is into a tra. . ~ careful to do what is into a tra. . ,,. Careful to do what is into a tra. . . . , trap. Thank you so much fear inside, trap. Thank you so much fear inside. We — trap. Thank you so much fear inside, we appreciated. —— thank you so much for your insight. If you want to find out more, our life pages up and running. Updates are being coming into the side we get them. Officials in nepal say the number of people known to have been killed by landslides and floods in recent days has reached 200. More than 20 others are still missing with rescue efforts ongoing. Nepal's army says more than 4,000 people have been rescued, with helicopters, motorboats and rafts bringing stranded people to safety, after roads and bridges in several areas were washed away. Concerns have also been raised by aid groups about providing food, shelter, water and sanitation for those impacted by the floods. Is helping to coordinate the relief operation. The damage occurred in both kathmandu but now in the rule areas that are downstream in nepal. Especially in the southern districts and there we are seeing huge amounts of flooding, we have seen landslides across nepal, across many of the different districts, to the extent that the kathmandu valley is completely blocked, all the roads going in and out are blocked which you can see the picture of the scale of flooding here. This is the second flight that's occurred in kathmandu this year. But this one was much, much larger and the reinforcer have been the highest on record in the last 5a years, not only kathmandu valley but across multiple district so we are seeing more extreme weather happening, nepal is very vulnerable to climate change and unfortunately, we are going to continue to see this events unfold. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Let's look at some other stories making news. The last remaining blast furnace at britain's biggest steel works in port talbot has ceased production. 2,800 jobs will be lost, and the closure marks the end of a century of traditional steel making in south wales. Operators tata steel says it is �*deeply conscious' of how difficult the closure is for the community, whilst union unite called it �*industrial vandalism'. An accounting system used by post office sub—postmasters before the flawed horizon software was introduced, is also likely to have been faulty. A report into the capture system, which was used from 1992 to 1999, found it could have created cash shortfalls in accounts. An investigation into the it system was commissioned after some subpostmasters said they were wrongly accused of stealing. The uk's top civil servant, simon case, is to step down for health reasons. The cabinet secretary says he's been undergoing treatment for a �*neurological condition�* and will leave by the end of the year. Mr case said the decision was solely to do with health. The job involves advising the prime minister and cabinet, and leading implementation of government policies. You�*re live with bbc news. More than 100 people have died and millions are without power in the south—eastern united states, after hurricane helene brought torrential rain and high winds a number of states over the weekend including florida and north carolina. Several towns have been flattened and roads destroyed, with the governor of north carolina warning that entire communities had been washed off the map. The authorities say around 600 people are still missing and the death toll may rise. President biden says he plans to visit flood—ravaged north carolina on wednesday. I�*m joined now by our correspondent carl nasman who is in north carolina. What response have we been hearing from the president and those on the ground? everybody we�*d talk to here in north carolina says they are used to hurricanejohn tropical storms but they�*ve never really seen anything quite like this, the damage, destruction in the state staggering, we heard their entire communities just washed away by they lose of rain over the past few days, the death toll does continue to climb, there are several people missing, the worry now is that rescue efforts could be hampered by conditions on the ground, it still won�*t hear, the roads have been damaged and this difficult to read some of the mountainous areas here in western north carolina. It seems that the damage of hurricane helene is still being revealed. Days after hurricane helene made landfall, the scale of the devastation is becoming clear. From florida to georgia. . . . . And here in north carolina, homes and livelihoods washed away. More than 100 people have now died across six states, and with scores still missing, white house officials fear the death toll could rise as high as 600. I�*ve never seen so many people homeless as what i have right 110w. This is the third storm in a year. Like, i don�*t know how much more we can take, and then they�*re telling us there�*s another one out there. Mountain regions of north carolina are some of the hardest hit — the splintered remains of people�*s homes now floating in floodwaters. Even before the officer got to me, the water was all the way up to my chest inside my car. I couldn�*t even think, what was going on? it happened so fast to me and scared the life out of me. Rescuers are still trying to reach residents cut off by damaged roads and a lack of cell phone service. Some of these states most affected are expected to be decisive in november�*s presidential election, so with just over five weeks until polling day, former president donald trump visited flood—ravaged georgia. His rival, kamala harris, says she�*ll be in the region soon. People hope the worst is over, but with two months of hurricane season left, helene may not be the last storm on the horizon. Carl nasman, bbc news. And carl, what response has there been from president biden and those on the ground? we heard from the president todayis we heard from the president today is saying that he does plan to visit north carolina specifically that will be on wednesday, it was interesting that there was this moment where he was asked whether or not he thought there was a link between the damage and the storm and climate change and he said absolutely positive yes, that he is bearing that out. There�*s also the political angle here, we saw donald trump on the ground in georgia on monday, we also know that vice president kamala harris planning her own troop to the region in the coming days. Thank you very much for that. Let�*s take a look at some other stories in the headlines. Nigerian authorities are investigating reports that at least 2a civilians were killed in an airstrike in the northwest kaduna state. Nigeria�*s airforce said it has been targeting hideouts for armed gangs in the region based on quote credible intelligence and reliable confirmatory surveillance. The incident has sparked concerns — following a mistaken airstrike by nigeria�*s airforce lastyear. The man charged in an alleged assassination attempt against former president donald trump — entered a not guilty plea on monday. Prosecutors say ryan routh was spotted with a rifle as he hid in the bushes near trump�*s golf course in west palm beach earlier this month. If convicted, routh faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The rock band oasis says they will ditch dynamic pricing for their tours in the us after it caused �*an unacceptable experience�* for uk fans. The system automatically raised the prices of concert tickets at times of high demands. The band faced backlash and an investigation was opened in the uk to see if ticketmaster violated consumer protection law. A round—the—world cruise ship which has spent the last four months being repaired in belfast, is planned to set sail today. The start of the three—year—voyage by the villa vie residences had to be pushed back whilst the boat was fixed. Now back in the northern ireland capital, they�*re hoping the wait to set sail may be over. Prince harry has made a rare public appearance in the uk, to celebrate the achievements of young people and their families dealing with serious health conditions. The duke of sussex attended the annual wellchild awards ceremony in central london, a charity of which he�*s patron. It isn�*t known whether he�*ll see his father, the king, or his brother, prince william, while he�*s visiting. , as daniela relph reports. Laughter. He might be a prince, but there was no special treatment for the duke of sussex. Six—year—old noah had prince harry in his sights. The trips back to the uk are just occasional now, but the prince�*s commitment to the wellchild charity hasn�*t wavered since his move to america. At the award ceremony to honour the courage of children with complex needs, prince harry called them little legends and praised their families. As a parent, i know a little about the emotional roller—coaster of parenting. But when i hear about the care that some of you mums, dads and family members provide, the level of round—the—clock care that you offer, the skills you�*ve had to learn and the battles for support that you fight every single day, i am truly in awe. Any return to the uk sharpens interest in prince harry�*s still strained relationship with the royal family. With the king in scotland and the prince of wales in windsor, family meetings appear unlikely. But he won�*t go home empty—handed — presents for prince harry�*s children, archie and lilibet, from 11—year—old lewis, one of the wellchild winners that prince harry called heroic. Daniela relph, bbc news, central london. Part of the border between switzerland and italy has been redrawn due to melting glaciers. Large sections of the swiss—italian border are determind by glacier ridglines. Global warming has caused swiss glaciers to lose 4% of it�*s volume in 2023. This is what the peak of the matterhorn mountain looked like prior to succumbing to the effects of climate change. On friday, switzerland officially approved the treaty saying that the redefined borders had been drawn up in accordance with the economic interests of both parties. Ajoint italian—swiss commission agreed to the changes in may of 2023, but italy still needs to sign. Let�*s ta ke let�*s take you back to be rude, with live images of what the city looks like at the moment, it�*s about 4:25am in the morning in beirut and if you arejustjoining us, we can tell you to get up to speed with what�*s been happening. Israel is in a flash warning urging residents in now here that hezbollah stronghold in beirut southern suburbs to evacuate, that warning was followed with a series of strikes, the first coming fewer than 30 minutes after israel�*s warnings. Stay with us with bbc news. More coverage of that next. Business today coming up next. Hello there. Well, as we start off october, things are looking a little drier for a couple of days, but it has been a very wet september across the southern half of the uk. In fact, some spots towards the south of england have seen three or four times the average september rainfall. And it�*s notjust been the wettest september on record for some places, it�*s also been the wettest month on record. There�*s been more flooding in didcot in oxfordshire here on monday, more flood warnings in force as we head through the rest of the night, mostly for central and north—western areas of england, where we�*re seeing the heaviest of the downpours. But that low has now pulled out into the north sea. Still strong, gusty winds for these north sea—facing coasts, some more rain gradually sinking further southwards and eastwards across central—southern england. But some clear skies out towards the north and the west, so, here, a locally chilly start to the day on tuesday. Now, on tuesday, that low is still bringing some more cloud and some rainjust swirling around it. Some of that rain could push a little further westwards at times, it will be lighter than on monday, of course, and we�*ve still got that brisk north—easterly wind across coastal areas of yorkshire, lincolnshire and down through northern areas of norfolk too. The best of the sunshine out towards the west, for much of scotland, into northern ireland, western wales and south west england. And here, we could see temperatures rise to around 16 or 17 celsius. And then on wednesday, well, high pressure starts to edge down from the north, so we�*re all going to be seeing that dry, sunnier—feeling weather as we head through wednesday and thursday. But it�*s going to take a while, i think, still for that low to clear across south east england, east anglia. Still some showers here and a bit more in the way of cloud. Some of the showers blowing a little further westwards at times, but lots of sunshine further north and west, some areas of cloud at times. Chance of one or two isolated showers, but temperatures 15 to 17 celsius in the best of the brightness. And on thursday, it�*s going to be a locally chilly start to the day. A touch of frost, perhaps, in the north, a bit of mist around with those lighter winds, but for the vast majority of us, a dry day with plenty of sunshine. Cloud developing here and there, and temperatures have now returned to the seasonal average, so 1a to 17 degrees north to south. On friday, we start to see more cloud edging from the north and the west. The best of the sunshine further south and east. And over the weekend, well, we�*ve got rain pushing eastwards again. Bye—bye for now. Time is running out to avoid a pot shutdown. Canada imposes 100% taxes on chinese made vehicles. We find out what the impact is likely to be on the consumer. Welcome to business today. Time is running out to avert a massive strike on seaports in the us. Tens of thousands of dock workers are about to walk off the job at around 1a seaports along the eastern coast. That could cause delays and a drag on the economyjust delays and a drag on the economy just weeks delays and a drag on the economyjust weeks before a divisive presidential election. The two major sticking point between the international association and maritime alliance of wages and automation. Workers are unhappy with the current contracts which span the pandemics when dockworkers stayed on the job and enjoyed months of soaring inflation. On automation, the union boss has been wanting jobs could be replaced by machines. In response, that us maritime alliance says it is offering to keep the current ban on fully automated equipment. A strike could cost $5 million a day according to jp morgan analyst. Everything from raw materials and