an explosion in south beirut. the israelis vowed a severe response to the weekend attack on the golan heights tonight a targeted strike on a senior hezbollah commander. an escalation that could have deep ramifications for the entire region. also tonight a vigil in southport — three children cooled in the knife attack are named. a community is in mourning, the prime minister has been to show his support. and further protests in venezuela after sundays election. there are reports some protesters have been cooled, hundreds arrested, including a key opposition figure. good evening, there has been an enormous explosion tonight in southern beirut. three missiles fired from a drone above the lebanese capital that is said to have targeted

hezbollah and one of its senior military commanders. israeli sources said the strike was in response to this attack this past weekend, on the town of majdal shams in the israeli occupied golan heights that killed 12 children. the lebanese group would have been expecting a response. these are the more recent pictures from that beirut neighbourhood outside the apartment building that was hit. the newspaper haaretz — quoting israeli miltiary sources — said the target was a high ranking official in hezbollah named fuad shukr, known also as hajj muhassin. he was said to be the second in command of hezbollah�*s military activities. and directly linked to the weekend attack. lebanese media reporting that one person was killed in the attack, but that the intended target escaped. our correspondents mark lowen is in jerusalem and nafiseh kohnavard from bbc persian is in beirut.

maybe i can stay with you nafiseh kohnavard first of all, tell me what you are hearing from your sources there in the been about this neighbourhood and what actually took place. neighbourhood and what actually took lace. , ., neighbourhood and what actually took lace, , ., ., ., neighbourhood and what actually took lace. , ., . ., , place. first of all, from my balcony. — place. first of all, from my balcony, everything - place. first of all, from my balcony, everything was i place. first of all, from my . balcony, everything was clear, place. first of all, from my - balcony, everything was clear, i could see the smoke rising, and my building shook. i'm close to the area, not in the air that was attacked, but i could see the smoke coming up, and my building was shaken, people were panicking the attack that's happened four years ago in beirut supports, that damage other buildings as well. what time no hearing, there are still conflicting reports report —— regarding the commander that was the

intended target for israelis to stop my sources tell me that she has escaped the billing only a few minutes before, the attack happens, there are civilian casualties, the number is not clear, we cannot go there because of the security concerns. they are talking about there might be another attack in the same area. it is not clear that if it was just a one—off attack by israelis or there will be another attack. what we know is that hezbollah, they had clearly told media, also in different statements, they made it clear that beer roots, attacking any part of beirut, including hezbollah stronghold would be a redline, i know this redline has passed, and the question is what will be the reaction? this is what people are asking, and i can see that everyone is talking about that on lebanese social media, they are asking what is next and what will be

the response. asking what is next and what will be the re5ponse-_ asking what is next and what will be the response. market, we should say that redline — the response. market, we should say that redline has _ the response. market, we should say that redline has been _ the response. market, we should say that redline has been crossed - that redline has been crossed before, it was crossed injanuary, there was an explosion in south beirut earlier in the year. the question as has been said, it's what happens next, particularly these reports that the target has seemingly escaped the stop i have to say there is. i seemingly escaped the stop i have to say there is-— say there is. i have to say there are conflicting _ say there is. i have to say there are conflicting reports - say there is. i have to say there are conflicting reports on - say there is. i have to say there are conflicting reports on that, l are conflicting reports on that, some — are conflicting reports on that, some suggesting that fuad shukr, as nafiseh _ some suggesting that fuad shukr, as nafiseh said, had left the building earlier_ nafiseh said, had left the building earlier and survived the strike, and other_ earlier and survived the strike, and other scene, — earlier and survived the strike, and other scene, i've seen some reports suggesting _ other scene, i've seen some reports suggesting that he was killed in the attack, _ suggesting that he was killed in the attack, so _ suggesting that he was killed in the attack, so we wait for confirmation. i doubt _ attack, so we wait for confirmation. i doubt that— attack, so we wait for confirmation. i doubt that will come from hezbollah, if the israelis have proof— hezbollah, if the israelis have proof that they got them, they would try to _ proof that they got them, they would try to present that, but of course if they— try to present that, but of course if they did — try to present that, but of course if they did not get their target, then— if they did not get their target, then that — if they did not get their target, then that opens of the policy is wood _ then that opens of the policy is wood is — then that opens of the policy is wood is really go again for a second wood is really go again fora second attack—

wood is really go again for a second attack either on himself or somebody else. attack either on himself or somebody else fuad _ attack either on himself or somebody else. fuad shukr is not only a senior— else. fuad shukr is not only a senior adviser to the leader of hezbollah, he's wanted by the americans as well. there was a $5 million _ americans as well. there was a $5 million bounty on his head that would — million bounty on his head that would reveal them, because he was wanted _ would reveal them, because he was wanted for— would reveal them, because he was wanted for involvement in the attacks — wanted for involvement in the attacks in— wanted for involvement in the attacks in the 1983 of 241 american marines— attacks in the 1983 of 241 american marines at— attacks in the 1983 of 241 american marines at the marine corps barracks in beirut. _ marines at the marine corps barracks in beirut. so— marines at the marine corps barracks in beirut, so he is a long—standing member— in beirut, so he is a long—standing nieniherof— in beirut, so he is a long—standing member of hezbollah and clearly a high—ranking mission officials within— high—ranking mission officials within the militant group. so the israeiites— within the militant group. so the israelites will be under pressure to -ive israelites will be under pressure to give evidence if he has been killed and as— give evidence if he has been killed and as nafiseh has been suggested, the bail— and as nafiseh has been suggested, the hall is— and as nafiseh has been suggested, the ball is in hezbollah court, how they respond to the israel strike? there _ they respond to the israel strike? there was— they respond to the israel strike? there was a line that came up from the spokesman of israeli defence forces _ the spokesman of israeli defence forces when daniel hagari confirmed israel— forces when daniel hagari confirmed israet was _ forces when daniel hagari confirmed israel was behind this strike, a

reassuring _ israel was behind this strike, a reassuring line to some extent, he said at— reassuring line to some extent, he said at this — reassuring line to some extent, he said at this point there's no change in directive — said at this point there's no change in directive of the home front command, which means that israel is not immediately change in its instructions to israeli nationals to suddenly— instructions to israeli nationals to suddenly take shelter, the suggestion be that egg expecting an imminent— suggestion be that egg expecting an imminent and significant response so this could _ imminent and significant response so this could have been seen and cultivated as a one single strike, and from — cultivated as a one single strike, and from -- _ cultivated as a one single strike, and from —— possibly expect in some evident _ and from —— possibly expect in some evident missiles back into israeli territory. — evident missiles back into israeli territory, but many international leaders — territory, but many international leaders will be hoping this is a measured and calculated response, it cackied _ measured and calculated response, it cackled click to strike and not the start _ cackled click to strike and not the start of— cackled click to strike and not the start of something much bigger and going _ start of something much bigger and going dangerous. we start of something much bigger and going dangerous— start of something much bigger and going dangerous. we should say that that instruction _ going dangerous. we should say that that instruction to _ going dangerous. we should say that that instruction to civilians _ that instruction to civilians changed when iran targeted israel some months ago, so if they had any intelligence, they would shift it.

worth mentioning that the rain and attack, _ worth mentioning that the rain and attack, because you remember back in april when— attack, because you remember back in april when iran for the first time sent— april when iran for the first time sent rockets and missiles into israei. — sent rockets and missiles into israel, they fired into israel, preannounced it and fired it, and that prompted fears of a ethical is make _ that prompted fears of a ethical is make regional war, and what's happened _ make regional war, and what's happened was that is resident launched a series of quite limited responses — launched a series of quite limited responses in iran and on earring and irag, _ responses in iran and on earring and irag, and _ responses in iran and on earring and iraq, and then that was kind of its in a sense — iraq, and then that was kind of its in a sense for that moments. also hack— in a sense for that moments. also hack in— in a sense for that moments. also back injanuary, when israel bobbed the syrian _ back injanuary, when israel bobbed the syrian suburb of it beer roots, targeting — the syrian suburb of it beer roots, targeting a — the syrian suburb of it beer roots, targeting a senior man commander and killed them, _ targeting a senior man commander and killed them, hezbollah fired some rockets _ killed them, hezbollah fired some rockets back into northern israel and both— rockets back into northern israel and both sides seem to move back on, so even _ and both sides seem to move back on, so even if— and both sides seem to move back on, so even if there is a huge appetite to neutralise the threat from hezbollah, and pressure from israel is living _ hezbollah, and pressure from israel is living close to the border to lebanon. _ is living close to the border to lebanon, 60,000 of whom have been evacuated _ lebanon, 60,000 of whom have been

evacuated in— lebanon, 60,000 of whom have been evacuated in recent months, they are not willing _ evacuated in recent months, they are not willing to continence the continuing threat from hezbollah. despite _ continuing threat from hezbollah. despite that all of them are aware of how— despite that all of them are aware of how dangerous this moment is, how bil of how dangerous this moment is, how big the _ of how dangerous this moment is, how big the stakes are, and how any kind of ail-out— big the stakes are, and how any kind of all—out war, which could potentially bring in the irradiance a supportive of his brother would be disastrous— a supportive of his brother would be disastrous for the middle east. as well as— disastrous for the middle east. as well as fighting a war in hamas, as niunitions— well as fighting a war in hamas, as munitions run low, this israel want to set— munitions run low, this israel want to set up— munitions run low, this israel want to set up a — munitions run low, this israel want to set up a second front on the northern— to set up a second front on the northern border but that's a big question — northern border but that's a big ruestion. ., , ., , , ., question. nafiseh, i was trying to sencer question. nafiseh, i was trying to spencer viewers _ question. nafiseh, i was trying to spencer viewers last _ question. nafiseh, i was trying to spencer viewers last night - question. nafiseh, i was trying to spencer viewers last night there l question. nafiseh, i was trying to i spencer viewers last night there are three geographer of the errors of control that hezbollah has and never known, that area close to the border which has been the scene for a list of the tit—for—tat attacks of the scene, thence south beirut where the military command structure is but also in the east, that said, politically across the country, they have a lots of control. they are

much stronger than the lebanese missouri, so the other communities in lebanon right now are in some respects beholden to them, and what they do next. and i guess in that respect, they are on tenterhooks tonight. to respect, they are on tenterhooks toniaht. ., ,., , respect, they are on tenterhooks toniaht. ., , , tonight. to some extent, this is completely _ tonight. to some extent, this is completely true, _ tonight. to some extent, this is completely true, but _ tonight. to some extent, this is completely true, but they - tonight. to some extent, this is completely true, but they have | completely true, but they have also their limits, and hezbollah has shown in the last ten months they don't want to drag entire lebanon into war, and this is been delivered publicly in messages, and the leader of hezbollah repeatedly mentioned that we don't want to take lebanon as a whole country to war. it shows that they also know that despite the power they have, they have limits, too, because it would have backlash on them and other parts of the society, that they have other

allies, they have christian allies, numerous allies that were targeted, other communities that were targeted now israel says by hezbollah on the other side of the border, but they have allies here as well. and none of them, none of these communities, no one in any different part of lebanon, once were. and they kept saying that out loud, that they don't want to go to war. but i need to just don't want to go to war. but i need tojust mention don't want to go to war. but i need to just mention something that you mentioned about the attack that happened, the redline that passed in january. the january one, interestingly was seen by hezbollah as an attack on my or not yes, true, he was targeted, the deputy of mine was targeted inside dock year, but

the group saw it as an attack on hamas, not directly on hezbollah, thatis hamas, not directly on hezbollah, that is why there was no direct response from hezbollah. now, that is worrying about the thing that's happened today, they attacked hezbollah itself inside beirut, somewhere that's all the lebanese officials, and that's only hezbollah, lebanese officials, even groups against hezbollah, said that at second beer roots, may direct and other groups, including lebanese army to this battle that is been going on in the south, so that is the part that is very tricky. that's an important _ the part that is very tricky. that's an important qualification, - the part that is very tricky. that's i an important qualification, nafiseh, thank you for that and to mark as well, and you can see from the building that we have been looking at that actually it is quite a targeted strike. it was a precision strike from this drone, three missiles fired. as it happens, and

the immediate aftermath, we saw flames in the night sky above beer roots, and you can see now there's a huge crowd there, but the buildings alongside that apartment blocks standing, and clearly israelis acting on some intel genge, as mark says, it will take some time to get codification as to who was killed in that attack, but we are hearing from the israelis that they did share some of this intelligence and some of their intent with the white house and the biden administration. they don't always communicate with them but it seems regarding the strike, that was communicated. we will talk to another member of the lebanese community from the christian maronite community later in the programme, tojoin us for that. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

welcome back to bbc news. now to the appalling knife attack in southport in northern england. the town, indeed, the country, still absorbing the scale and horror of what unfolded yesterday, as police confirmed this afternoon that a third child has since died in hospital. she's been named as nine—year—old alice aguiar, on the right. two of the other children who died yesterday have been named as six—year—old bebe king, and elsie stancombe who was seven. police say 5 children and two adults remain in a critical condition. they were all attending a taylor swift dance class. the singer expressed her sadness today. the suspect is a 17—year—old boy, who cannot be named because of his age. he remains in police custody on suspicion of murder. we do know he was born in cardiff to rwandan parents and moved to the area in 2013. from southport, our reporter judith moritz has the latest. alice aguiar, only nine years old, whose parents say she'll always be their princess. elsie dot stancombe, aged seven, smiling proudly for her school photograph.

and bebe king, just six years old, whose family say they have no words to describe the devastation that's hit them. how can you find the words? three children who were just dancing, and now they're gone. it's impossible to make sense of this. and southport is reeling. the firefighters of green watch who went to help the children yesterday are numb. the ambulance crews who raced to save them and treat their wounds feel the same. all anyone here can do now is show their sorrow and offer their support. we just wanted to come and pay our respects, especially with... he's a similar age to the children that are going to be there and it's just heartbreaking, really. my daughter goes to a drama club, so it was very close to home sort of thing. cos obviously if she went to a holiday club, you think your child's going to be safe and something like this happens,

and it's just absolutely awful. it's a place that we'd all go - as mummies and mummies—to—be, to feel safe and to want to go. and be with our children there. it's the most gorgeous place. like, you would never, ever think lanything like that would happen. | emotions have been near the surface all day. the prime minister brought flowers and came to pay his respects, but found that for some, feelings were riding high. the person i held as a child, and you can't do— come here, sweetheart. come here. he can't do expletive - and he's the prime minister! i came here to pay my respects to the victims and families who are going through raw pain and grief that most of us can't imagine — i can't imagine, as a dad myself — to get a briefing from the chief constable and the emergency services about the ongoing investigation, but also, importantly, to have the opportunity to say

to those that were responding yesterday from the emergency services, to say a personal thank you to them and to shake their hand, and to say that as prime minister, on behalf of the country, we're grateful for what they did. more information has been emerging about the heroes of this tragedy. this is leanne lucas, who is understood to have been running the children's dance class and who's thought to have been stabbed whilst trying to protect them. her condition is not currently known. and this isjoel verity, a window cleaner who went to confront the knifeman before waiting for police to arrive and then carried a child away from the scene. his friends have been speaking about his bravery. in that situation, you know, no—one knows how they're going to react. no—one knows if their fight—or—flight is going to kick in and which one will kick in. and in that second, you know, being a father himself, joel, i think he just heard kids and thought he's got to help out. he went straight away.

i think he was truly fearless and i am personally so proud of him. the children had been at a taylor swift—themed dance workshop today. the star posted her thoughts on instagram, saying the horror of the attack is washing over her and she's completely in shock. fans of the singer have raised nearly £200,000 to support the families involved. there are still children in a critical condition, and there are many waiting anxiously for news about all of those who were hurt tonight. teachers of the little girls whose lives have been lost said it's impossible to express the impact they made on those around them. they say this community stands together in grief. judith moritz, bbc news, southport. more on that story on the bbc website. these are the live pictures this hour from caracas, were thousands of people who support

the venezuelan opposition where thousands of people who support the venezuelan opposition are continuing to protest the result of this weekend election. president nicolas maduro claimed victory in sunday in spite of the widespread claims of fraud and ballot rigging. the opposition says that after reviewing over 70% of the voting tallies, it is abundantly clear that its candidate, edmundo gonzalez, won convincingly. in the last hour, the white house has described the repression of venice protesters as detestable. let's talk now to the freelance journalist mary mena, who is now in caracas. what have you been seen today? do the protests look bigger today than yesterday? the the protests look bigger today than esterda ? , ., , , ., yesterday? the protester started, as a matter of fact. _ yesterday? the protester started, as a matter of fact, i _ yesterday? the protester started, as a matter of fact, i can _ yesterday? the protester started, as a matter of fact, i can smell- yesterday? the protester started, as a matter of fact, i can smell tear - a matter of fact, i can smell tear gas being thrown at protesters that gather nearby, where edmundo gonzalez made an appearance to

express stance to those people still in the streets, demanding a fair account of the vote. on the other side of the city, in the west, president nicolas maduro who also called his supporters in order to celebrate its victory. that is the situation right now, they are both parties claiming they have the right to be have the power of venezuela in one side, as i said, is that governments, with all the power branches, saying that nicolas maduro won the election, today the national assembly corroborated that nicolas maduro is the resident, that the electrode board did on sunday, but all those powers are government foretold. on the other side, the opposition is saying that they have the ballots constitute proof that edmundo gonzalez won the election, and of course there is concern in the streets of people being

detained, especially one member of the opposition who was detained today in the morning by security forces. and also, the attorney general said that during these 48 hours, more than 700 people have been detained.— been detained. what has been the reaction among — been detained. what has been the reaction among the _ been detained. what has been the reaction among the other - been detained. what has been the reaction among the other latin - reaction among the other latin american countries? it is reaction among the other latin american countries? it is huge, there are _ american countries? it is huge, there are several _ american countries? it is huge, there are several countries - american countries? it is huge, l there are several countries saying that venezuela needs to do a recount of votes with allies, allies like cuba and nicaragua and bolivia support madura but the majority like chile and costa rica panama and dominican republic, they said it was not fair. actually, today, the white house also released a statement saying that they are concerned, there is a growing concern in the

whole of latin america that results do not reflect the spirits, the will of the venezuelan people.- of the venezuelan people. mary, thank ou of the venezuelan people. mary, thank you very — of the venezuelan people. mary, thank you very much _ of the venezuelan people. mary, thank you very much for - of the venezuelan people. mary, thank you very much for that. . of the venezuelan people. mary, thank you very much for that. i l of the venezuelan people. mary, . thank you very much for that. i want to talk about the economy because it is important to the region. let's take a look at venezuela's economic collapse over the past couple of decades, despite the country having the world's largest oil reserves. it was once the richest democracy in latin america. in 2008, venezuela produced 3.5 million barrels of oil a day, with the us as its main client. in just 12 years, that had plummeted to fewer than half a million barrels a day. we can speak now to bruno gennari, emerging markets strategist at kng securities. thank you forjoining us. that's an extraordinary fall, two thirds cut in the export per day of oil, why is that? is it under investment, what is it? ,, ., that? is it under investment, what isit? ,, ., , . ., is it? several sectors to explain that, on the _ is it? several sectors to explain that, on the one _ is it? several sectors to explain that, on the one hand, - is it? several sectors to explain that, on the one hand, the - is it? several sectors to explain - that, on the one hand, the markets —— the policy implemented by past president hugo chavez that motivated

several workers, skilled workers to leave the country, later policies change me today to current law around 2005. later on, the falling of prices in 2014, and is under investment generated by the principles of hugo chavez and combined with the other policies and the us sanctions prevented venezuela from important several key inputs for the oil industry, and prevented several investors from investing in venezuela. �* , several investors from investing in venezuela-— several investors from investing in venezuela. �* , ,, ., venezuela. because russia's oilwas taken out of — venezuela. because russia's oilwas taken out of the _ venezuela. because russia's oilwas taken out of the market, _ venezuela. because russia's oilwas taken out of the market, it - taken out of the market, it venezuela oil was sexually that's certainly much more interested to those in the region and started to flow again to stop the inflation figure from 400,000 down to 50%, 400

the thousand percent to 50% in five years, how has he done that? the thousand percent to 5096 in five years, how has he done that? several factors regarding _ years, how has he done that? several factors regarding that, _ factors regarding that, significantly the fact that thanks to the easing of sanctions of the licence policy provided by the united states, venezuela has, it is allowed venezuela to increase the supply of us dollars and keep the effects of a little bit more secure, so also my dural even though official figures so also my dural even though officialfigures from the so also my dural even though official figures from the government has not been released since 2017, if i'm not mistaken, he has kept expenditures below inflation, which has allowed them to reduce monetary financing. still has allowed them to reduce monetary financina. ,, ., ., . , financing. still an economic problem

for many in — financing. still an economic problem for many in minnesota, _ financing. still an economic problem for many in minnesota, which - financing. still an economic problem for many in minnesota, which is - financing. still an economic problem for many in minnesota, which is whyj for many in minnesota, which is why using this process, you know, thank you for that, we will keep an eye on the situation in caracas and more reaction from lebanon just after this break. stay with us. hello there. one of the more predictable features of hot weather is as soon as we see temperatures rocket upwards, we see the beaches fill up, like here in broadstairs in kent. and it has been a very hot day. we've seen temperatures go over the 30 degree mark, notjust in london, but also in dorset, hampshire, surrey and sussex as well. and after such a hot day, temperatures very slow to ease down. a very warm night for sleeping, with temperatures still up into the 20s at 11:00 tonight. however, it's not everywhere. it's the concrete jungle that really holds on to the heat, whereas in the countryside, temperatures will actually be about four or five degrees lower and therefore a lot more comfortable. and in any case, as we go through the night, eventually, those temperatures will drop back into the teens.

but a very slow process — an uncomfortable night's sleep ahead for quite a few in england and wales. scotland, northern ireland, northern england, a much more comfortable feel to the weather overnight. tomorrow, well, the heat is still with us across england and wales, another largely dry day with sunshine for most areas. sunny spells for scotland, northern ireland, northern england, still with temperatures close to average, so very pleasant weather conditions here. the hottest weather probably not in london, but actually to the west — central, southern england and the midlands could see temperatures up to about 32. the capital might be closer to about 29, because we're quite likely to see some thunderstorms break out across parts of south—east england. those storms, then, around through wednesday afternoon, wednesday night and into thursday. the amount of rain we see from these downpours is going to vary a lot from place to place. some places will get away with not seeing much in the way of rain. others could see a deluge, with perhaps as much as a month's worth of rain falling in the space ofjust a few hours, so there is a threat of seeing some localised flash flooding and disruption from

these big storms. now, towards the end of the week and the weekend beyond, low pressure is going to take up residence to the north and west, and eventually this is going to bring cooler and fresher air back in. for northern ireland and scotland, it's here that we see the first signs of this change on friday. the rain could be heavy and thundery, the winds pick up and temperatures, well, still into the 20s for the most part. england and wales, hazy spells of sunshine and temperatures still quite widely mid—to—high 20s. it's not really until the weekend that we see those temperatures drop back closer to average. there will still be some sunny spells around, and in the sunshine, it will still feel pretty pleasant.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. tonight there has been an explosion in lebanon, we will continue to bring you the reaction on that. before we update you with the sports come i want to bring you a line of breaking news, that awful knife attack on monday. there was a far right to protest in town tonight near the site of the knife attack, and we are being told that it has turned violent. hundreds of people

gathering outside a mosque who began during bricks, bottles and other missiles at the police and also the building itself. one policeman we are told was injured, and missiles continuing to be thrown, our reporters will bring you more on that as we get it. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh ferris. after withdrawing from the tokyo olympics three years ago to protect her mental health — simone biles has returned in style — to guide the usa to gold once again — in the team gymnastics final, giving the sport's superstar her fifth olympic title. biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time and impressed on all four rotations, consistently amongst the leading scorers through all the disciplines. team usa have now won this event in three of the last four games with the only silver following biles' withdrawal three years ago. they finished ahead of brazil, who thanks to rebecca andrade lept from sixth to second in the final rotation while italy took the bronze.