Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News at Ten 20241002

Good evening. In another serIous escalatIon in the Middle East, iran has launched Missile Attacks against israel on the very same day that israel began a Ion'>Ground InvasIon against hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. A few hours ago, sirens sounded across the country and israelis were told to take refuge in bomb shelters, as explosIons lit up the night sky. Israel has said that this attack will have consequences, whilst the iranian government said that if israel retaliated, its response would be, in its words, crushing and ruinous. The Israeli Defense Forces say that around 180 missilies were launched towards israel this evening. Warning sirens sounded at around 5 30pm, and explosIons were soon heard. The missiles were fired across huge swathes of israel, including its largest city Tel Aviv, and the capitaljerusalem. Our correspondent Jon Donnison is there. You had to seek shelter there when the missiles were fired a few hours ago. That is right. Four and a half hours ago, us, like millIons of israelis, we received a text message, telling us to get to the shoulders immediately, and we ran it for the Safe Room in The Bbc bureau. This is an unprecedented iranian attack on israel on this scale, at the consequences could be huge. Israel was born It Consequences could be huge. Israel was born it was consequences could be huge. Israel was born it was coming. Consequences could be huge. Israel was born it was coming. But this was irans revenge was warned. Almost 200 ballistic missiles raining in across the country. 0k, guys, we have got to get off the roof, they are coming down right next to us. figs roof, they are coming down right next to us roof, they are coming down right next to ne next to us. As people ran for shelter. Next to us. As people ran for shelter, the next to us. As people ran for shelter, the iranian next to us. As people ran for shelter, the iranian missiles| shelter, the iranian missiles travelling 2000 kilometres in only around 12 minutes, Israels Defence System was at full stretch. TranslatIon we system was at full stretch. TranslatIon system was at full stretch. TranslatIon we are on high readiness for translatIon we are on high readiness for Ion'>Defence TranslatIon we are on high readiness for Ion'>Defence And TranslatIon we are on high I Readiness for Defence And Offence and we will protect the citizens of israel, and this attack will have consequences. We have plans to act in place at a time of our choosing. This restaurant in Tel Aviv took a direct hit. And this was a school in central israel. The us said it helped in shooting down some of the missiles and its Intelligence Agencies had alerted israel to an imminent attack. But america says iran gave no advance warning. The us military coordinated iran gave no advance warning. The us military coordinated closely iran gave no advance warning. The us military coordinated closely with military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend israel against it attack. Us naval Destroyers Joint is Io-defence'>RadIo Defence units in Firing Interceptors to shoot down the missiles. In gaza toniuht, to shoot down the missiles. In gaza tonight. As to shoot down the missiles. In gaza tonight. As iran to shoot down the missiles. In gaza tonight, as iran pounded to shoot down the missiles. In gaza tonight, as iran pounded israel, tonight, as iran pounded israel, there were celebratIons, as there were in the iranian capital as well. Iran had vowed vengeance after israel assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah on friday, and israel killed the leader hamas on iranian soil back in july. Meanwhile, this evening, near Tel Aviv, just before the Missile Attack in jaffa, Tel Aviv, just before the Missile Attack injaffa, israelis were shot deadin attack injaffa, israelis were shot dead in what police say was a terrorist attack. For months now, the diplomats in the world have tried to stop the year long war in gaza from engulfing the regIon. They have failed, and after tonights unprecedented iranian attacks, israel is expected to hit back hard. John donaldson, bbc news, jerusalem. In a moment well be speaking to our North America Editor sarah smith. The us have confirmed that they were involved in assisting israel in taking down some of the iranian missiles. But before that, lets return to Jon Donnison in jerusalem. What is the feeling of their tonight . Feeling there. We what is the feeling of their tonight . Feeling there. We knew that iran was tonight . Feeling there. We knew that iran was going tonight . Feeling there. We knew that iran was going to tonight . Feeling there. We knew that iran was going to seek that iran was going to seek vengeance for the assassinatIon of Hassan Nasrallah in lebanon on friday and also for the Hamas Leader Backin friday and also for the Hamas Leader back injuly, but israel has not had an attack like this from iran in its history, and the mood of defiance you heard from netanyahu suggests that israel is going to respond with force. It is another incredibly dangerous moment in a conflict now which has lasted almost exactly a year and is spreading across the Middle East. Year and is spreading across the Middle East. ,. , Middle East. Thanks for oining us. Now to Middle East. Thanks for oining us. Nowto newt Middle East. Thanks for oining us. Now to new york. H sarah, what have the americans been saying tonight . We heard from President Biden a few minutes we heard from President Biden a few minutes ago and he said the attack had been minutes ago and he said the attack had been ineffective and defeated and that had been ineffective and defeated and that he had instructed the us military and that he had instructed the us military to and that he had instructed the us military to assist in the defence of israel. Military to assist in the defence of israel. And military to assist in the defence of israel, and us naval destroyers fired israel, and us naval destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors at the iranian fired about a dozen interceptors at the iranian missiles. President biden the iranian missiles. President biden and the iranian missiles. President biden and Kamala Harris watched from washington and No Doubt President Biden washington and No Doubt President Biden is washington and No Doubt President Biden is fully supportive of Israels Biden is fully supportive of israels security, although he has not spoken israels security, although he has not spoken to netanyahu just yet, and he not spoken to netanyahu just yet, and he is not spoken to netanyahu just yet, and he is not discussing what the consequences might be, but you can be consequences might be, but you can he sure consequences might be, but you can be sure america is no longer going to he be sure america is no longer going to be urging israel to exercise any restraint to be urging israel to exercise any restraint in to be urging israel to exercise any restraint in its response, they see this as restraint in its response, they see this as an restraint in its response, they see this as an entirely different situatIon, what they are calling a brazen situatIon, what they are calling a brazen and situatIon, what they are calling a brazen and unacceptable escalatIon of hostilities in the regIon from iran of hostilities in the regIon from iran in of hostilities in the regIon from iran in support of Terror Groups that iran in support of Terror Groups that it iran in support of Terror Groups that It Nurtures and supports in the regIon that It Nurtures and supports in the regIon the that It Nurtures and supports in the regIon. The emphasis here today is quite regIon. The emphasis here today is quite different from how it was yesterday, very much on what america is calling its yesterday, very much on what america is calling its ironclad support for israets is calling its ironclad support for israels right to defend itself, although they will not say whether the us although they will not say whether the us might actually be involved in any of the us might actually be involved in any of that the us might actually be involved in any of that response and the consequences when indeed that might come consequences when indeed that might come. ,. , fears are growing about the escalating crisis here in the Middle East. Last night, Israels Military said its troops crossed the border into Southern Lebanon and told people living in more than 25 villages to evacuate immediately. Today it was revealed that israeli Special Forces had operated today it was revealed that israeli Inside Lebanon dozens of times over the past months, destroying tunnels and dismantling weapons. Well take you to both sides of the border tonight. In a moment we will get the latest from our chief internatIonal Correspondent Orla Guerin whos in the tyre in Southern Lebanon, but first, our middle East Correspondent Lucy williamson is on israels northern border. Tonight people in Northern Israel were still absorbing the news that israel had launched the Ion'>Ground IncursIon into lebanon across the border here, and today we were told that israeli Special Forces had spent more than 200 nights on the lebanese side of the border preparing the Ground And Finding and destroying hezbollah targets there, and the iranian Missile Attack tonight, though, is a reminder of how widespread and how unpredictable the risks of israels wars can be. In Northern Israel, it was clear this attack was different. People well used to hezbollahs rocket attacks, tonight, glued to the sky, to their phones. Israels Air Defences tackling iranian missiles, wave after wave. On the ground, along this northern border, a new generatIon is fighting an old and stubborn war. A limited, targeted Ion'>Ground IncursIon into lebanon, the army says, to destroy Hezbollah Tunnels and allow israels northern residents to return home. Four more Ions'>Reserve DivisIons were called up today. You can see the evidence of israels Ion'>Ground IncursIon here, a few miles from the border. Yesterday there were dozens of tanks lined up in these fields. Now, almost the entire Fighting Force is gone and several more armoured vehicles are preparing to move. A Military Official briefed Journalists Today that Special Forces had been operating just Inside Lebanon for the past 11 months, destroying tunnels. They showed us the weapons theyd found. With hezbollah weakened, i asked a spokesperson about the appetite to push the group further north. We are acting with a plan to carry out operatIons in a limited, targeted way, close by to the israeli border between israel and lebanon, making sure we remove these immediate threats. I asked if that plan could change . We have many plans on the table. At the moment, we are focussing on removing the immediate threats from close by to the israeli border. In Border Towns like kiryat shmona, emptied a year ago by fears of a hamas style attack, there is strong support for israels Ion'>Ground InvasIon. TranslatIon im certain that this Ground Manoeuvre will bring the residents back safely. I think it is very, very needed and that is the answer, it is exactly what we wanted, may be a bit too late, but better late than never. A day into Ion'>Israels InvasIon, its forces have so far met little resistance on the ground, but hezbollah remains a powerful enemy with an even more powerful backer. The risks of this incursIon have not yet fully emerged but in the year since the hamas attacks, Israels Risk Appetite has grown. Lucy williamson, bbc news, on the israel lebanon border. Lebanons Caretaker Prime Minister says Ion'>Israels InvasIon means his country is facing one of the most dangerous phases in its history. Around Ion'>A MillIon people have been displaced across lebanon since israeli Air Strikes intensified last month. Our senIor internatIonal Correspondent Orla Guerin is in tyre the southern lebanese city that lies close to the border thats been crossed by israeli troops. Tonight in the last half an hour we have been able to see incoming israeli strikes a few miles from here, visible from our positIon and of course israeli troops are on the ground. They invaded by crossing the border which is about 12 miles from here. Israel is talking about a limited Ion'>Ground InvasIon but that is no consolatIon to many lebanese, and they remember the devastatIon caused here in 2006, the last time israel and hezbollah went to war, and there are many in lebanon, especially in the south, who fear that their country could become another gaza. The empty road to tyre. Few were heading to Southern Lebanon today. Israel is ordering residents of 27 villages in the area to leave. Inside the city in the old christian quarter, some of the wreckage left by a recent israeli strike, and danger here still. Well, within the last few moments, weve heard the sound of two explosIons, and it sounds like there are still planes in the air. This site is where another Air Strike happened over the weekend, bringing down several buildings here. Weve been told that nine people were killed here alone. Hezbollah brought us to this site to show us this damage. We met Sausan El Halawa without hezbollah. She took us to her family home, which is no more. My daughter in law died here, she says. Her sons were injured. My husband was there, and i was there. The room fell on top of us. Theres nothing left. Sausan lists the names of her neighbours who died. Were just ordinary people here, she says. And then. Bang. This time, a sonic boom, an israeli War Plane breaking the sound barrier. Time to go. Many already have, getting away before it gets any worse. Well, you can see here, theres been a massive strike. Cars have been flipped over on their sides. Trees have been ripped out of the ground. And just across on the other side of the road, there is a massive crater. Israel has been hitting this area hard, and now it has troops on the ground here in Southern Lebanon. The last time that happened, in 2006, it was devastating for tyre. This ancient city is usually a popular holiday resort. Now its already a victim of war. But a wider war is being played out here tonight iranian missiles streaking towards israel in the skies over tyre. Across the regIon now, fires burning everywhere. Orla guerin, bbc news, Southern Lebanon. The timing of the iranian Missile Attack on Lebanon Tonight is particularly notable, coming as it did hours after the news that israel had launched that a Ion'>Ground InvasIon into Southern Lebanon. Iran also said that was in response to the killing here in beirut of the leader of hezbollah on friday, and the killing by israel in terror of ismail haniyeh, the political leader of hamas a few weeks ago. Lets return toJon Donnison injerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin Neta Nyahu has Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken tonight and call this a mistake, there is already talk of how and when israel might respond. Yes, if ou think when israel might respond. Yes, if you think back when israel might respond. Yes, if you think back to when israel might respond. Yes, if you think back to april when israel might respond. Yes, if you think back to april when when israel might respond. Yes, if you think back to april when iran l you think back to april when iran launched 300 drones and rockets towards israel, in a much more Telegraphed Attack that caused minimal damage, really, in israel, israel responded by bombing iran. Now, this Attack Tonight was much more serIous. I think israelis are going to wake up tomorrow and there is probably considerably more damage than we have seen so far tonight. There is a possibility so military bases were hit hard. In my report earlier, you saw that a school took a direct hit. There were large craters on the road. As i said, this is really unprecedented. And prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that iran will pay. We dont know when Israels Response is going to come, but you are almost certain that it will come. Thank you. Jon donnison in jerusalem. I think really the internatIonal communitys focus now will be on how to de escalate this. It is something they have been talking about for the last few days and weeks, but of course those conversatIons at the highest level, behind closed doors, really bear no resemblance to what we are seeing on the ground here in the Middle East at the moment. We have heard from david lammy, the foreign secretary, again from the us president joe biden, Everybody Calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East. But this is No Doubt a dangerous moment, and certainly people here in Lebanon Tonight, people in israel as well, are filled with Fear And Concern about what might happen next. That is all from me and our teams in the Middle East tonight, back to the studIo. Israel is now calibrating its response to Irans Missile strikes, with the vast majority of the weapons intercepted by the air force. Gordon corera is here with more details on the attack. Iran today launched a barrage of around 180 missiles against israel. But so far it looks like the casualties were limited. These are the type of missiles iran is thought to have used. These pictures are from the last time they were launched back in april. This time, even more were fired. Ballistic missiles fly high and fast in an arc. They can get from iran to israel injust 12 minutes. But israel has a sophisticated, multi layered air defence system. Best known is the Iron Dome but that only deals with shorter range rockets from a range of 70 kilometres, around a0 miles, like those that come from gaza. Next up is David S sling which covers medium range rockets and missiles. Finally, comes a system known as arrow 2 and 3. This deals with longer range missiles like those seen tonight. It can even intercept outside of the earth s atmosphere. The systems generally work by tracking the trajectory of an incoming missile using radar. A Control Centre monitors them and then launches their own missile which will intercept and blow it up. You could see the systems in Ion-tonight'>ActIon Tonight over the skies of israel. And on the whole they seem to have been effective in stopping many of the missiles. But not all. Some did get through. This footage, verified by The Bbc, is from Nevatim Site of a Military Airbase which looks to have been hit. Iran says it was targeting military sites. The full extent of any damage is not yet clear. And even if civilian casualties are limited and Air Defences largely worked, israel has still indicated it will respond. Well, in response to this evenings dramatic Events Sir Keir starmer says he utterly condemns irans Missile Attack, and Accused Tehran of menacing the Middle East for far too long. Lets talk to chris mason. The Prime Minister has been speaking to Benjamin Netanyahu . Thea;r the Prime Minister has been speaking to Benjamin Netanyahu . To benamin netanyahu . They have been to Benjamin Netanyahu . They have been speaking to Benjamin Netanyahu . They have been speaking for to Benjamin Netanyahu . They have been speaking for about to Benjamin Netanyahu . They have been speaking for about 15 to Benjamin Netanyahu . They have been speaking for about 15 minutes about the very prospect of this attack, when Benjamin Netanyahu had to abandon the call because he had been told by his officials that the attacks were under way. A couple of hours after that Phone Call we heard from Keir Starmer, in a statement in downing street, and some questIons from reporters. It cannot be tolerated. We stand with israel and we recognise her right to Self Defence in the face of this aggressIon. Iran must stop these attacks. Is the uk prepared to use british military capabilities to help israel defend itself against iran . And has that already happened this evening . This, as youll appreciate, is an evolving situatIon. But what i will say is that we stand with israel and her right to Self Defence and any relevant updates will be provided in due course. No to the Ion'>Holding PositIon from the Prime Minister and consider this. When the conservative Government Backin when the conservative Government Back in april authorised Uk Involvement in support of israel after attacks from around by drones and missiles, Keir Starmerfully and missiles, Keir Starmer fully supported and missiles, Keir Starmerfully supported and praised that. So dont be surprised if we hear later that the uk has been involved in some sort of response, potentially, particularly if that is Something Israel has requested. Lyse doucet is with me. You have reported from around since the late 1980s. The regime has been willing to shadow box the israelis through proxies for many years. Could we now be in the realm of both sides actually having a direct confrontatIon . Sides actually having a direct confrontatIon . ,. , confrontatIon . That is exactly what is happening confrontatIon . That is exactly what is happening the confrontatIon . That is exactly what is happening. The socalled confrontatIon . That is exactly what| is happening. The socalled shadow is happening. The so called shadow wars, decades of shadow wars, used to be the main battlefield, although it is staggering to think that the day started with Ion'>Israels InvasIon of lebanon and it is ending in this way. This is a very dark moment. As we have been hearing on this programme, this is the most dangerous moment of the past year. And they have been so many dangerous moments. We have been at this point so many times before. It is also very different. I was in israel in april when there was the Tit For Tat between iran, when iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones into israel. The us and other allies of israel. The us and other allies of israel immediately said, take the win, you intercepted most of them with our help, lets draw a line under this. Tonight, there doesnt seem to be any lines, any red lines, any guardrails. The iranian president said in a post on twitter that this isjust president said in a post on twitter that this is just a glimpse of a runs capabilities, and he warned, dont engage with iran. As we have been hearing, prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shot back and said iran has made a mistake and it will pay. And this time, the americans are also saying that a serIous consequences, and even more, we will make sure it will happen. These two regIonal heavyweights, they long have had daggers drawn, they long have had daggers drawn, they are facing off against Each Other and for now there doesnt seem to be anybody able and willing to pull them back from this proverbial break. Put pull them back from this proverbial break. � , pull them back from this proverbial break. � ,. , pull them back from this proverbial break. � ,. , break. Put irans proxies are in yemen, break. Put irans proxies are in yemen. Iraq break. Put irans proxies are in yemen, iraq and break. Put irans proxies are in yemen, iraq and syria, break. Put irans proxies are in yemen, iraq and syria, neverl break. Put irans proxies are in yemen, iraq and syria, never mind hezbollah, we really could be on the brink of a Ionwide-disaster'>RegIonwide Disaster here. The war is not over yet, including the regIonal ramificatIons of this. Tonight we are seeing this face to face between israel and iran, but all of the proxies, all of its allies that it has built up over so many years, armed and trained, intensely loyal to the islamic republic, they are waiting. There will be attacks from the who proxies, in the days to come we will see what hezbollah still have in their stronghold, the difficult terrain of Southern Lebanon. Tonight feels very dangerous, but there could be worse to come, and i am sorry to say that. And newsnight will have more analysis over on Bbc Two shortly, with victoria. As the Middle East stands on the brink, how dangerous is this moment for the world . And, were live at conservative conference in birmingham we interview two of the leadership candidates. Newsnight, live at 10 30 on Bbc Two. Lets take a look at some of the days other top stories. Household energy prices in england, scotland and wales have gone up by Io , after the latest Price Cap came into force. A household using a typical amount of gas and electricity, will now pay £1,717 pounds a year, an increase in the annual bill, of £149. Two teenagers are being treated in hospital, after what Police Suspect was an Acid Attack outside a school in west london. Officers are searching for a man they believe rode up on an e scooter, before throwing a corrosive substance, outside the Westminster Academy yesterday. And a Cruise Ship which sailed out of Belfast Harbour Last Night after a delay of four months has spent today moored off the coast of northern ireland. Passengers say they were told the liner would return to port, for some paperwork to be completed. Lets return to our top story and irans multiple Missile Strike on israel. Around 180 were fired, most of which were intercepted. The israeli military spokesperson, daniel hagari, says the attack will have consequences. It came after israeli troops on the border launched a Ion'>Land InvasIon of Southern Lebanon, in whats being described as a limited, localised and targeted ground operatIon, against hezbollah. Lets return to anna for a final thought all eyes are on israel, who have made it clear they are going to retaliate to what iran has done . You are right, and i think right across the Middle East tonight, people are going to sleep and they are concerned. They are nervous. Let me explain it this way. You might notice that i have my phone in my hand because there is so much informatIon coming in all the time. Just in the last ten minutes, the idf has announced another strike coming in the southern suburbs of beirut. It normally comes within 30 minutes or so, so we are waiting, listening and watching for that. People in Israel Tonight will be keeping their phones closed for the alerts, listening for sirens. People in iran will be watching to see what happens in terms of Israels Response. We have talked about World Leaders having discussIons about de escalatIon. We have talked about what is happening behind the scene here in the Middle East. But i think tonight it is all about those civilians, wherever they are in this regIon, and the concern, the nerves that they have, the fear. Because, really, it is so difficult to know what is going to happen here next. But No Doubt there is a real momentum and this is a difficult and dangerous moment in the Middle East. It is indeed. Many thanks to you and our teams across the regIon for the reporting this evening. Heres stav. Another thoroughly wet day across parts of england, particularly towards eastern areas. No surprise we have seen flooding and numerous places have seen their wettest september on record. But the rest of the week brings much better news. This area of High Pressure is already building in the northern and western areas, and will move right across the country and try things out. We should see plenty of sunshine. We still have this area of low pressure that has been around for the last couple of days, affecting the East And South east. Still a breezy night, strong north easterly wind, more cloudy. A few scattered showers. The further North And West you are, lighter wind, clearskies. So North And West you are, lighter wind, clear skies. So it will be quite chilly here, but further south and east, it will be the low teens. That area of low pressure slowly pulling away. You still have the Weather Front affecting East Anglia and the South East tomorrow. Further showers of the South East and perhaps the Greater London area, and a fairly brisk north easterly breeze. Further North And West, the area of High Pressure building. A lot of dry weather. Temperatures reaching the Mid Teens in the north. As we move into thursday, this area of High Pressure really dominates the scene, so i think thursday is looking like the driest day of all. As we head into friday, still dry weather. Thursday is a chilly start, lots of sunshine around. Lighter wind, including the South East, where we should see more sunshine as well. Temperatures responding. 17 or 18 degrees in the warmest spots. As israel invaded lebanon, iran launches hundreds of