Good evening. Israel has declared an area around its border with Lebanon A Closed Military Zone and has told the united states that its going to launch a limited Ground Operation against hezbollah. Earlier today, the Deputy Leader of the iranian backed Military Group said they were ready to face israeli soldiers. President biden has called for an immediate ceasefire, a view echoed again tonight in the uk by foreign Secretary David Lammy. Israeli tanks have been massing close to the lebanese border and israelS Top general has told troops to prepare to operate inside hezbollah strongholds. Tonight, well be looking at how challenging a Ground Offensive could be and how iran and the us may react. Our senior international Correspondent Orla Guerin will be reporting from here in beirut, but first tonight, lets join Lucy Williamson on the israeli side of the israel lebanon border. Tonight Israels Army has sealed off several areas towards the eastern end of the border, not farfrom where we are
Bleeding, they are Command Structure has been decapitated, communications have been set was sabotage, Weapons Domes have been blown up. Theyve really got a big arsenal below ground, which includes these long range missiles. There will be some of the ranks who are being for blood, being for revenge, theres a video thats on Social Media its been verified that appears to show the son of Hassan Nasrallah screaming for revenge. Apoplectic glee angry, and there will be many of those fighters in those Pager Attacks who will want revenge. Do they unleash this long Range Missile Arsenal and try to overwhelm israels defences in cities like Tel Aviv . They could do that but the response from israel would be catastrophic to lebanon. Israel has the united states at his back helping it, to protect for any further retaliation. Then when it comes to around, theyve hidden away their leader, Ali Ayatollah Khamenei in case he too gets assassinated, hezbollah was its Pet Project since the early 19805, its
Behind irans evil axis. He and his men were the architects of the plan to destroy israel. He was not only operated by iran, many times he operated iran. This is why earlier this week i arrived at the conclusion that the hard blow that israel had landed hezbollah over the last few days would not be enough. Nasrallah must be killed in Orderfor Israel to nasrallah must be killed in order for israel to achieve the goals we have defined, enabling the reSidents of Northern Israel to return safely to their homes and affecting the long Term Change in the balance of powers in this region, because as long as nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rehabilitated hezbollah s capabilities. This is why i have given the Order And Nasrallah is no longer with us. His death brings us closer to enabling our people to go back to their homes in the north and brings us closer to returning our hostages in the south. Hezbollah will no longer be able to come to their rescue, the chances of rescuing hostages
First time for hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk. Im stephen sackur. Israels intensifying Military Assault on lebanon has involved everything from Booby Trapped electronic devices to bunker busting bombs. As the Death Toll mounts, prime Minister Netanyahu says the target isnt the people of lebanon, its the armed militant group hezbollah, which continues to fire rockets into israel. So what, if anything, can the lebanese Government do to stave off a Gaza Style Catastrophe . My guest is lebanons economy minister, Amin Salam. Is his Government the very definition of powerless . Minister Amin Salam in beirut, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you, stephen. Pleasure being with you. Thank you forjoining me. War is happening to lebanon, war is happening to lebanon, minister, and yet war minister, and yet war is the last thing that is the last thing that lebanon wants. Lebanon wants. How does that make how does that make you feel right now . You feel right now . You said it, stephen. You said it, stephen
A21 a 21 day ceasefire along the israeli lebanese border will generate significant support from europe as well as the arab nations. I will have more to say tomorrow. There s been no indication yet from israel or hezbollah if they will agree to the terms of the proposed ceasefire. It all comes as israel continued deadly air raids in southern lebanon on wednesday, killing at least 72 people, according to lebanon s health ministry. It brings the death toll from israeli strikes in lebanon to nearly 600 just this week. Lebanon says a quarter of those killed have been women and chlidren. Israel s military chief has told troops that israel s air strikes could pave the way for a possible ground invasion into lebanon. Israel said wednesday it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by hezbollah towards tel aviv the first such rocket to target the city. The un secretarygeneral warned wednesday that hell is breaking loose in lebanon. Antonio guterres made the remarks at an emergency security counc