These pictures show explosions near beirut airport. The us Defence Secretary Lloyd austin has given his support to israels objectives after speaking with with his counterpart, yoav gallant. Mr austin also warned iran it faced � grave consequences� if it carried out a direct attack against israel in support of hezbollah. You can see smoke filling the skies there as explosions have continued through the morning as they began overnight in the capital� s Southern Suburbs. Israel has ordered the evacuation of three of those areas and there have also been reports of an Air Strike hitting a crowded palestinian Refugee Camp near the southern lebanese city of saigon. Syrian State Media says that three people have been killed by israeli strikes on the capital damascus. Israel is yet to comment on the reports. Meanwhile, the Uk Government has charted a flight to help british nationals leave lebanon scheduled to leave beirut on wednesday. My Colleague Anna Foster gave us the latest from beirut. The Momentum really gathered here over the few hours leading up to the announcement that israeli troops had entered lebanon for the first time since the war in 2006 between these two sides. And it� s really the culmination of what has been a very fast moving israeli operation over the last week or so we� ve seen Air Strikes here in Southern Lebanon, in the east of the country, as well where israel said it was targeting hezbollah� s military infrastructure, its weaponry really trying to degrade the group. And also here in beirut, as we� ve seen, very successfully removing and killing many of its senior members, including its leader 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 just in a matter of days since it was first suggested by the idf. I think 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 will they face . What does that mean for lebanese civilians who are still in that area . And i think, crucially, what response could it provoke both from hezbollah but also from their fellow iranian backed proxies here in The Middle East . Joining us from our bbc arabic service. Bring us up to date on the very latest on that is really offensive. The very latest on that is really offensive. The israeli media talking really offensive. The israeli media talking about really offensive. The israeli media talking about the really offensive. The israeli i media talking about the eight missiles at least those from Southern Lebanon into israel and they were intercepted by the israeli air defences. But this is showing that this fighting in Southern Lebanon is getting intensified. The fighting actually manifested mostly as exchange of artillery and the change of Missiles Shelling between both sides rather than Land Engagement between both sides. As the israeli forces are saying, it is a limited and precise operation. There is no evidence that there is engagement on the ground between the israeli tanks, the Hezbollah Fighters and the ground yet, but the israeli forces also issued an order for the israeli forces also issued an orderfor the people israeli forces also issued an order for the people who are living south to avoid using their cars were to avoid using their cars were to avoid using their cars were to avoid using their cars and cross the river into the southern areas which means practically a personal curfew in Southern Lebanon. So this operations with artillery and exchanging missiles might be described by the israeli forces as intensified fighting at the Moment. figs forces as intensified fighting at the Moment. Forces as intensified fighting at the Moment. � , at the Moment. As he was saying there, at the Moment. As he was saying there. The at the Moment. As he was saying there, the israel at the Moment. As he was saying there, the Israel Defense there, the Israel Defense forces say this is a limited and localised Ground Operation. When you talk about the strikes as well continuing, we are hearing a palestinian Refugee Camp was hit. {iii hearing a palestinian Refugee Camp was hit hearing a palestinian Refugee Camp was hit. Of course there is a palestinian camp was hit. Of course there is a palestinian Refugee Camp was hit. Of course there is a palestinian Refugee Camp| is a palestinian Refugee Camp late Yesterday Evening and we saw chilling into some parts of the syrian capital damascus. Earlier we saw showing in yemen. Actually the fighting we hear about in Southern Gaza which is in rafa is on the ground as direct engagement rafah. By far it might be more than the fighting that is happening in Southern Lebanon at the Moment, so israel at the Moment is engaged in this several Moment'>Fronts Moment is engaged in this severalfronts at the Moment is engaged in this several fronts at the same time. Lebanon, gaza, Syria And Yemen at the same time, which is making the 1st Of October a significant date for israel, thatis significant date for israel, that is really engaging in several fronts to try to eliminate their enemies that are targeting their Civilians Everywhere. Are targeting their Civilians Everywhere are targeting their Civilians Everywhere. Are targeting their Civilians Eve here. , everywhere. Hezbollah has said it has been everywhere. Hezbollah has said it has been targeting everywhere. Hezbollah has said it has been targeting israeli it has been targeting israeli troops with Border-artillery'>Cross Border Artillery fire. What might be the next moves from hezbollah now . It the next moves from hezbollah now . ,. , the next moves from hezbollah now . ~ the next moves from hezbollah now . ~. , the next moves from hezbollah now . ~. , now . It looks like hezbollah is waitinu now . It looks like hezbollah is waiting for now . It looks like hezbollah is waiting for the now . It looks like hezbollah is waiting for the israeli now . It looks like hezbollah is waiting for the israeli forces i waiting for the israeli forces to do a serious incursion, because what we understand, the israeli forces trying to get into Southern Lebanon. There is history regarding the israel forces and Hezbollah Fighters managed to kidnap two soldiers in 2006 and kill them and they didn� t get, the israelis did not get their bodies unless they did a political agreement. They are really careful in their incursion and 18 years after what happened in 2006, it is expected that hezbollah might have lots of Military Presence or Military Traps or military formations in these villages, which is why the israeli forces are keen to understand what is the situation first before doing any incursion. Hezbollah at the Moment is responding typically by shelling missiles on northern israel, mid range missiles and short range missiles, they did not engage, there is no evidence that there is engagement at the ground at the Moment between the Hezbollah Fighters and the israeli forces. Hezbollah fighters and the israeli forces. Thank you for brin. In israeli forces. Thank you for bringing out israeli forces. Thank you for bringing out uptodate israeli forces. Thank you for bringing out uptodate on | bringing Out Up To date on those developments and we will speak to you throughout the morning here in Bbc News. Joining us live from the lebanese capital is british Beirut Resident victoria lupton. Welcome to Bbc News. It must be a distressing time for you and all the people who are in beirut at the Moment. Just bring us up to date on what you have been told by the british government in terms of being able to leave the country because of course british residents are now being told and very strong terms to leave beirut. , ~ ,. , and very strong terms to leave beirut. , ~ ,. ,. ,. , beirut. Thank you for having me on the shove beirut. Thank you for having me on the show. A beirut. Thank you for having me on the show. A week beirut. Thank you for having me on the show. A week ago beirut. Thank you for having me on the show. A week ago the i on the show. A week ago the british Government E mailed us saying we should be buying our own flights out to beirut which was quite a difficult message to receive because there were no flights. I eventually managed to get a flight to athens leaving tomorrow. Less likely to fight the british government messaged saying they have charted conflict that goes to birmingham and what i like a place on it but it it leaves tomorrow so i am sticking with my existing site. Tell tomorrow so i am sticking with my existing site. My existing site. Tell me how ou and my existing site. Tell me how you and your my existing site. Tell me how you and your neighbours my existing site. Tell me how you and your neighbours and | you and your neighbours and friends are feeling at the Moment. I friends are feeling at the Moment friends are feeling at the Moment. , a. , Moment. I am feeling sick, all of us are Moment. I am feeling sick, all of us are feeling Moment. I am feeling sick, all of us are feeling sick Moment. I am feeling sick, all of us are feeling sick and Moment. I am feeling sick, all of us are feeling sick and are l of us are feeling sick and are living in a state of terror. I run a ngo here that i found it almost a decade ago. I have worked my whole adult life for this country and it is being destroyed the document as we speak and it is serving as a doubling the price, civilians, colleagues, it feels like back to 90 thirds of the last time israel were occupying lebanon and what i am seeing and hearing around me, there were major explosions in beirut Last Night that seem to recall building, i have a field, i was moving my daughter� s cut as far away as possible from the windows to make sure she didn� t get hit. None of us are sleeping, we are all sleeping just a few hours at night, it is very difficult worrying times. ,. ,. , times. Tell me what you have been hearing times. Tell me what you have been hearing and times. Tell me what you have been hearing and seeing times. Tell me what you have been hearing and seeing as l times. Tell me what you have i been hearing and seeing as well because obviously we are seeing reports of our sirens sounding through the night, and of course the sounds of strikes as well. ,. ,. , well. Every few hours we are heafina well. Every few hours we are hearing explosions, well. Every few hours we are hearing explosions, some i well. Every few hours we are hearing explosions, some Ofj Hearing explosions, some of them sounding further away. Last night there were some that the whole building seemed to shake, sounded like they were very close. We are hearing israeli drones overhead almost constantly, some are then used to destroy buildings. We are Hearing Sirens absolutely constantly of ambulances trying to keep up with the enormous levels of civilian deaths. If you go out onto the street, Last Night i went for a walk on the seafront of beirut which i used to go on a work there every single evening and the whole seafront, miles, isjust full of homeless people, displaced people. They would have got calls it when i am from the israeli government saying they need to evacuate their homes at the top of a hat, they leave half an hour look lighter but nothing that the close on their backs. I have colleagues who had to leave their houses in the middle of the night without even their shoes because their houses are being bombed. The situation across the city is absolutely dire. It is now1 Million people displaced. I read that is the equivalent of the whole of london being forced to evacuate in this race week. , ~ forced to evacuate in this race week. ~ ,. , forced to evacuate in this race week. , ~ ,. , forced to evacuate in this race week. ~ ,. Forced to evacuate in this race week. , ~ ,. , week. Thank you very much for brinuain week. Thank you very much for bringing us week. Thank you very much for bringing us uptodate week. Thank you very much for bringing us uptodate on week. Thank you very much for| bringing us uptodate on what bringing us up to date on what is happening where you are. Just a developing story coming to us from Tel Aviv in israel. Reuters is reporting that Raid Sirens have been sounding in Tel Aviv and that an explosion was also heard. That is of course in israel. Sirens sounding in Tel Aviv according to the Reuters News Agency and an explosion heard. Also we are hearing that the un has lodged an urgent appealfor 426 an urgent appeal for 426 Million an urgent appealfor 426 Million in funds for lebanon. It is a nonvoting humanitarian crisis there as well. The un now launching an urgent appeal for hundreds of millions of dollars. We are of course staying with this developing story with special coverage here on Bbc News about developments in The Middle East so do stay with us. Around the world and across the uk. This is Bbc News. Let� s return to our coverage from The Middle East. Let� s go straight to our correspondence in the region. Joining me now Hugo Bachega In Beirut and from jerusalem, Yolande Knell. Yolande knell, i will start with you because we are hearing reports, i know not where you are, but from the Reuters News Agency saying Air Raid sirens have been sounding in Tel Aviv and that explosions have been heard. I appreciate you may not know the details of that but just the context of why that could be significant. Certainly that would could be significant. Certainly that would be could be significant. Certainly that would be the could be significant. Certainly that would be the furthest. Could be significant. Certainlyj that would be the furthest we have heard rockets penetrating into israel over the course of the past few hours. It has been noted that up to now the Rocket Warning sirens have been limited to places that have been close to the Border. We heard about 10 rockets coming in, won by rich overnight, most of which were intercepted. Another five Write Up on the Border and that was taken as being an indication that hezbollah� S Firepower had been greatly diminished by the israeli Air Strikes over the past couple of weeks. That said, we have also had the houthis in lebanon who have managed to launch missiles and there have been drones launched at israel as well. It is an indication of how much the country is on edge, knowing there are different proxies of iran around the region watching what is happening here, but this is really a new escalation as israel at the same time is going over the Border now, we have had it confirmed, there are israeli Ground Troops in Southern Lebanon. This is a significant new development. There is a long and painful history here for people in Lebanon And Israel when it comes to israeli incursions. But israel has you making it clear that it cannot complete its operation against hezbollah in its view unless it deals with hezbollah infrastructure that its noses along the Border. It says this poses a threat to its communities in the north. They would be able to go back to their homes unless it destroys underground tunnels, the military bunkers, other Military Hardware that is along that Border. Along that Border. Lets go to hu. O along that Border. Lets go to hugo but along that Border. Lets go to Hugo But Shake along that Border. Lets go to Hugo But Shake beirut. Along that Border. Lets go to Hugo But Shake beirut. Just l Hugo But Shake beirut. Just bring us up to date on what has been happening where you are. We have heard from the Israeli Miiiiery we have heard from the israeli military which announced what they military which announced what they described as a targeted localised, limited Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon. We still operation in Southern Lebanon. We still dont have a clear picture we still dont have a clear picture of what is happening in the south picture of what is happening in the south to the extent of the incursion, the south to the extent of the incursion, but here in lebanon ithink incursion, but here in lebanon i think there was a sense that some i think there was a sense that some kind i think there was a sense that some kind of Ground Offensive by the some kind of Ground Offensive by the israeli army was inevitable. The israeli authorities were saying this campaign against Hezbollah Mark Wasnt campaign against Hezbollah Mark Wasnt going to stop with the killing wasnt going to stop with the killing of the group is s Leader Killing of the group is s leader Hassan Nasrallah which happened last week. Obviously for almost a year covering this conflict for almost a year covering this conflict here in lebanon and talking conflict here in lebanon and talking to people outside hezbollahs base, people were very concerned that these attacks very concerned that these attacks by hezbollah would drag lebanon into a conflict that wasnt lebanon into a conflict that wasnt in lebanon into a conflict that wasnt in the countrys interests. They have been suffering for years from an economic crisis is that there is also economic crisis is that there is also a economic crisis is that there is also a political crisis, so pecule is also a political crisis, so people were very concerned that this could people were very concerned that this could lead to another major this could lead to another major confrontation between hezbollah and israel. There is a History Hezbollah and israel. There is a history here and people still remember what happened in 2006 in the remember what happened in 2006 in the last remember what happened in 2006 in the last conflict between isreel in the last conflict between israel and hezbollah, and there is a feeling that history is repeating itself right now stop we still repeating itself right now stop we still dont know whether hezbollah has the ability to coordinate any significant response. Yesterday we heard from response. Yesterday we heard from the response. Yesterday we heard from the Hezbollah Number two who was from the Hezbollah Number two who was defiant, he said fighters who was defiant, he said fighters were ready to confront any kind fighters were ready to confront any kind of israeli invasion. But any kind of israeli invasion. But the any kind of israeli invasion. But the group has been weakened after this but the group has been weakened after this unrelenting campaign of israeli after this unrelenting campaign of israeli Air Strikes, of targeted assassinations, but the question remains over the ability the question remains over the ability of the question remains over the ability of hezbollah to stage any kind of significant response and the fear is that this could be just the beginning of a wider Israeli Offensive against the group. That offensive against the group. That is offensive against the group. That is if offensive against the group. That is if your group Yolande Kneu that is if your group Yolande Kneuin that is if your group Yolande Knell injerusalem. We would just play you some of what the Israel DefenseForces Person said a short time ago about the Israel Operation in lebanon. If the state of lebanon and the world can� T Push Hezbollah away from our Border we have no choice but to do it ourselves. I want to make it clear, i work with hezbollah, not with the people of lebanon. We do not want to harm lebanese siblings. A war with hezbollah. We are taking measures to prevent it. We will not let the 7th Of October happen again on any one of our Borders. We will continue doing whatever necessary so that israeli families can return to their homes in safety and security. Yolande knell, he said there, we don� t want to harm civilians. That is something the israeli military said when it comes to the offensive in gaza and there have been civilian deaths. What is the Military Strategy going forward from what we have heard in further briefings from the idf . They say they are planning to destroy this infrastructure along the Border. They are stressing repeatedly that what they are planning at the Moment is not an occupation. Of course there was an occupation of Southern Lebanon after israel� S Corporation in 1982. That lasted 18 years. But that is why there have been so many international misgivings about what is happening here, this idea that they could be mission creep. But we are not getting many details about exactly what these Ground Troops are up to, apart from the fact they want to Push Hezbollah back away from the Border in accordance with the un Security Council Resolution that really entered the world. Where the litani lives. Israel has said it once hezbollah pushed back to that location so that will reduce the threat it poses to its citizens. The threat it poses to its citizens the threat it poses to its citizens. � ,. ,. ~ citizens. Lets being hugo back in. We citizens. Lets being hugo back in we have citizens. Lets being hugo back in. We have heard citizens. Lets being hugo back in. We have heard in citizens. Lets being hugo back in. We have heard in the citizens. Lets being hugo back| in. We have heard in the united nations that they are lodging an urgent appealfrom nations that they are lodging an urgent appeal from some 426 Million in aid for lebanon. What are the real peers on the ground in terms of a looming humanitarian crisis . The lebanese humanitarian crisis . The lebanese prime humanitarian crisis . Tue lebanese Prime Minister humanitarian crisis . Tte lebanese Prime Minister this morning said lebanon was facing one of the most dangerous Moments in its history. Obviously we have seen that the fighting has led to the displacement of around 1 Million people. This is putting a lot of pressure on public services, schools have been turned into shelters across the country. Hospitals are also struggling to cope with the sheer number of casualties from these israeli Air Strikes. They have been happening all across the country, in Southern Lebanon but also in the valley in the east, 20 hezbollah strongholds in the country and also here in a Southern Suburbs of beirut, the hezbollah base. A lot of the pressure on the authorities. If this israeli continues and escalates, the situation here is only going to get worse. Situation here is only going to get worse get worse. Thank you for bringing get worse. Thank you for bringing us get worse. Thank you for bringing us uptodate l get worse. Thank you for l bringing us uptodate on get worse. Thank you for bringing us uptodate on what bringing us up to date on what is developing ever changing story. The former dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has become the 14th Secretary General of nato on tuesday. Jens stoltenberg, who served as the head of the Military Alliance for more than a decade will be replaced at a meeting at the organisation� s headquarters in brussels. Live now to the scene. That is literally a handover and nato. The former dutch Prime Minister is now the head. Live now to brussels where we can speak with our Defence Correspondent jonathan beale. Just bring us up to date on the appointment of margaret . That transition has appointment of margaret . That transition has now appointment of margaret . Tngt transition has now happened. It was the handing over of the Gavel Yen Stoltenberg to Mark Rutte, the former dutch Prime Minister. We have already heard from both men. First of all from both men. First of all from Mark Rutte who said his priority would clearly be ukraine, continuing that military support from nato countries to ukraine, making sure nato countries ramped up defence spending, something he wasn� t great that when he was touched premise for 10 years and also building alliances with other countries outside nato. Nato is an alliance of 32 countries in the North Atlantic European Area but they are also developing relationships with countries in the Indo Pacific and getting increasingly concerned about the activities of china. There are his priorities and he also said he would be willing to work with whoever won the election in the us. He has had a decent Working Relationship with Donald Trump. Some called him the trump whisperer. He was able to defuse a row at a Nato Summit when Donald Trump was threatening to walk out of the alliance, giving Donald Trump credit for forcing other European Countries to spend more on defence, which is the exact words Donald Trump wanted to hear, but he also praised kamala harris, so he is working that very careful line between not taking sides in the election but praising both candidates. Election but praising both candidates. Thank you for brin. In candidates. Thank you for bringing us candidates. Thank you for bringing us uptodate i candidates. Thank you for | bringing us uptodate on candidates. Thank you for bringing us uptodate on that bringing us up to date on that development from brussels. The new nato Secretary GeneralMark Rutte, the former dutch Prime Minister. Let� s remind you of that development we got from israel in the last half an hour or so. That is that Air Raid sirens have reportedly been sounding in Tel Aviv, according to the Reuters News Agency, an explosion has also been heard. We are also hearing other reports of a Siren Sounding across central israel as well. There was reports coming in from the army there. We are staying on our special coverage of developments from The Middle East, so do stay with us here. There is also plenty more on the Bbc News website. Stay with us. Hello again. We� ve had some heavy rain moving across parts of england and also wales this morning, and the whole lot is slowly pushing towards the south east. It� s being dragged along by this area of low pressure which will still be with us even through Tonight And Tomorrow in the far south east, but it� s going to weaken as we go through the next couple of days, the rain turning more showery. But you can see here, where we� ve got the greens in the chart, that is indicating some heavy bursts. This rain already falling on some saturated ground which could lead to further issues. A keen wind coming in from the North Sea will accentuate the cool feel. But for scotland, Northern Ireland, parts of wales and the south west, we will see some drier conditions. And in the north west, certainly some sunshine. As we head through the evening and overnight, still a lot of cloud across much of england and wales. Our Weather Front wrapped around an area of low pressure still producing some showers and still breezy. But we� ve got clearer skies as we push further north, for northern england, Northern Ireland and scotland, and in some sheltered glens temperatures could fall away to freezing, so locally we could wake up to A Touch Of Frost tomorrow. High pressure is starting to really exert its influence across us during wednesday, but you can just make out the dregs of today� s Weather Front, still producing some showers, but the spacing in the isobars tells you it� s not going to be as windy. It will be breezy, though. So, we start off with a lot of cloud for england and for wales. That will break up, sunshine developing. Showers continuing on and off in the south east, and when we lose the Mist And Fog further north, there will be a fair bit of sunshine around with temperatures 13 17 degrees. Then as we head on from wednesday into thursday, well, High Pressure really does assert itself across the whole of the uk, so we are looking at a drier day, there will be more sunshine around, it� s going to be less breezy. There will be some fairweather cloud bubbling up as we go through the course of the day, but not really spoiling it. And temperatures, 12 to about 17 degrees north to south. Then beyond that, for friday and into the weekend, well, friday itself, there will be Mist And Fog to start the day. Scotland and Northern Ireland, a Weather Front will come in bringing you cloud and some patchy rain. There will be a lot of dry weather this weekend, but equally expect some rain at times. Hello, i� m rajini vaidyanathan. Welcome back to our special coverage of developments in The Middle East. Israeli Ground Forces have crossed into Southern Lebanon, marking an important new escalation of their offensive against hezbollah. The incursion follows weeks of heavy blows by israel against the lebanese armed group, including the killing of its long time leader, Hassan Nasrallah. As israeli Artillery And War planes hit sites in lebanon overnight, its military says a Return Barrage of about ten rockets was fired at its towns. We are getting more details coming in from the Reuters News Agency who are quoting a Security Official saying that the israeli Ground Operation will be limited. A wider Operation Targeting Beirut is, to quote this statement, not on the table. The Reuters News Agency also say the same Security Official has said that no clashes with hezbollah forces have yet been reported in the Ground Operation. Those two lines coming in to us about half an hour ago as well we were telling you about reports that Air Raid sirens had been heard in Tel Aviv, the most populated city in israel, and an explosion had also been heard there as well. And all of this as we are also hearing that the lebanese caretaker Prime Minister, najib