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
Lebanon could become another gaza. It follows days of continued exchanges of fire between the idf and the iranian backed militia after last Weeks Pager and Walkie Talkie attacks which killed dozens and injured thousands. Three people were killed in an israeli attack on Southern Lebanon On Sunday. And israel says hezbollah has fired more than 150 rockets into its territory. Meanwhile, the funeral has taken place for a senior Hezbollah Commander killed in fridays israeli aerial assault on beirut. The Deputy Leader of the Armed Group said its confrontation with israel had entered a new phase, describing it as an open ended battle of reckoning. Orla guerin has more from beirut. Hezbollah today. In mourning, but unbowed. This was the funeral of a top military commander, ibrahim aqil, killed on friday in an israeli air strike. The Armed Groups Deputy Leader said it was entering a new phase of open ended battle against israel. All chant and theres resounding support for that in its stronghold
Welcome to bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. The un has warned that the middle east is on the brink of imminent catastrophe amid fears of an all out war as israel and the iran backed group hezbollah in lebanon carry out large cross border strikes. Israel said hezbollah launched more than a hundred rockets from lebanon towards them. Hezbollah said the attacks were in response to the wave of explosions of pagers and walkie talkies that s widely believed to have been carried out by israel. In haifa, hospital patients have been moved to underground facilities, schools have been closed and gatherings restricted, as well as in other northern areas up to the lebanese border. Meanwhile, israel said it carried out more air strikes on targets in southern lebanon, destroying thousands of hezbollah s rocket launchers. The un chief antonio guterres said he fears the conflict between israel and hezbollah could risk lebanon becoming another gaza. Our senior internat
Killing at least 20 people. Israel hasn t said whether it was involved. As the fighting intensifies, un chief antonio guterres says he fears lebanon could become another gaza. The lebanese health ministry raised the death toll to 45 in friday s strike by israel targeting hezbollah commanders in southern beirut. Most of those killed were civilians. Authorities say women and children are among the dead. On sunday, israel launched further strikes on towns in southern lebanon killing three people. And the israeli military says it destroyed thousands of hezbollah rocket launcher barrels over the past few days. Israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu had this to say. No country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We cannot accept it either. We will take whatever action is necessary to restore security and to bring our people safe, back to their homes. Meanwhile, in lebanon hundreds attended the funeral of ibrahim aqil, a high ranking hezbollah commander killed in an israeli s
Hezbollah s attack comes after pagers and radio devices held by members of the group detonated across lebanon last week, killing at least 20 people. Israel hasn t said whether it was involved. As the fighting intensifies, un chief antonio guterres says he fears lebanon could become another gaza. The lebanese health ministry raised the death toll to 45 in friday s strike by israel targeting hezbollah commanders in southern beirut. Most of those killed were civilians. Authorities say women and children are among the dead. On sunday, israel launched further strikes on towns in southern lebanon, killing three people. And the israeli military says it destroyed thousands of hezbollah rocket launcher barrels over the past few days. Israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu had this to say. No country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We can t accept it, either. We will take whatever action is necessary to restore security and to bring our people safe back to their homes. Meanwhil