just hours after a violent clashes just hours after a vigil to pay tribute to the three girls killed in a knife attack. in paris, as the water is deemed safe, gold for britain in the delayed triathlon. welcome to bbc news. three hours of fast moving news. we take you to the middle east were two separate attacks in the space of 12 hours on two senior militant leaders have raised fears of a wider regional conflict. hamas says its leader was killed during a visit to taylor round. early indications suggest he and his bodyguard were killed when a rocket hit the house where he was a stain, hamas accusing israel of being responsible, saying

it is a grave as collation. israel said it has killed a senior hezbollah official. the movement has confirmed one of its top commanders was in a building targeted by israel but has yet to confirm his fate. israel said he was responsible for an attack which killed 12 young people. let's bring you the latest from jerusalem it'd be quite typical for israel not to comment on an attack of this kind. it's not given a formal response, the israeli military only saying that it does not comment on reports in foreign media. and we have had some indications that the israeli prime minister's office has told ministers that they should not comment directly on this. that said, perhaps prior to that instruction being received, there were a couple of ministers. one wrote on on x, the social media platform, "so may all your enemies perish, 0 lord." quoting the bible following this

news breaking of the assassination of ismail haniyeh. the heritage minister said that haniyeh�*s death makes the world a slightly better place. certainly ismail haniyeh was a wanted man as far as israel was concerned since the deadly 7th of october attacks led by hamas in southern israel. really, israel has been trying to target the leaders of hamas. and, you know, apart from killing one seniorfigure in beirut earlier this year, it hadn't really managed to get to the top leadership, the masterminds of the 7th of october attacks in gaza. as far as we know, in particular, it hasn't managed to reach the hamas leader there, yahya sinwar. ismail haniyeh is somebody who spent several years living in exile. he's from the gaza strip, from the al—shati beach camp, and comes from a family of palestinian refugees.

for the last few years, he's mainly based himself between qatar and turkey has been able to kind of do the international diplomacy on part of hamas travelling around the region frequently, going to iran since the start of this war. we understand that he had been asking iran to get more involved directly in the war in gaza, but it had rejected that idea in the past. so let's just take a closer look at who ismail haniyeh was. born in the al—shati refugee camp in gaza, haniyeh was a key member of hamas from its inception. he was imprisoned by israel a number of times, including for three years in 1989 as it cracked down on the first palestinian uprising. at one point he was expelled to south lebanon for six months. in 2003, he survived an assassination attempt by israel, along with the hamas founder, sheikh ahmed yassin. three years later, haniyeh was appointed palestinian prime minister by president mahmoud abbas after hamas won the most seats in national elections. however, he was dismissed

a year later after the group ousted abbas' fatah party from the gaza strip in a week of deadly violence. haniyeh had led hamas's political operations since 2017 while living in exile in qatar. he was the public face of hamas's diplomacy in arab capitals and was leading efforts to negotiate a ceasefire deal in gaza. inside hamas, haniyeh was considered to be less hard—line and militaristic than yahya sinwar, who is the head of hamas inside gaza. our gaza correspondent rushdi abualouf is with me. this feels like a very pivotal moment. what was your first thought when you heard about the killing this morning? it when you heard about the killing this morning?— when you heard about the killing this morninu? . , . . , this morning? it was a price and see lives outside — this morning? it was a price and see lives outside and _ this morning? it was a price and see lives outside and has _ this morning? it was a price and see lives outside and has a _ this morning? it was a price and see lives outside and has a long - this morning? it was a price and see lives outside and has a long time. i l lives outside and has a long time. i saw him briefly last november in turkey and istanbul, and he was

travelling. he has been three times to tehran since october the 7th, so he must have felt safe going there. it was a surprise, it was shocking, not just for it was a surprise, it was shocking, notjust for me when i heard about it, but for the hamas leader, who i spoke to this morning. they were in a state of chaotic situation, they don't know what happened. and how he was killed. it was like sort of very confusing. they give a very confusing. they give a very confusing account of what happened, but we understand he was in a building in tehran and was killed. there were other hamas leaders in the same building, and the leader of is lomasjihad was in the same building —— islamist. he was killed

along with his personal bodyguard. it is a very significant moment for hamas. ~ , ., it is a very significant moment for hamas. ~ ,, , ,., ~ ., it is a very significant moment for hamas. ~ ,, , ., ., .,, , hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they exressed hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they exwessed shock. _ hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they expressed shock, but _ hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they expressed shock, but what _ hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they expressed shock, but what did _ hamas. when you spoke to hamas, they expressed shock, but what did they - expressed shock, but what did they say their reaction would be to the killing? i say their reaction would be to the killin: ? ~' , say their reaction would be to the killin: ? ~ , ., ., ., killing? i think they are too traumatised _ killing? i think they are too traumatised by _ killing? i think they are too traumatised by the - killing? i think they are too - traumatised by the assassination of haniyeh. i have seen at least two microlitres of hamas killed, the founder of hamas, and his successor. i saw how easily and swiftly the transition between this leader to other leaders. this time i can't see this level... other leaders. this time i can't see this level---— this level... ismail haniyeh's time was due to _ this level... ismail haniyeh's time was due to and. _ this level... ismail haniyeh's time was due to and. was _ this level... ismail haniyeh's time was due to and. was he _ this level... ismail haniyeh's time was due to and. was he groomingi this level... ismail haniyeh's time i was due to and. was he grooming a successor?— successor? according to hamas constitutions, _ successor? according to hamas constitutions, he _ successor? according to hamas constitutions, he can _ successor? according to hamas constitutions, he can only - successor? according to hamas constitutions, he can only run l successor? according to hamas. constitutions, he can only run for two times, and it will end in 2025.

there were two candidates. he is a strong man in gaza. the second one was haniyeh's deputy he was killed in beirut. there is to people, the question was whether this guy or that guy will be the new head of hamas. now it is more complicated because they are in gaza and nobody knows what will happen. find because they are in gaza and nobody knows what will happen.— knows what will happen. and we clarified? three _ knows what will happen. and we clarified? three top _ knows what will happen. and we clarified? three top people - knows what will happen. and we clarified? three top people in i clarified? three top people in hamas, israel has killed two, leaving the other in a tunnel somewhere. we leaving the other in a tunnel somewhere.— leaving the other in a tunnel somewhere. ~ , ~ ., somewhere. we believe the killing of hani eh is somewhere. we believe the killing of haniyeh is paving _ somewhere. we believe the killing of haniyeh is paving the _ somewhere. we believe the killing of haniyeh is paving the way _ somewhere. we believe the killing of haniyeh is paving the way for - somewhere. we believe the killing of haniyeh is paving the way for more . haniyeh is paving the way for more extremist figures in hamas. there is little room for more moderate

people, such as the person he was running for ten years and may be the new leader. i think it is very complicated. because of security reasons, they can't meet up and decide who will be the next leader. it might take time, not like what we have seen. they were able to appoint the new leader on the same day. i do think they will be able to do it this time. we think they will be able to do it this time-— think they will be able to do it this time. ~ . , ., this time. we saw haniyeh in tehran warmly embracing _ this time. we saw haniyeh in tehran warmly embracing the _ this time. we saw haniyeh in tehran warmly embracing the new - this time. we saw haniyeh in tehran | warmly embracing the new president as he was being inaugurated. what will hamas's expectations be of its allies? if will hamas's expectations be of its allies? ., ~ will hamas's expectations be of its allies? . ~ ., , ., allies? if we talk about before hani eh, allies? if we talk about before haniyeh, back _ allies? if we talk about before haniyeh, back in _ allies? if we talk about before haniyeh, back in 2012 - allies? if we talk about before haniyeh, back in 2012 the - allies? if we talk about before - haniyeh, back in 2012 the relation with tehran was bad at this time, because hamas supported the

revolution in syria. the relation with iran was bad. when haniyeh came, he was a strong ally to iran and fixed relations. having them backin and fixed relations. having them back in the picture for hamas will be difficult with the relation with iran, but still even though iran has supported hamas in military, they never stop supporting hamas as a military fighters since the beginning of hamas. it military fighters since the beginning of hamas. military fighters since the beauinnin of hamas. ., �* ., , . beginning of hamas. it won't affect the military — beginning of hamas. it won't affect the military side. _ beginning of hamas. it won't affect the military side. really _ beginning of hamas. it won't affect the military side. really good - beginning of hamas. it won't affect the military side. really good to i the military side. really good to get your thoughts. we will look at iranians reaction. good to have you with us. what do you expect a reaction to be from tehran to this assassination on a

rainy tehran to this assassination on a rain j ., ., tehran to this assassination on a rain . ., , , tehran to this assassination on a rain . ., ,, , rainy the iranian responsible be severe, i expect _ rainy the iranian responsible be severe, i expect it _ rainy the iranian responsible be severe, i expect it to _ rainy the iranian responsible be severe, i expect it to be - rainy the iranian responsible be severe, i expect it to be more i severe, i expect it to be more severe, i expect it to be more severe than when the israeli regime from the consulate in syria. may was a hero to the iranians pupil —— ismail haniyeh was a hero. his extended family has been slaughtered over the past ten months. the israeli regime has been targeting his grandchildren, his extended family, as they do. as we know, they are raping men in prison, they slaughter children across the border in gaza. people like ismail haniyeh are considered as heroes, who are defending the people of palestine. the very fact he was murdered in

tehran makes it all the more important for iranians to make sure the israeli regime is punished. this is possibly something that benjamin netanyahu wants, an escalation. can ou clari netanyahu wants, an escalation. can you clarify what you think the harsh punishment could be, what happens next? i punishment could be, what happens next? ~ , punishment could be, what happens next? ~' , ., . next? i think there will be a direct response- — next? i think there will be a direct response- last — next? i think there will be a direct response. last time _ next? i think there will be a direct response. last time iran - next? i think there will be a direct response. last time iran fired - next? i think there will be a direct| response. last time iran fired over 300 drones and missiles, and the israelis spent $1.1; billion trying to bring them down, and the american spent $2.5 billion trying to bring them down. it changed the equation. after that the israeli regime stop targeting iranians in syria. now the iranians will make sure the regime is punished severely so that it does not dare to murder people again in

iran. ., , ,., , not dare to murder people again in iran. ., , , ., iran. professor, will there be a sense of embarrassment - iran. professor, will there be a sense of embarrassment in - iran. professor, will there be a - sense of embarrassment in tehran it actually happened? all these foreign dignitaries arriving for the new president and they were unable to protect one of the key people there, embracing the new president last night? embracing the new president last niuht? , , , , night? definitely, it is very ainful night? definitely, it is very painfulfor_ night? definitely, it is very painful for them _ night? definitely, it is very painful for them to - night? definitely, it is very painful for them to see - night? definitely, it is very painful for them to see it l night? definitely, it is very - painful for them to see it happen. we have to keep in mind western embassies have been gathering intelligence in iran for decades. they are all in coordination with the us, and embassies in the countries have been active against iran as well. iran in its support for the resistance is very much a loan. it supports hamas, hezbollah, and the resistance in iraq. it is the only government that does so. countries like turkey are still

allowing oil to be exported to israel, countries have political relations, economic relations, jordan and india, close ties with netanyahu. iran is very much alone in supporting the people of gaza and it will be difficult. but as one reason why the response from iran will be harsh. netanyahu wants to expand the war because he's lost in lebanon, gaza, in the eyes of global opinion because the people see is it as a genocidal regime. the uranian response will be severe and the israeli regime will be the big loser. . ~ israeli regime will be the big loser. ., ~' , ., , israeli regime will be the big loser. . ~ , ., , . israeli regime will be the big loser. ., ~ , . ., loser. thank you very much for “oininu loser. thank you very much for joining us- _ loser. thank you very much for joining us- we _ loser. thank you very much for joining us. we will _ loser. thank you very much for joining us. we will speak- loser. thank you very much for joining us. we will speak to - loser. thank you very much for - joining us. we will speak to people in israel shortly to get you the reaction from the us secretary of state antony blinken, saying they

don't want the conflict to escalate. we are hearing the voices from israel. let's reflect on what we are hearing. the has been a sense open till now, despite what we have seen, nothing has pushed iran yet. but could this be at the moment we see that tipping over? it is interesting, _ that tipping over? it is interesting, i've - that tipping over? it is interesting, i've been| that tipping over? it 3 interesting, i've been reading a lot of facebook comments by palestinians, especially those who have access to the internet in gaza, and people believe you run will not go as far as something to break a war. they believed they will be a response, but not as big as people are hoping for. we response, but not as big as people are hoping for-— response, but not as big as people are hoping for. we hear the rhetoric but they aren't _ are hoping for. we hear the rhetoric but they aren't following _ are hoping for. we hear the rhetoric but they aren't following through. . but they aren't following through. many people have doubts, they have experienced it before. one post said they had killed very senior iran

people, destroyed the iranians embassy, and the response wasn't the same limit. people have doubts. the good question is will hamas be able to respond the same way they responded when they killed many hamas leaders before? we responded when they killed many hamas leaders before?— responded when they killed many hamas leaders before? we can only assume they — hamas leaders before? we can only assume they have _ hamas leaders before? we can only assume they have been _ hamas leaders before? we can only assume they have been severely - assume they have been severely depleted in the last ten months. we will see. stay with us. around the world and across to uk, this is bbc news.

welcome back. israel has also launched an airstrike in the lebanese capital beirut which they say targeted a key hezbollah commander. the strike occurred in the densely populated suburb of daniyeh and is said to have targeted fuad shakr, who is believed to be a key advisor to the hezbolah leader hassan nasrallah.

the us has had a $5 million dollar reward in place for information on shakr who they believe polayed a key role in the 1983 bombing of a us military base that killed 2m. israel believes shakr was responsible for a rocket attack on the occupied golan heights on saturday that killed 12, including many children. hezbollah has denied the attack and has not confirmed the death of shakr but has said that he was in the building at the time of the strike. lebanon's prime minister najib mikati condemned "blatant israeli aggression" and a "criminal act". let's cross live now to beirut where we can speak to hugo bachega. just take us through all the reaction you are hearing from hezbollah and the government today. before the assassination of may in iran and obviously the concerns ——

assassination of ismail haniyeh. the news here in the region was the assassination yesterday of the senior commander inside hezbollah. the military described him as the right—hand man to the hezbollah leader. a seniorfigure inside hezbollah. these attacks happened yesterday before sunset. they hit the hezbollah stronghold in southern beirut. the lebanese health ministry said at least three civilians were killed, including two children, as a result. this morning we had the first reaction from hezbollah following the attack, saying the senior commander was in the building when the attack happened, but they did not confirm he was killed. they

said rescue efforts continued, that emergency services were still searching through the rubble. i was there this morning and there was a very happy presence of hezbollah members, and soldiers from the lebanese army. obviously the concern now, the focus is on hezbollah and how the group will respond. we have seen that every time there was an assassination target and a senior member, hezbollah responded with hundreds of rockets targeting military positions inside israel. what happened yesterday may be seen as hezbollah as provocation. it hit its base in beirut, the first time we believe hezbollah was targeted in the lebanese capital. the attention now is on hezbollah and how the group will respond. i now is on hezbollah and how the group will respond.— group will respond. i heard you earlier interviewing _ group will respond. i heard you earlier interviewing the - group will respond. i heard you earlier interviewing the energy | earlier interviewing the energy minister who wants peace from all

sides. can you remind us how hezbollah operate, they are a state within a state?— within a state? they really are, and the lebanese _ within a state? they really are, and the lebanese government - within a state? they really are, and the lebanese government is - within a state? they really are, and the lebanese government is in - within a state? they really are, and the lebanese government is in a i within a state? they really are, and i the lebanese government is in a very difficult position because they have very little, if any, difficult position because they have very little, ifany, influence difficult position because they have very little, if any, influence over hezbollah. it is a powerful militia, heavily armed militia, supported by iran, but also a political party. it has representation in parliament and is also a very popular, strong social movement in lebanon. it is highly influential, important here in lebanon. and it does act as a state within a state, it has its own strategy and goals. the concern here in lebanon is hezbollah is drug in the country into another conflict with israel. —— dragging. people

remember into thousand six, the devastation of the war, there was destruction in beirut. the base of hezbollah in the capital, and many fear history might be repeating itself. obviously any kind of confrontation between hezbollah and israel would be felt by israel, because hezbollah has an estimated 50,000 missiles and rockets, including precision guided missiles which can go deep into israel. what we have seen is the violence has by and large been concentrated in areas along the lebanon, israel border. the fear is that could be an escalation of the violence, even though we have seen signs from israel and hezbollah they aren't interested in a major confrontation which could have catastrophic consequences for israel and lebanon. hugo, thank you forjoining us from

beirut. we will return to the middle east throughout the day on bbc news. let's update you on a break a new story from the uk. huw edwards, once the bbc�*s most senior news presenter, has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. he admitted having 41 indecent images of children, which had been sent to him by another man on whatsapp, this is news which came out of the westminster magistrates' court. they included seven category a images, the most serious classification. until last year, edwards was one of the main presenters on bbc one's news at ten and often fronted coverage of major national events, including the death of queen elizabeth ii. he was arrested last november and charged last month. he will be sentenced on the 16th of september and a probation report will been compiled. lucy manning is here. we saw huw

edwards outside of court. what edwards outside of court. what ha--ened edwards outside of court. what happened inside _ edwards outside of court. what happened inside court? - edwards outside of court. ib'fi�*ué�*ii happened inside court? mr edwards arrived with reporters and cameras around him, he wasjostled arrived with reporters and cameras around him, he was jostled trying to get in. he didn't say anything outside court, but three extremely significant words when he was inside court. he stood in the dark, he didn't have much expression, he looked relatively calm, and the three charges were put to him, the category a, b and c, and each one he replied quietly but calmly, guilty. the court heard further details of the accusations he has now pleaded guilty to, that he was in a whatsapp chat with another man. the man was sending him images, some of those were legal pornographic images, but 41 were indecent images, and the

ages involved in the images, of which there were two videos, ranged largely between 12 and 15, but two of the videos involve children seven to nine years old. on a couple of occasions, hugh edwards asked the man to stop sending illegal pictures, but it didn't always stop. they carried on in contact with each other, sending legal images after the indecent images stopped. mr edwards's lawyer told the court the former newsreader had an exemplary rector, he didn't keep any of the images, didn't send them to anyone and hasn't sought similar images from elsewhere. the church can potentially give him a prison sentence, but he said he wanted to see some probation reports —— the judge can potentially he will have

to come back to court later on in the year, but obviously a very significant downfall for huw edwards. . , significant downfall for huw edwards. , . ~ significant downfall for huw edwards. , ., ~' edwards. lucy, thank you. more information _ edwards. lucy, thank you. more information on _ edwards. lucy, thank you. more information on our— edwards. lucy, thank you. more information on our website. i edwards. lucy, thank you. more information on our website. you edwards. lucy, thank you. more i information on our website. you were watching bbc news. lucy, just continue, what is the possibility of what could happen next? the sentencing is on september 16. what will thejudge sentencing is on september 16. what will the judge considered. sentencing is on september 16. what will thejudge considered. he sentencing is on september 16. what will the judge considered.— will the 'udge considered. he wants to see will the judge considered. he wants to see reports _ will the judge considered. he wants to see reports about _ will the judge considered. he wants to see reports about his _ will the judge considered. he wants to see reports about his mental i to see reports about his mental health, whether there's a possibility he could reoffend. it is a magistrates' court, so thejudge may decide that if he gives a sentence, he has descended to the crown court where he could catch a more severe sentence. we are waiting to see what happens. huw edwards is on bail. there are questions for the bbc about whether mr edwards should have told them he had been arrested in november. he got a massive pay

rise of £40,000 when suspended. what happens with his pension now? personally for huw edwards, i mean, it is a terrible situation for him. and in court today he admitted there was offences, heyplease guilty, but his lawyer is saying in mitigation he accessed the images, he didn't keep them or send them on to anyone else. . , . ~ keep them or send them on to anyone else. , ., ~' ,, keep them or send them on to anyone else. i ., ~' ., keep them or send them on to anyone else. , ., ,, i. ., ., ., else. lucy, thank you for all of that detail. — else. lucy, thank you for all of that detail. let's _ else. lucy, thank you for all of that detail. let'sjust - else. lucy, thank you for all of that detail. let'sjust remind l else. lucy, thank you for all of l that detail. let'sjust remind you that detail. let's just remind you of the pictures we saw of hugh edwards today as he was leaving court. a huge amount of media interest, realscrum court. a huge amount of media interest, real scrum outside the court as he left. you can see him surrounded by police and by the media, wearing his sunglasses, making his way very slowly through the crowd. to remind you of the news

we have had today, that huw edwards, once the bbc�*s most senior newsreader, has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, but admitted having 41 indecent images which were sent to him by another man on whatsapp. our culture and media editor is with me. katie, can you reflect on what we have heard today about huw edwards question i think the thing to reflect on is how significant it is in terms of somebody who was the face of the bbc. , , ., ., ., ., ., bbc. this is a man who held our hand throu~h bbc. this is a man who held our hand through some — bbc. this is a man who held our hand through some key _ bbc. this is a man who held our hand through some key moments - bbc. this is a man who held our hand through some key moments of i bbc. this is a man who held our hand i through some key moments of national life, notjust presenting the flagship news at ten programme, one of the most trusted faces, but somebody the bbc picked to replace david dimbleby for the general election nights. he was the man who

announced queen elizabeth's death, he narrated the coronation of king charles. these are key moments in the product life of britain. and yet if he has pleaded guilty, to really significant charges, and everybody in this building and further afield will be so shocked to hear. there are some big _ will be so shocked to hear. there are some big questions _ will be so shocked to hear. there are some big questions for- will be so shocked to hear. there are some big questions for the i will be so shocked to hear. there i are some big questions for the bbc to answer to, particularly the pay rise, that he didn't that the bbc know he had been arrested. tote rise, that he didn't that the bbc know he had been arrested. we don't know he had been arrested. we don't know for sure. _ know he had been arrested. we don't know for sure, and _ know he had been arrested. we don't know for sure, and we _ know he had been arrested. we don't know for sure, and we need - know he had been arrested. we don't know for sure, and we need it - know for sure, and we need it answered. when did the bbc know about his arrest, why was he studying paid five months after his arrest? well the bbc try to recuperate his salary. did he tell the bbc when he was arrested? my understanding was that i was little contact, but we just don't know. these are questions we have put to

the bbc and hoping and expecting an answer. we the bbc and hoping and expecting an answer. ~ . ., the bbc and hoping and expecting an answer. ~ _, . ~ ., i. answer. we will come back to you, thank you. — answer. we will come back to you, thank you. kt- _ answer. we will come back to you, thank you, kt. more _ answer. we will come back to you, thank you, kt. more details - answer. we will come back to you, thank you, kt. more details on i answer. we will come back to you, thank you, kt. more details on the bbc news website. this is bbc news, the headlines... hamas says its leader — ismail haniyeh — has been killed in the iranian capital, tehran accusing israel of being responsible. iran's supreme leader, ali khamenei, says avenging the killing of the hamas leader is iran's duty. hezbollah says one of its most senior military commanders, fuad shukr, was in a building in beirut targeted by israel on tuesday evening — but has yet to confirm his fate. former bbc presenter huw edwards pleads guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children. 39 police officers are injured in violent clashes hours after a vigil to pay tribute to the three little girls killed in a knife attack in southport. and in paris, as the water in the river seine is deemed safe,

britain's alex yee wins gold in the delayed men's triathlon. hello, i'm lucy hockings. returning to our top story now. hamas says its political leader, ismail haniyeh, has been killed in an israeli strike in the iranian capital, tehran. iran's supreme leader, ali khamenei, has said it will be teheran's duty to avenge the killing. we do know that he was killed in an air strike at about 2pm local time. to remind you, he is the most senior hamas leader to be killed since october the 7th tax. —— attacks. let's speak to yonahjeremy bob, senior military

correspondent at the jerusalem post and author of target tehran.