to question the 17—year—old suspect. we begin in the middle east, where two separate attacks in the space of 12 hours on the senior leaders of two iranian—backed groups have raised fears of a wider regional conflict. hamas says its political leader ismail haniyeh was killed during a visit to tehran. early indications suggest that he and his bodyguard died when a rocket hit the house where he was staying. hamas has accused israel of being responsible and described the killing as a grave escalation. hours earlier, israel said it had killed a senior hezbollah figure in a strike in beirut. the movement has confirmed that fuad shukr, one of its top military commanders, was in a building targeted by israel

but hasn't confirmed his fate. israel said he was responsible for an attack that killed 12 youngsters in the israeli—occupied golan heights. our correspondent injerusalem yolande knell sent this report. state media in iran reporting the assassination in its capital of this top hamas leader. a vip guest, ismail haniyeh, had been in tehran, along with the heads of other regional armed groups backed by iran, for the inauguration of the country's new president. but these were to be his last—ever public appearances. in gaza today, news of the killing worried many palestinians about the implications for ending nearly ten months of war with israel. translation: if the leaders die, the political leaders, _ where are we going? children are dying. the elderly are dying. the youth are dying. no—one is looking out for us. i hope this will be the last assassination.

and god willing, the war will end after this assassination. we are all tired. ismail haniyeh was from gaza but had recently lived in qatar. he was seen as more pragmatic than hard—line hamas leaders still in the palestinian territory, and had been overseeing talks on a ceasefire and the release of israeli hostages. now hostage families fear a setback. i don't know how this news affect the deal, but i wish, i really wish for all of the forces around the world that will gather in order to bring our people back home. i hope our politicians will know to make these news into the release of the hostages. just hours before the tehran attack, israel had targeted a senior hezbollah commander in the lebanese capital, beirut. it said he was responsible

for a deadly rocket strike in the occupied golan heights last weekend. fears were already running high about the possibility of retaliation and a wider war. now, with iran announcing three days of mourning for ismail haniyeh and vowing a harsh and painful response, the middle east is even more on edge. our correspondent barbara plett usher is injerusalem. i asked her whether israel is likely to comment on the assasination. not so far, no. in the most recent briefing with the prime minister's office, the spokesperson was asked and he said, we are not commenting on this incident. but we do know that after the october 7th attacks, which were led by hamas, the israeli government said they were going to target all of the hamas leadership, including the political leadership, and they have kept that threat current throughout the last ten months.

there was a strike against the deputy political leader in beirut in january. i think the entire region believe that it was the israelis who carried this out. there is a brief moment on social media where a picture of ismail haniyeh was posted by the government press office here with a graphic across his face saying "eliminated" but that was taken down very quickly, so clearly, the israelis don't want to own this publicly. as i say, they have been saying that they would be targeting the leadership. the question is now, why they would take this particular opportunity, especially when mr haniyeh had been involved heavily in ceasefire talks that many hoped would result in at least a pause in the conflict in gaza. there are the implications you mention but has anything been reported about how exactly this attack was done? we don't know exactly how it was done.

we do know it took place at 2am, according to iranian media, and that it was also very precise because there are other hamas leaders in the building, as well as the leader of palestinian islamichhad, and they were not hit. it was very much aimed at mr haniyeh so the israelis probably had good intelligence about where he was. this is possibly because he was attending a pre—organised event, the inauguration of the iranian president, so perhaps they had time to get intelligence on it. the iranian media initially reported it was a missile fired from outside the country but there have been other reports that it was a rocket fired from a nearby building, which would suggest there was some inside help for the attack, but we don't have any confirmation of exactly how it was carried out. let's speak to general amir avivi, founder of the israel defence and security forum.

am welcome to the programme. what is israel's strategy here? this strate: israel's strategy here? this strategy from _ israel's strategy here? this strategy from day - israel's strategy here? this strategy from day one - israel's strategy here? this strategy from day one is i israel's strategy here? ti 3 strategy from day one is very clear, a clear goal of war, to eradicate hamas as a military entity and governmental entity. hamas is attacked and provoked, killed 1200 israelis, raped women, to children, took hostages, burnt people alive and this organisation cannot exist any more, not in our region at least. step—by—step, the idf is destroying hamas militarily and targeting the leadership of hamas. do you think it brings peace any closer? the region has been on the brink for a very long time, taking out a raid on iranian territory and

attacking by routes, there is a risk of this tipping over into a wider war? ~ . ., ., ., war? we are in war and in war where we first need — war? we are in war and in war where we first need to _ war? we are in war and in war where we first need to wind _ war? we are in war and in war where we first need to wind decisively - war? we are in war and in war where we first need to wind decisively and l we first need to wind decisively and then talk about peace... but we first need to wind decisively and then talk about peace. . ._ then talk about peace... but not a wider war. — then talk about peace... but not a wider war, that _ then talk about peace... but not a wider war, that is _ then talk about peace... but not a wider war, that is what _ then talk about peace... but not a wider war, that is what the - wider war, that is what the americans and various allies have been warning against. does this urge us closer to that wider conflict? irate us closer to that wider conflict? we have us closer to that wider conflict? - have been saying for two years to the american administration and asset also now to the british government — if you want to stabilise the middle east, you need to show strength, you need to pose a credible military threat to iran, you need to terence. the whole globe is destabilised. 50 you need to terence. the whole globe is destabilised.— is destabilised. so the americans are wron: is destabilised. so the americans are wrong with — is destabilised. so the americans are wrong with the _ is destabilised. so the americans are wrong with the keep - is destabilised. so the americans

are wrong with the keep urging i are wrong with the keep urging america's prime minister not to escalates, is that what saying? i am sa in: that escalates, is that what saying? i am saying that the _ escalates, is that what saying? i —.n saying that the americans are wrong when they think appeasement works with the iranians, there are wrong if they think appeasement works with hezbollah. it's not going to work. we need strength, we need to wind decisively and after we wind, we can talk about solutions and peace agreements. peace will come in the middle east following a decisive wind of israel, and then we may see peace with saudi arabia... that wind of israel, and then we may see peace with saudi arabia. . ._ peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages _ peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages ahead, _ peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages ahead, i _ peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages ahead, i just - peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages ahead, i just want i peace with saudi arabia... that as many stages ahead, i just want to | many stages ahead, i just want to ask about the immediate — do you think this brings any closer to the release of those hostages? i think that the only _ release of those hostages? i think that the only military _ release of those hostages? i think that the only military pressure - release of those hostages? i think that the only military pressure is l that the only military pressure is going to bring the leadership of hamas to the point where they agree to a deal. we have rejected

everything that was offered for months and months this is not show any willingness to release hostages and the prime minister and the military are all saying the same, this pressure is what will bring victory. this pressure is what will bring victo . ., ., ., , , victory. you have also been sending teams to negotiate _ victory. you have also been sending teams to negotiate and _ victory. you have also been sending teams to negotiate and he - victory. you have also been sending teams to negotiate and he was - victory. you have also been sending teams to negotiate and he was the l teams to negotiate and he was the principal negotiator.— principal negotiator. sorry, again? israel principal negotiator. sorry, again? israel have — principal negotiator. sorry, again? israel have also _ principal negotiator. sorry, again? israel have also been _ principal negotiator. sorry, again? israel have also been sending - principal negotiator. sorry, again? l israel have also been sending teams to negotiate in qatar and he was hamas' principal negotiator. who is now left to negotiate with? thea;r now left to negotiate with? they will always _ now left to negotiate with? they will always have _ now left to negotiate with? iie: will always have somebody now left to negotiate with? "iie: will always have somebody to now left to negotiate with? i““i21 will always have somebody to replace but the remaining leadership will be targeted, all of them. also sinwar who is hiding in the rafah region, perhaps khan younis. i think palestinian society is fed up of

hamas, i am palestinian society is fed up of hamas, iam hoping palestinian society is fed up of hamas, i am hoping they understand they have no future with a terrorist organisation it terracing them and use them as human shields and taking the food from all the food that is coming into gaza. irate the food from all the food that is coming into gaza.— the food from all the food that is coming into gaza. we have to leave it there but — coming into gaza. we have to leave it there but thank _ coming into gaza. we have to leave it there but thank you _ coming into gaza. we have to leave it there but thank you for _ coming into gaza. we have to leave it there but thank you for that - it there but thank you for that perspective. let's speak to nader hashemi, professor of middle east politics at georgetown university. welcome here to the programme. what is your assessment on the region and the impact on the region of the two strikes overnight? i the impact on the region of the two strikes overnight?— strikes overnight? i think it's a dangerous _ strikes overnight? i think it's a dangerous escalation. - strikes overnight? i think it's a dangerous escalation. the - strikes overnight? i think it's a i dangerous escalation. the middle east has never been closer to an all—out regional war work then it has at this moment as a result of the israeli strikes in beirut and tehran. ron is going to have to that

will provoke a counter retaliation and there is no sign of where this is going to end. a reminder that of events in april this year when israel targeted the iranian compound in damascus, that produced a major iranian response, hundreds of missiles and drones targeted at israel, most of which were intercepted, but i expect iran will respond in a similar way, so concerns about the way things are headed. ., ., ., ., headed. you will have heard what her last cuest headed. you will have heard what her last guest saying _ headed. you will have heard what her last guest saying that _ headed. you will have heard what her last guest saying that this _ headed. you will have heard what her last guest saying that this is - headed. you will have heard what her last guest saying that this is the - last guest saying that this is the right approach, peace through forced. you don't think that assessment is the right one? fine assessment is the right one? one 'ust has assessment is the right one? one just has to — assessment is the right one? one just has to look _ assessment is the right one? one just has to look at _ assessment is the right one? ©“i2 just has to look at the rhetoric here — israel has been saying that since its inception, that the arabs

and the muslim world can't be negotiated with or negotiated but people compromised about, they only understand force. is as safe today as a result of that policy? attic over the seven, look at what is happening on the ground in the region where it is pretty clear israel is going to have a difficult time existing in a region there the vast parts of the population regards it as a state that is no concern for the fate of the palace population that the rule over. this is not a sustainable policy. it might make some people in israel or the united states happy for a brief moment that they've assassinated a leading palestinian leader but israel has been doing that for a very long time, both religious leaders and secular leaders but the conflict not only continue but in many ways gets worse for palestinians but also israelis. ., a

worse for palestinians but also israelis. ., ,~' , ., worse for palestinians but also israelis. ., ., israelis. let me ask you about the response. — israelis. let me ask you about the response. you _ israelis. let me ask you about the response, you mentioned - israelis. let me ask you about the response, you mentioned earlier, | israelis. let me ask you about the - response, you mentioned earlier, due to hamas now have the capacity to respond and separately, in terms of hezbollah and the iranian response, you mentioned that earlier episodes — in that instance they telegraphed it and so were able to respond to save face but didn't escalate it further up the chain. do you think thatis further up the chain. do you think that is likely how it will play out this time or potentially could it be worse? irate this time or potentially could it be worse? ~ ., �* ~ ., , this time or potentially could it be worse? ., �* ~ ., , ., worse? we don't know. these are auoin to worse? we don't know. these are going to be _ worse? we don't know. these are going to be the — worse? we don't know. these are going to be the decisions - worse? we don't know. these are going to be the decisions iran - worse? we don't know. these are going to be the decisions iran is i going to be the decisions iran is going to be the decisions iran is going to be the decisions iran is going to have to make. the general assumption is that iran did not want an expansion of this war, hence at the telegraphing in april that it was sending these missiles towards israel, hoping that after demonstrating it had capacity, the conflict wouldn't escalate. we don't know how this is going to play out. i think the attack earlier this

morning or last night in tehran is deeply humiliating for iran was topping the fact that this happened in its capital the day after its new president was inaugurated is going to increase the particle temperature so i suspect iran is going to want to respond and respond forcefully. it also has its allies in lebanon looking to quite a bit of damage to israel. i don't think hamas is the capacity, ten months into this horrific war. i think the real question is how iran and hezbollah going to respond to these double assassinations. that is going to determine where we're headed in the next few days. determine where we're headed in the next few days-— next few days. thank you for “oining us. we continue * next few days. thank you for “oining us. we continue with t next few days. thank you for “oining us. we continue with some _ next few days. thank you forjoining us. we continue with some of- next few days. thank you forjoining us. we continue with some of thosej us. we continue with some of those thoughts. as fears of an escalation in the region grow after this killing on iranian soil,

the bbc�*s azadeh moshiri has more on the ties between iran and groups opposed to israel. you can barely see it as a place on this map but what happens on the strip of land has far reaching implications across the region and that's because of hamas, which is a prescribed terrorist organisation by the united states, united kingdom and other countries. they have long—standing ties to iran. we know that iran supplies hamas with weapons, financing, as well as military training. that's why israel has tried to disrupt supply routes to hamas through the red sea, yemen, sudan and as well as through smugglers in the sinai peninsula. and yet hamas is not the only one with ties to iran in the region. there is also hezbollah, an islamist

military and political organisation in lebanon with considerable power and influence in the country. we do know that one are their top commanders was reportedly killed by israel in beirut last night. we also know that one of their representatives was in iran for that same gathering, that presidential inauguration, where the high—profile attack and assassination on ismail hen again it took place. there was also an representative from palestinian islamichhad, the second biggest group in gaza, and they are also reported to receive financing and weapons from iran that's not all, there are also the three nation rebels in yemen who also received support from iran. all of that is why there has been this talk of escalation, that word we keep hearing — because there is concern that this war will notjust

be played out here and in gaza but over several fronts. be played out here and in gaza but overseveralfronts. in be played out here and in gaza but over severalfronts. in lebanon over several fronts. in lebanon because over severalfronts. in lebanon because of that tide to hezbollah, and because also because of their shia militias here in assyria. these words from ali khamenei in iran said it is our duty to avenge his blood. because it's important to remember that this was an embarrassment for iran, their security apparatus. this was an attack on their own soil, somewhere ismail haniyeh has visited many times and during a presidential inauguration. that is why there are so many concerns this could escalate a war that has already seen so much death and destruction. around the

world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news.

detectives investigating the mass stabbing at a southport holiday club that left three children dead have been granted more time to question the 17—year—old suspect. hundreds of people attended a vigil last night to pay tribute to the three girls who were killed in the knife attack at a children's dance workshop. just hours later, violence broke out close to where the girls were stabbed to death. 5a police officers were injured — many of them needing hospital treatment. merseyside police described the violence as sickening, and the prime minister warned that the rioters would feel the full force of the law. 0ur correspondent nicky schiller has this update from southport. there was a violence last night. i just want to explain where that mosque was — you can see the flowers here near the scene of the mass

stabbing. the mosque isjust a five minutes walk away from here. and last night was the scene of violence. police estimate that there were two and pic 300 people there, all of the people i spoke on to today say they believe the majority of those people were from outside southport. that they were not from southport. that they were not from southport. they picked up breaks and threw them at the police. those breaks came from a people's garden walls was topping they down those garden walls to throw at the police and at the local mosque. we saw broken windows on the mosque, we saw a huge amount of daybreak this morning. a police van last night was set on fire. but the thing is, when i arrived this morning, in the streets, there was debris everywhere. piles of rubble. but what happened was the local

community came out. people with a broom is. ispoke community came out. people with a broom is. i spoke to a man who travelled from manchester with a bucket and with a broom to help clear up and the locals came out in force, clearing that whole street. so, within three hours, it was clear of that day brie. is the local fire service came in with a cherry picker to make sure that the windows in the mosque will secure. the people of southport wanted to make it clear that that community effort was what mattered. here, you see the flowers behind me. one of the sets of flowers is from the school of one of those three children who was killed, seven—year—old elsie dot stancombe. her school wrote that she loved life, school and herfriends, how her eyes lit up when she spoke. the her eyes lit up when she spoke. the her one—of—a—kind and it is her mother that come out and appealed for calm. she wrote on social media

after thejob for calm. she wrote on social media after the job last for calm. she wrote on social media after thejob last night, for calm. she wrote on social media after the job last night, please, please stop. police have been nothing but heroic, day and we don't need this. industrial hours, the chief constable of merseyside has toured the area where that violence happened and she said that three people had been arrested and more arrests will be made. she said they were not unawares by that violence and they were prepared to if there was further violence, they have brought in support from other forces around the area. this is what serena kennedy had to say, the chief constable. kennedy had to say, the chief constable-— kennedy had to say, the chief constable. ., ., ., ., constable. based on the information i have available, _ constable. based on the information i have available, we _ constable. based on the information i have available, we understand - i have available, we understand there were people who identify as english defence league attending here yesterday. i am aware that other functions would say they have not existed for a number of years but based on how people were defining themselves on our intelligence picture, that is what

we understand.— we understand. what you say to eo - le we understand. what you say to --eole in we understand. what you say to people in the — we understand. what you say to people in the street _ we understand. what you say to people in the street at - we understand. what you say to people in the street at the - we understand. what you say to i people in the street at the moment who are _ people in the street at the moment who are looking at their garden walls _ who are looking at their garden walls being repaired and will go to bed tonight and wonder about any noise _ bed tonight and wonder about any noise that — bed tonight and wonder about any noise that appears outside their window? — noise that appears outside their window? |— noise that appears outside their window? ., , ., window? i would share with them robabl window? i would share with them probably carry — window? i would share with them probably carry no _ window? i would share with them probably carry no horror- window? i would share with them probably carry no horror and - window? i would share with them i probably carry no horror and disgust about what took place in this neighbourhood last night. as i've said, southport is a tight—knit, family community. everyone knows everybody, it is more like a village, so i would share in their horror and disgust. what i would say is that you should be reassured about the level support they will see from policing, of our partners just unaware being supported today in terms of community reassurance by partners from the council, from the fire and rescue service, from the police and crime commissioner, to make sure that there are people for them to speak to during the day. there is also the wider network we

are working with, so drop—in centres — because we can't get away from the fact that this community is traumatised by the events of monday and they need support and help around what they witnessed and what they heard and what they feel in relation to the most traumatic incident on monday, as well as what it wear last night. more of that interview later on the programme. huw edwards, once the bbc�*s most senior news presenter, children. at westminster magistrates�* court, he admitted having 41 indecent images of children, which had been sent to him by another man on whatsapp. they included seven category a images, the most serious classification. until last year, edwards was one of the main presenters on bbc 0ne's news at ten and often fronted coverage of major national events, including the death of queen elizabeth ii. he was arrested in november and charged last month. he will be sentenced on 16

september and a probation report is being compiled. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. the heatwave continues today across some parts of the country but overnight tonight and into tomorrow, the weather looks like it will start to break down. we've the risk of heavy rain, thunder and lightning, mainly across england and wales. still difficult to pin the details down because those storms are yet to develop. we've had some threatening cloud here in the far southeast of england with showers close by. these are the temperatures we have this afternoon. not really changing much for the northern half of the uk, it's much hotter further south, but because we've got an easterly breeze this time, the highest temperatures will get pushed that little further towards the west. even some showers into wales and northern ireland but things get going overnight.

the wetter weather develops overnight in northern ireland and pushes across to scotland with thundery downpours across parts of england and wales. more cloud around tonight, for scotland, warmer than last night, 5 degrees in glasgow. further south, no lower than 17 in the southeast of england. this wet weather through the midlands and northern england, possibly thundery, moving away with sunshine coming through, triggering more thundery showers across england and east wales. more sunshine across scotland and northern ireland in the afternoon with temperatures a shade higher than today but not quite so high further south. very warm or hot in places depending on those heavy showers. we end the week with low pressure approaching from the atlantic, so quite a turnaround in the weather. still heavy or thundery showers across eastern parts of england which will move away and as the breeze picks up in the west, outbreaks of rain moving in here. that will keep the temperatures

a bit lower, only 20 degrees, though still very warm across eastern england, up to 28 celsius here. as that weather front pushes west from saturday, we will have cooler and fresher air following, a west or southwesterly wind and low pressure bringing rain into the northwest of england on sunday. in the southeast, rain to begin on saturday and the rest of the weekend dry, temperatures are lower and nearer normal for the time of year.

fed watcher, america's central bank is expected to keep interest rates at a 2 decade high. borrowing costs are ahead. borrowing reporter even larger loss for its 2nd quarter, the playmaker chart the course? welcome, this is business today. his team are not expected to cut interest rates from their 2 decade high. but they are expected come during next month's it instead. the election is controversial. donald trump has must

not do that. here'si market watch says despite it being lower consumers are still feeling the pressure. consumers are still feeling the ressure. , ., , , pressure. the sentiment really is driven largely — pressure. the sentiment really is driven largely by _ pressure. the sentiment really is driven largely by inflation. - pressure. the sentiment really is driven largely by inflation. the i driven largely by inflation. the level of prices not necessarily the rate of change that we can focus on. the average us consumer, inflation is at 20 plus percent because they are looking at that consecutive, consecutive and that cumulative, that cumulative inflation rate over the last 3 years. so i don't think federal reserve are starting to cut rates in september changes the sentiment that we already have in place joining me now is erin delmore, north america business correspondent. it seems that a lot of investors are pricing in that cat. yeah, investors