a the united states in 2001, but a special— the united states in 2001, but a special status, but not an nato memben — special status, but not an nato member. �* l, special status, but not an nato member. �* t, , t, special status, but not an nato member. �* ., , ., ., special status, but not an nato member. ., , ., ., , member. another question that is very pepular. _ member. another question that is very pepular. and _ member. another question that is very pepular. and i _ member. another question that is very popular, and i will— member. another question that is very popular, and i will put - member. another question that is very popular, and i will put this i member. another question that is very popular, and i will put this to i very popular, and i will put this to you, sebastien. how strong is iran's military? that's a good question. the weight has been operating across the region has been operating across the region has been operating across the region has been through proxy groups so hezbollah in yemen, and in syria it sent detachments of the revolutionary guard but it's not played a central role with the military there and with hamas, a similar story. military there and with hamas, a similarstory. it's military there and with hamas, a similar story. it's military strategy has been more to finance, encourage and train and bolster the forces to fight proxy wars rather than take on, for example, until recently the main rivalry in the

middle east was between saudi arabia and iran and it looked like they would come up against each other but instead they fought proxy wars in yemen especially. there's been a rapprochement between them recently and the military itself, it is huge, but if you look back, things have changed and look at the iran—iraq war in the 805, although they had a massive advantage in terms of the people in the army, they were not able to defeat iraq, 5o people in the army, they were not able to defeat iraq, so i don't think at the moment we are looking at an iranian military entering into at an iranian military entering into a major conflict. this will be, for now, unless they go to an extraordinary situation which will be a major issue for everyone across the globe. they will look to be using pressure as we've seen with hamas and hezbollah, we've seen an incremental rise in skirmishes on the border between israel and

laverton but we are not seeing any major escalation where the rules of engagement have been crossed —— and lebanon. where israel feels it needs to show the kind of military force it did in 2006 when it took on hezbollah and vice versa from hezbollah and vice versa from hezbollah and vice versa from hezbollah and the palestinian factions, but that is where we are likely is to see iran's military objectives being pushed and mobilised, at the moment. thank you for that. another _ mobilised, at the moment. thank you for that. another question, _ mobilised, at the moment. thank you for that. another question, lyse, - for that. another question, lyse, that people have been searching for. why does iran support hamas? it's been a gradual process over many— it's been a gradual process over many years. they were not natural allies _ many years. they were not natural allies as _ many years. they were not natural allies as hamas is a sunni organisation and iran is a major

shia _ organisation and iran is a major shia power, more aligned with groups that have _ shia power, more aligned with groups that have modelled themselves on the islamic— that have modelled themselves on the islamic republic of iran, like hezbollah, which we just heard from about _ hezbollah, which we just heard from about from _ hezbollah, which we just heard from about from sebastien. but iran noticed — about from sebastien. but iran noticed that hamas was kind or fund in the _ noticed that hamas was kind or fund in the region and did not have any major— in the region and did not have any major backers in its resistance, as they call— major backers in its resistance, as they call it. — major backers in its resistance, as they call it, against israel and defiance — they call it, against israel and defiance against israel and their willingness to take on israel. iran was already backing islamicjihad, one of— was already backing islamicjihad, one of the — was already backing islamicjihad, one of the main backers, one of the most _ one of the main backers, one of the most responsible for the rise of the group, _ most responsible for the rise of the group, one — most responsible for the rise of the group, one of the more extreme organisations. well armed as well and more — organisations. well armed as well and more often willing to provoke confrontation with israel than hamas has been _ confrontation with israel than hamas has been in — confrontation with israel than hamas has been in the past, but then iran shifted _ has been in the past, but then iran shifted to— has been in the past, but then iran shifted to backing hamas as well and now we _ shifted to backing hamas as well and now we are _ shifted to backing hamas as well and now we are seeing in this context, and certainly in this year, there is now greater— and certainly in this year, there is now greater coordination between hamas _ now greater coordination between hamas which runs the gaza strip, hezbollah — hamas which runs the gaza strip, hezbollah in lebanon, who will coordinate who is going to attack

israel— coordinate who is going to attack israel or— coordinate who is going to attack israel or not attack israel, so they are actually— israel or not attack israel, so they are actually forging a common front, which _ are actually forging a common front, which is _ are actually forging a common front, which is exactly what the us and certainly— which is exactly what the us and certainly israel does not want to see _ certainly israel does not want to see. . ~' certainly israel does not want to see. ., ~ , ., certainly israel does not want to see. . ~ . certainly israel does not want to see. . . ., . see. thank you so much for that, l se. see. thank you so much for that, use let — see. thank you so much for that, use let me _ see. thank you so much for that, lyse. let me ask— see. thank you so much for that, lyse. let me ask you, _ see. thank you so much for that, lyse. let me ask you, another i see. thank you so much for that, l lyse. let me ask you, another one many people have asked. who are hezbollah? they are, as lyse was saying, they are a macro temp to movement based in lebanon —— a shia movement. they emerged out of the war in lebanon and they represent what is probably the largest proportion in lebanon between the sunni, christian and shia, and the shia were traditionally more de—franchised, poorer, coming from the south, but as years have gone by hezbollah has shown itself to be by far the most powerful actor on the lebanese stage politically and militarily. it was

supposed after the lebanese war ended that all of the militias were supposed to give in their weapons under their arms and the lebanese army should take over. hezbollah is never done that and has said it would do that to continue the resistance in the south against israel which had a buffer zone but the israelis finally withdrew in 2000 and since then it's the israelis finally withdrew in 2000 and since then its continued under the guise of the resistance having to continue and there are still bits of lebanon which have not been entirely liberated from israel, and on the other side in the syrian conflict they have sided with president bashir al—assad and decided to keep in there, and they said in doing that they protected lebanon on from isis. there was a moment where it looked like isis and al-qaeda might be coming into lebanon and and as it stands at the moment it is the most powerful political movement, but the most powerful armed movement more importantly in lebanon. it owes its existence to some extent to iran in terms of financial and military backing and

training. it does act a little bit without iran's say so in terms of how it operates in lebanon and has to think about the lebanese context when it takes action, so though iran can call the shots about what it does now, it will be hearing in mind its leadership it will have on the leadership, and there was a conflict between israel and hamas and they went into lebanon and there was huge devastation in the south up to beirut and hezbollah were lame for bringing that on the lebanese by inciting israel to come and do that, so they have to be mindful of that but i am quite sure that if the orders come from iran they need to up orders come from iran they need to up the anti on the border with israel and they will do it. let me brina ou israel and they will do it. let me bring you one — israel and they will do it. let me bring you one on _ israel and they will do it. let me bring you one on this. _ israel and they will do it. let me bring you one on this. of - israel and they will do it. let me bring you one on this. of course | israel and they will do it. let me i bring you one on this. of course we bring you one on this. of course we have been talking for the last few days about the flashpoint of worry on that border between northern israel and lebanon. taste

on that border between northern israel and lebanon.— on that border between northern israel and lebanon. we reported ten da s auo israel and lebanon. we reported ten days ago when _ israel and lebanon. we reported ten days ago when the _ israel and lebanon. we reported ten days ago when the crisis _ israel and lebanon. we reported ten days ago when the crisis erupted i days ago when the crisis erupted that hezbollah would probably not want to _ that hezbollah would probably not want to be drawn into the crisis, and as— want to be drawn into the crisis, and as we — want to be drawn into the crisis, and as we heard, it suffered terribly _ and as we heard, it suffered terribly in _ and as we heard, it suffered terribly in the 2006 war with israel in lebanon — terribly in the 2006 war with israel in lebanon and suffered militarily in lebanon and suffered militarily in terms — in lebanon and suffered militarily in terms of— in lebanon and suffered militarily in terms of destruction of assets and in _ in terms of destruction of assets and in beirut and other parts of lebanon. — and in beirut and other parts of lebanon, they were destroyed and nrany— lebanon, they were destroyed and many turned against hezbollah. it would _ many turned against hezbollah. it would not — many turned against hezbollah. it would not want to risk that again and not — would not want to risk that again and not being on the lebanese people who are _ and not being on the lebanese people who are reeling from their own economic— who are reeling from their own economic collapse and are in no mind or position _ economic collapse and are in no mind or position to — economic collapse and are in no mind or position to wage a war with neighbouring israel again. or position to wage a war with neighbouring israelagain. having neighbouring israel again. having said that, — neighbouring israelagain. having said that, the rocket attacks are intensifying on the border and they have to _ intensifying on the border and they have to be — intensifying on the border and they have to be seen to be doing something and there is a war of words _ something and there is a war of words we — something and there is a war of words we have reported today with iran's _ words we have reported today with iran's foreign minister saying that iran's foreign minister saying that iran might — iran's foreign minister saying that iran might be forced to take pre—emptive action if what it calls israel's _ pre—emptive action if what it calls israel's war— pre—emptive action if what it calls israel's war crimes and genocide in

gaza _ israel's war crimes and genocide in gaza continues. they have to be seen to be _ gaza continues. they have to be seen to be doing _ gaza continues. they have to be seen to be doing something and once the ground _ to be doing something and once the ground incursion starts and its believe — ground incursion starts and its believe there will be one and the civilian— believe there will be one and the civilian casualties mount and the desperation and suffering of palestinians goes ever deeper, they will feel— palestinians goes ever deeper, they will feel honour bound to do their part in— will feel honour bound to do their part in seeing themselves as standard—bearers for muslims worldwide, including the palestinians.— worldwide, including the palestinians. and our final question. _ palestinians. and our final question, if— palestinians. and our final question, if i _ palestinians. and our final question, ifi can - palestinians. and our final question, ifi can put i palestinians. and our final question, ifi can put it- palestinians. and our final question, if i can put it to | palestinians. and our final i question, if i can put it to you, briefly, if possible are palestinians sunni or shia? they are sunni is the basic answer. in gaza, it's like 99% of the people are muslims and sunni muslims. in the occupied west bank there are christine still, a small percentage, maybe two or 3% and many other practising christians have left and they are part of a diaspora of palestinians which is very important, but in terms of being involved directly what is going on

involved directly what is going on in the occupied left bank, less so. so that distinction between iran and its backing, it is the leader of the shia religion in the middle east, that has been seen as perhaps an issue. why are they supporting a sunni organisation? essentially it's because iran sees hamas as part of its access of resistance, and israel remains in their sites and they have a joint objective. they still wish for the destruction of israel, so despite the difference between sunni and shia, the objective is so similar, this is why iran has been supporting hamas.— similar, this is why iran has been supporting hamas. thank you very much indeed- _ supporting hamas. thank you very much indeed. sebastien _ supporting hamas. thank you very much indeed. sebastien in - supporting hamas. thank you very much indeed. sebastien in londonj much indeed. sebastien in london with me in the studio, and lyse in southern israel, thank you so much forjoining us and answering those questions. as always keep them coming. you can always e—mail us or tweet us

but we are always on the lookout for more questions to answer for you. this is a complicated conflict and one that we believe needs to have a good amount of explanation as much as possible, day to day. as always, if you want to keep up with what is going on, you can go to the bbc live page on this story. it is absolutely amazing and has the latest updates from our correspondence in the area, in the region, but also reporters in london as well. my colleague matthew is here in a few minutes, so don't go anywhere. stay with us on bbc news. thanks for watching. goodbye. hello. the weather's going to turn really rough over the coming days, but today is actually not bad at all. lots of bright, if not sunny weather, and that's how it's going to stay for the rest of the day. but then, midweek onwards, it's going to be really horrible. and i think, by thursday, strong winds and the rain

is going to be the biggest problem, i think, associated with storm babet, visible on the satellite picture here spiralling to the west of portugal. the weather fronts extending northwards. and, in fact, we'll see a series of weather fronts sweeping across the uk, delivering a lot of rainfall. and here is the rainfall accumulation as the days go by. the heaviest of the rain initially in the south of the country. and then i think by thursday and friday in eastern scotland and along the north sea coast and further inland around the north of england, in some spots in excess of 100 millimetres of rain. but here's tuesday, the rest of the day, so dry and bright across the bulk of the country. but the weather front is starting to approach us. you can see the rain here approaching southern and western ireland, temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees celsius. so the winds start to strengthen through tuesday

night into wednesday, by the early hours with heavy showers in the south of england into wales, western parts of scotland too. but still, for most of us, i think the weather is generally dry. now, here's the weather map for wednesday and storm babet�*s weather front, in fact, multiple weather fronts, pressure lines here close by. so that means strong winds and the winds run along those pressure lines more or less. now, normally when we get gales, they tend to tend to sweep in off the atlantic out of the west, these gale force winds will start to develop out of the east, south—east, now in some spots, gusting to about 50 miles an hour. and then actually as the days go by, they even get stronger in some northern areas. so look at all of that rain in the south, south—west, into northern ireland, really torrential in places. and then, through early thursday, that rain moves northwards and these rain clouds kind of align themselves like a conveyor belt along that strong to gale force wind blowing out of the south—east. so that's why those rain clouds will keep coming at this part of the country here. so hence the most amount of rainfall here and the possibility of some disruption.

that's it. bye— bye.

live from london. this is bbc news. day 11 of the war — and israeli missiles continue to hit gaza. more dire warnings from international aid organisations and pleas to allow supplies in. but israel's military denies there's

a humanitarian emergency. i'm saying there's no humanitarian crisis. we've asked people to move. there's water and there's electricity. a5 israel prepares for its ground offensive — the us announces that president biden will visit tel aviv tomorrow. the mother of a french—israeli hostage begs for her daughter's release after seeing a video of her posted by hamas. she looks very terrified. she looks like she's in big pain. i'm begging the world to bring my baby back home. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, there've been renewed pleas for aid to be allowed into gaza where israeli air strikes

and a blockade are continuing before an expected ground offensive.