Organising aid In Beirut. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army says, that two of its soldiers have been killed, by israel in separate incidents in Southern Lebanon. Lets speak to our correspondent nick beake, whos in northern israel. In Terms Of what you are seeing just bring me right up to date. We have seen more israeli tanks being taken towards the border with lebanon, that is the reflection of the way the israelis are intensifying this operation against hezbollah. I say operation, it is a mission now and they insist it is made up now and they insist it is made up of lots of separate targeted operations. Some teams going in and then in some cases retreating. But certainly it seems to be gathering pace. In Terms Of a snapshot of where we are, i think in Terms Of what we heard in the skies above us so far today that has been considerably less than yesterday. But of course that is just a snapshot of one particular location. The Israeli Army is saying its carried out a lot of strikes in the past day or so. Just as i say that a helicopter is in the sky. Carrying out more than 200 results mainly in the south Of Lebanon and once again the israelis are saying they are targeting hezbollah positions but at the same time we have had these reports of civilians being caught in this and also that the Lebanese Army saying today that two of the soldiers have been killed because of israeli fire and in one case they fired back and that is the first time we have seen that sort of exchange between the Lebanese Army which is separate from hezbollah and the israeli forces. In from hezbollah and the israeli forces. ,. , ~ , forces. In Terms OfRockets Auoin forces. In Terms Of rockets going the forces. In Terms Of rockets going the other forces. In Terms Of rockets going the other way forces. In Terms Of rockets going the other way fired i forces. In Terms Of rockets going the other way fired from hezbollah into israel, what has gone over that particular border over the last 2a hours . We have heard some of them. The israelis are saying more than 120 have been fired in that direction from Southern Lebanon into israel itself. That is the Justification Benjamin NetanyahuJustification Benjamin Neta nyahu says Justification Benjamin Netanyahu says for the Neta Nyahu says for the operation, netanyahu says for the operation, the fact the israeli troops have gone into Southern Lebanon as part of this invasion and his ultimate aim is that they can be a Buffer Zone created that hezbollah are pushed back and their weapons destroyed and have the capabilities degraded so that lots of israelis from the north of the country nearer the border are able to return home. But as we saw from the deaths of eight israeli Soldiers Yesterday and also other injuries, its not as straightforward as that and this is a different mission what they were playing out in gaza. That particular operation down in gaza. Down in gaza. Thank you very much for down in gaza. Thank you very much for the down in gaza. Thank you very much for the latest down in gaza. Thank you very much for the latest where down in gaza. Thank you very | much for the latest where you are. We showed you in the headlines that huge explosion overnight in central beirut. Sally nabil, our correspondent from bbc arabic, is near the location of the strike In Beirut overnight. Its a very chaotic scene. People are very angry, they are concerned and worried about the coming days and may be the coming days and may be the coming hours. Right behind me is the medical centre that has been shelled by the israeli Air Strikes overnight. It lies within a very busy residential area. We have been talking to the people of this morning and they told us that as soon as they told us that as soon as they heard the strike they ran out, children were screaming, one of them told me i felt as if my heart was going to stop. We have seen a lot of medical Kit Lying in the street. Masks and gloves and blankets. They are still trying to lift the rubble from the area and people have left this building, they dont know where they are going to go. A lot of the centre is meant to send to that shelter the displaced are overcrowded and people are staying out in the streets because they have nowhere to go. I have been asking him about this medical centre that has been targeted by an israeli Air Strike and they said it has been serving everybody in the area and most of those who have been killed or injured are medics. The civil defence usa the Air Strike has targeted this medical centre specifically. It believed to be affiliated or backed by hezbollah. But for the time being its the scene of rage here. The people who are waiting for the unknown. Lets speak now to jeffrey feltman, who served as the us ambassador to lebanon from 2004 to 2008, including during the war between Israel And Hezbollah in 2006. He joins me from washington. You were ambassador during that last war in 2006. What are the parallels and what are the differences this time . fine differences this time . One significant differences this time . One significant difference differences this time . One significant difference is differences this time . he significant difference is we have all been bracing ourselves for the Israel Hezbollah wore this time whereas in 2006 it was a surprise. Hezbollah to the Cross Border Raid in 2006 and kidnapped israeli soldiers which triggered the war. But there was no preparation. This time people have had the time to think about how they would evacuate and how they would leave the country. The airport is still operating which it was not operating in 2006. One of the first targets in 2006 was the first targets in 2006 was the airport. But this is a far more serious battle than the 2006 battle. Already in the past two weeks more people have been killed in lebanon than were killed during that entire 34 were killed during that entire 3a Day War in 2006. That War Endedin3a Day War in 2006. That war ended in stalemate and both sides have taken the last 18 years to implement the lessons they learned out of that stalemate. In Terms Of israel we have seen the type of Intelligence Penetration Israel has clearly brought to bear on hezbollah. We have seen the results of that over the past two weeks. For hezbollah its much more like a regular army now. Think of the fighting they did in syria to prop up as that. So both sides have implemented lessons learned in 2006. We have seen real tactical success on the israeli side in Terms Of the degradation of hezbollah� s arsenals. But as we saw from the eight soldiers killed yesterday on the Ground Offensive against hezbollah with bankers and bad experience from syria on the Home Turf and the geography that is far different from the gaza strip, much more rugged, many more places for ambushes, its going to be a tough fight than dropping bombs on buildings. Tell me more about that because as wounded as hezbollah are, their leader has been killed, thousands of fighters killed, half they are still apparently gone according to the israelis, but how resilient you think the group is . I but how resilient you think the arou is . , � ~ but how resilient you think the arou is . , � ~ ,. , group is . I dont think israel can eliminate group is . I dont think israel can eliminate hezbollah. Group is . I dont Think Israelj can eliminate hezbollah. Its more than leadership question. There is loyalty among a large segment of the population. Its part of the fabric. Its not something you can eliminate through bombs. But you certainly can degraded and i would say hezbollah has been seriously degraded militarily. Whats important is what is iran thinking because hezbollah was not only lebanese political social military organisation, but it also is irans first line of defence. Its irans Strike Back Capability of his role would go after irans nuclear programme. So the degradation of hezbollah� s military capabilities at least for now has an impact on the Deterrence Capability of iran against an israeli strike. Its against an israeli strike. Its very interesting against an israeli strike. Its very interesting you talking about the potential Domino Effect on the pressure that puts on iran. He was saying to a producer that you think lebanon now is at a crossroads, just elaborate and tell me what you mean and potentially the two avenues they could go down . Some of your views me remember the history but in 2005 when the history but in 2005 when the former prime minister Of Lebanon was assassinated, he was the premier sunni leader Of Lebanon with influence throughout the entire area, he was assassinated in lebanon. A political Earthquake Led ultimately to the expulsion of the city and occupying troops that had been there since The End of the civil war. The assassination of Hassan Nasrallah is an even bigger deal. What will this political Earthquake Lead to in lebanon . Will it enable lebanese to come together and to build a stronger state because hezbollah have become a state within a failed state you could say in Terms Of its social services and employment. The dignity had offered to lebanons population. Orders or will the hezbollah fighters feel victimised and aggrieved, mourning the death of their leader, will they try to tip the scales Inside Lebanon to have further hezbollah Domestic ControlOf Lebanon. Hezbollah has both domestic constituency and domestic rule it has decided for itself. I think the risk is that this limited israeli occupation will last longer than what you and i might think limited means. Does limited mean limited in Terms Of geography . In Terms Of time . If israel stays in Southern Lebanon and tries to reoccupy Southern Lebanon its going to recreate the conditions are created in 1982 when israel invaded lebanon which gave rise to hezbollah to begin with. We are really grateful for your time but we have to end it there. Thank you so much for being with us on the programme. Just in the last few minutes we have had a response from president by then, he was asked as he was getting onto a plane what are the plans in Terms Of israel that striking, he said there is nothing thats going to happen today on those israeli strikes. The reporter asked what are the plans to allow woodrow to strike back against the run . He continued, we dont allow israel, we advise israel and there is nothing thats going to happen today. So that is the latest from Joe Biden as he was leaving the white house. He was talking about strikes on nuclear Facilities Yesterday when he spoke. We will be exploring that avenue here on the programme in a moment or two. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. You are watching bbc news. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyhu has held a Security Meeting to discuss exactly how israel will respond to the wave of Ballistic Misiles iran launched on tuesday. Yesterday, Presisdent Biden said he was against Israel Ta rgetting irans nuclear facilities. David albright is an american physicist and a Weapons Expert whos the founder of the Institute For Science And International Security in washington. I began by asking him how close iran was to having a Nuclear Weapon. I think dangerously close. Iran has shown i think dangerously close. Iran has shown it can make Weapon Grade has shown it can make Weapon Grade uranium in sufficient quantities for local weapon within quantities for local weapon within days and accumulate enough within days and accumulate enough that several Nuclear Weapons in a month. So that part weapons in a month. So that part is weapons in a month. So that part is settled. That is the raw part is settled. That is the raw ingredients for a Nuclear Weapon raw ingredients for a Nuclear Weapon but they have worked on Nuclear Weapon but they have worked on Nuclear Weapons a lot in the past Nuclear Weapons a lot in the past and Nuclear Weapons a lot in the past and so they know how to do it. Past and so they know how to do it my past and so they know how to do it my own past and so they know how to do it. My own estimate is in about six months it. My own estimate is in about six months they could put together a crude nuclear explosive device. We could declare explosive device. We could declare themselves a nuclear powen declare themselves a nuclear Powen I declare themselves a nuclear power. I dont think it would be deliverable by missile, that will take be deliverable by missile, that will take longer, but nonetheless if you look at other nonetheless if you look at other countries like Pakistan And Indie other countries like Pakistan And India in north korea, they didni and india in north korea, they didnt wait until they had a missile didnt wait until they had a Missile Deliverable nuclear warhead to declare themselves a nuclear warhead to declare themselves a nuclear power. So warhead to declare themselves a nuclear power. Nuclear power. So if israel were to nuclear power. So if israel were to try nuclear power. So if israel were to try to nuclear power. So if israel were to try to hit nuclear power. So if israel were to try to hit those i were to try to hit those facilities and how easy or difficult would it be . It facilities and how easy or difficult would it be . Difficult would it be . It is certainly difficult would it be . It is certainly a difficult would it be . It is certainly a difficult difficult would it be . It is certainly a difficult problem and its certainly a difficult problem and its not like when israel attacked and its not like when israel attacked the syrian reactor in 2007~ attacked the syrian reactor in 2007~ its attacked the syrian reactor in 2007. Its a much more diffuse programme involving enrichment of Uranium Stocks of 60 enriched of Uranium Stocks of 60 enriched uranium which is a slight enriched uranium which is a slight step from Weapon Grade. Its slight step from Weapon Grade. Its not slight step from Weapon Grade. Its notjust one reactor. So its its notjust one reactor. So its a its notjust one reactor. So its a difficult problem. But over its a difficult problem. But over two its a difficult problem. But over two years ago the israelis were over two years ago the israelis were pretty clear that they said were pretty clear that they said we were pretty clear that they said we need to plan an attack on irans said we need to plan an attack on irans Nuclear Facility. Those on irans Nuclear Facility. Those two years are up and so they those two years are up and so they have those two years are up and so they have been thinking through how to they have been thinking through how to do this and i think they can do how to do this and i think they can do things that will surprise us. Who would have thought surprise us. Who would have thought they would have put Explosive Material in pages and decimate Explosive Material in pages and decimate hezbollahs mid level operatives. Sol decimate hezbollahs mid level operatives. So i think the israelis operatives. So i think the israelis have been thinking about israelis have been thinking about this and its something they about this and its something they probably could do and they could they probably could do and they could do they probably could do and they could do damage to the iranian nuclear could do damage to the iranian nuclear programme. Could do damage to the iranian nuclear programme. Could they do it on their nuclear programme. Could they do it on their own . Nuclear programme. Could they do it on their own . That nuclear programme. Could they do it on their own . That has do it on their own . That has been their do it on their own . That has been their plan. Do it on their own . That has been their plan. They do it on their own . That has been their plan. They want i do it on their own . That has l been their plan. They want us assistance but from what i understood from discussions when understood from discussions when this was being discussed over when this was being discussed over two when this was being discussed over two years ago, they plan to do over two years ago, they plan to do it over two years ago, they plan to do it alone. They would look to do it alone. They would look to the to do it alone. They would look to the united states obviously for help to the united states obviously for help in Rearming And Intelligence and help against any iranian retaliation. But i think any iranian retaliation. But i think the any iranian retaliation. But i think the idea was they would be think the idea was they would he selt think the idea was they would be self in think the idea was they would be self in order to attack. 30 be self in order to attack. So when you be self in order to attack. Sr when you hearJoe Biden saying israel should not target those facilities, is there a possibility there is one public message and the strategy behind the scenes that could be different . The scenes that could be different . , ~ ,. , � different . Very likely. I dont think president different . Very likely. I dont think President Bidens different . Very likely. I dont think President Bidens it different . Very likely. I dont| think President Bidens it was very think President Bidens it was very helpful in this current situation very helpful in this current situation and particularly israel situation and particularly israel doesnt listen to President Biden often. Its israels President Biden often. Its Israels Existence that they are thinking about. I hope whats are thinking about. I hope whats happening between Military And Military is more helpful Military And Military is more helpful. Clearly israel attacking irans Nuclear Facility attacking irans Nuclear Facility is a big deal and i feel facility is a big deal and i feel the facility is a big deal and i feel the risk of that is higher because feel the risk of that is higher because iran is vulnerable. Their because iran is vulnerable. Their ability to lash back doesnt their ability to lash back doesnt seem to be that powerful based on two attacks with missiles. And the weakening of Hezbollah And Harnas weakening of hezbollah and hamas. So i think israel would attack hamas. So i think israel would attack but hamas. So i think israel would attack but it is a big deal and they attack but it is a big deal and they need to think about it very they need to think about it very carefully. They need to think about it very carefully. Just in Terms Ofthe very carefully. Just in Terms Of the dangers very carefully. Just in Terms Of the dangers of very carefully. Just in Terms Of the dangers of attacking | very carefully. Just in terms | of the dangers of attacking a Nuclear Facility, of the dangers of attacking a nuclearfacility, take me Nuclear Facility, take me through nuclearfacility, take me through that. Nuclear facility, take me through that. Through that. These are operating through that. These are operating reactors. Through that. These are operating reactors. If. Through that. These are i operating reactors. If you through that. These are operating reactors. If you bomb the Centrifuge Plant they would be almost negligible amounts of Radioactive Material released. Its uranium, that is not very radioactive, but in the Centrifuge Plant and also we are talking about a few hundred kilograms of uranium so if it was kilograms of uranium so if it was somehow bombed its not going was somehow bombed its not going to was somehow bombed its not going to have any impact on the surrounding area. So i think its not surrounding area. So i think its not like hitting a reactor where its not like hitting a reactor where you can have large releases of Radioactive Material. This is very different fine kind of nuclear different fine kind of Nuclear Facility. Different fine kind of nuclearfacility. Iran different fine kind of Nuclear Facility. Iran might try to Nuclear Facility. Iran might try to make a big deal out of it if It Try to make a big deal out of it if it happens but like a lot of this it if it happens but like a lot of this stuff is just noise. It if it happens but like a lot of this stuff isjust noise. | of this stuff is just noise. Heard of this stuff isjust noise. I heard you in a Radio Interview say we have reached a point that perhaps the pressure from both sides that makes this more likely, just elaborate on that, why do you think we have got to a moment with something thats been talked about for a long time could be potentially about to happen . I time could be potentially about to happen . To happen . I think iran did believe its to happen . I think iran did believe its ring to happen . I think iran did believe its ring of to happen . I think iran did believe its Ring Of Fire to happen . I think iran did believe its Ring Of Fire was| to happen . I think iran did| believe its Ring Of Fire was a deterrent, keeping israelfrom deterrent, keeping israel from attacking deterrent, keeping Israelfrom Attacking or going beyond certain attacking or going beyond certain limits in the region. That certain limits in the region. That has certain limits in the region. That has now gone. Iran has also that has now gone. Iran has also said that has now gone. Iran has also said that any attack will overwhelm defences with missiles and cause widespread damage missiles and cause widespread damage. That has not happened. Israel damage. That has not happened. Israel responded very well in showing israel responded very well in showing that the touring doesnt exist. Sol showing that the touring doesnt exist. So i think iran might doesnt exist. So i think iran might be doesnt exist. So i think iran might be thinking and in the iranian might be thinking and in the iranian discussions youll see in the iranian discussions youll see in the media, they feel a nuclear in the media, they feel a Nuclear Weapon would provide the deterrent that would keep israel the deterrent that would keep israel from attacking so i think israel from attacking so i think the chance of them doing that now think the chance of them doing that now has increased. On the other that now has increased. On the other hand that now has increased. On the other hand is really looking at a country other hand is really looking at a country that made big threats about a country that made big threats about eliminating them and attacking them aggressively if israel attacking them aggressively if israel attacks iran and those Threats Israel attacks iran and those threats dont seem to be happening and now iran is vulnerable and reeling from everything is has done of the last couple of months. Sol think last couple of months. Sol think israel would feel incentivised to attack now or incentivised to attack now or in this incentivised to attack now or in this time period. Britain has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the remote but strategically important Chagos Islands in the indian ocean, to mauritius. The historic deal reached after years of negotiations was announced in a joint statement by the british and mauritian Prime Ministers. With me is our correspondent andrew harding. Just explain how significant this movies. This movies. Its incredibly symbolic this movies. Its incredibly symbolic. How this movies. Its incredibly symbolic. How often this movies. Its incredibly symbolic. How often does| this movies. Its incredibly symbolic. How often does any country give away peacefully and legally a part of its territory . Territory rate is controlled to 200 years. And do so peacefully. Fundamentally this is about security. This is a deal that would not have happened if the american government were not convinced that it would be able to hold on to its Military Base, the important strategic base on diego garcia, the largest of the scattered islands. Its now going to get another 99 years plus to have its Military Base there. I think that really is fundamental. At the americans decided they couldnt trust the mauritians to look after their interests or trust them to keep china a day, they would not have gone ahead with this. Weve heard today from Joe Biden, the Defence Secretary in the us, that they are endorsing the us, that they are endorsing the steel. In the us, that they are endorsing the steel. The us, that they are endorsing the steel. ,. , the steel. In Terms Of political the steel. In Terms Of political reaction the steel. In Terms Of political reaction in i the steel. In Terms Of. Political reaction in the the steel. In Terms Of political reaction in the uk . Next. The islanders themselves, some of them feel ignored in the whole process of negotiations. There is a big excelled community because the islanders were kicked off back in the late 60s. Islanders were kicked off back in the late 605. Weve heard from some of the conservative Party LeadershipCandidates Criticism as well but the fact is they steal the British Government has negotiated was being negotiated by the previous conservative government and by previous Prime Ministers so its a complex situation. Its not perhaps perfect and there are more details to be nailed down but i think generally there is a feeling this had to be done because the world is changing in Britains Influence on the global stage is changing as well and this reflects that. You mentioned the islanders, is the going to be any likely redress for them . The going to be any likely redress for them . Fund will be set U Redress for them . Fund will be set Pp And Redress for them . Fund will be Set Pp and they redress for them . Fund will be set up and they will redress for them . Fund will be set up and they will be redress for them . Fund will be set up and they will be the set up and they will be the possibility of some of them to return, possibly even to live there but that will be a long and expensive and possibly quite problematic process. Thank you very much for taking us through the significance and some of the issues that have come out of that deal that has been announced earlier. Lets return to where we started, The Middle East. Let me show you the live pitches over beirut. You can still see some of the smoke from the latest attack. Oil prices have jumped smoke from the latest attack. Oil prices havejumped 5 smoke from the latest attack. Oil prices have jumped 5 and more nervousness by what we are seeing. Here over the next half an hour we are going to answer your questions, so many questions coming in. Anna foster who is In Beirut will be anchoring that. Frank gardner and Tom Bateman all will be taking part to answer some of the questions you have sent in to the bbc about the crisis in The Middle East. So stay with us. That is whats coming up in the next 30 minutes. It was a glorious start of the day and most of us will keep sunny spells into the afternoon. It came at a price. It was a chilly start, the coldest Autumn Morning so far in scotland. We had some patchy Mist And Fog as well. As you get when High Pressure dominates in autumn. That High Pressure will stay with us for the rest of the day and into tomorrow but we will start to see a change developing as we go through the latter stages of friday into the start of the weekend. More wet and windy weather to come. Enjoy the sunshine for the remainder of the afternoon. Sunny spells and a bit of fair Weather Cloud developing and perhaps the breeze picking up and a few isolated showers into Western Scotland. On the whole temperatures will peak around 30 to 17 degrees, pretty much where they should be for this time of year. As we go through the evening the winds will continue to strengthen further in this Weather Front would bring some Showery Rain Into Northern Ireland and north west scotland. Clear skies across england and will mean temperatures once again into single figures and because of all the rain we had in september the ground is pretty much so we could see through the Mist And Fog. The highs drifting slowly eastwards and these Weather Fronts will start to push on from the atlantic but they are going to make slow progress. On friday the showery rain sitting across Western Scotland and northern ireland. More cloud developing through the isle of Man And West wales were on the whole dry and quiet elsewhere and once again temperatures peaking into the mid to high teens. As we move out of friday into saturday next front will start to move in, again a slow process being blocked by that High Pressure. Some of the ring was start to turn quite heavy across northern ireland and north of scotland and the wins will strengthen the two. Elsewhere we should cling onto some sunshine for the bulk of saturday and may be some rain pushing into cornwall and south West Wales by The End of the day. That Frontal System will continue to sweep its way steadily eastwards over night so spell of Heavy Rain and strong winds clearing across the country. That will linger first thing on sunday and even onceit first thing on sunday and even once it clears its going to leave quite a showery story for the second half of the weekend. Welcome to your questions answered and welcome to beirut. We will spend the next half an hour also discussing what has been an escalating crisis in The Middle East and trying to a nswer to answer some of the questions you have about it. Whether they are simple, complicated, everything from what is hezbollah to why does the us aboard israel to is this the us aboard israel to is this the beginning of World War ii . We will get indexed and we have expert voices over the next half an hour. Middle East Correspondent is here and frank gardner, security correspondent, joins us from london. Our State Department Correspondent is joining us, london. Our State Department Correspondent isjoining us, he spent seven years working as a Middle East Correspondent in israel. I used to work In Beirut. Between us, hopefully we have a lot of expertise in this region and we can answer some of your questions. Questions that we have seen Search Thousands of times online over the last two weeks or so. Thank you for sending them in and we will start with a basic place, first of all, we are in lebanon, In Beirut, talk us through the geography of the region from of The Middle East and where this sits in all of that . ,. , , and where this sits in all of that . ,. ,. ,. , that . This has been a region that . This has been a region that has been that . This has been a region that has been in that . This has been a region that has been in war that . This has been a region that has been in War Conflict| that has been in War Conflict and lebanon is at the heart of it, situated on the mediterranean to the North And East of it is surrounded by syria, but to the south,