live from london, this is bbc news. funerals are held for hezbollah fighters killed in two days of exploding device attacks across lebanon. at least 37 people have been killed and thousands more injured. the hezbollah leader, hassan nasrallah, is due to give a televised address shortly. the iran—backed armed group, has previously promised "just punishment" for the attacks. it comes as israel says it has started a new phase in the war and moves troops from gaza to the north of israel. welcome to bbc news. if you'rejustjoining us, we're expecting to hear from the hezbollah leader, hassan nazrallah, in the next few minutes — his first response after two days of attacks in lebanon,

using sabotaged pagers and walkie talkies — a campaign widely believed to have been carried about by israel's spy agency, mossad. 12 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured on tuesday. yesterday, 25 people were killed and 600 people injured in a second wave of blasts. hezbollah, which is backed by iran and is proscribed as a terrorist group, by the us and uk and western governments, has promised to retaliate. fears of an all—out warare mounting, israel announced yesterday that they have moved to a new phase in the war, the stakes could not be much higher. 0n today's programme, we'll hear exactly how the hezbollah leader responds. 0ur teams in the bbc newsroom are monitoring that. 0ur specialist correspondents will provide context and analysis. frank gardner, our security correspondent, is with me. so is our diplomatic correspondent, james landale. daniel de simone is our

correspondent injerusalem. bronwen maddox from chatham house is with us. she's just back from israel's northern border. malcolm nance is a former us navy counterterrorism expert, he's in new york. we'll also be getting live reaction from beirut. before all of that, let's start this hour with this report from hugo bachega. this is the moment a blast rocks beirut. hezbollah had gathered to bury the victims from the explosions of the day before until it was hit by a new wave of attacks, this time targeting walkie—talkies used by the group. apparently another operation by israel. one of the explosions yesterday happened not farfrom here, in a hezbollah stronghold in southern beirut. there was a lot of chaos and confusion because many believe that no electronic

device was safe. hezbollah members stopped us a number of times, telling us not to use our cameras, our phones, and today those concerns continue. translation: it's scary, it's frightening. _ where are we going? i have no idea, this is frightening. we can't cope any more. translation: of course - i was scared, is there anyone who wouldn't be scared in this situation? you can hide from a bullet but this is much more difficult. if i want to answer my phone, i am too scared. translation: this is not a face-to-face battle, - it is a cowardly way to fight. . if they want to show their strength, - do it on the battlefield. the attacks on lebanon began on tuesday — pagers used by hezbollah exploded as people were shopping or at home with their families. the group had turned to this old—school technology because of security concerns, fearing that israel

was monitoring mobile phones to track and kill its fighters. israel is widely believed to have been behind the attacks. as usual, it hasn't claimed responsibility, but the suspicion is that it managed to add explosives inside the devices. for almost a year, hezbollah and israel have been fighting along the border, a conflict that so far has been relatively contained, but concerns are rising again that this may escalate into an all—out war. hugo bachega, bbc news. we hope to talk to you as you go through the course of the programme today. i want to show you the live pictures that are coming into us, because the statement has just started, so we will monitor that here, this is the first official response we have had from the hezbollah leader, so we will continue to monitor this, leader, so we will continue to monitorthis, it leader, so we will continue to monitor this, it is likely to

go on for some time, but as we see these pictures, let me bring in security correspondent frank gardner and our diplomatic correspondence james landale, who will be with me through the next hour or so. frank, first of all, hezbollah has promised retaliation, so all eyes on hassan nasrallah and what he might say. yeah, i think it will — and what he might say. yeah, i think it will be _ and what he might say. yeah, i think it will be more _ and what he might say. yeah, i think it will be more important | think it will be more important as to what orders he gives, because this isn't the first time since the october the 7th raid that he has given a speech, which we all waited breathlessly for, full of fiery rhetoric and nothing much happened after it. let's put it this way, hezbollah is in disarray, they are hurting, they have been humiliated by this, it is a massive blow to them tactically. it doesn't necessarily change the strategic situation on the northern border, apple has still got an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles that can threaten israel. —— hezbollah has still got. residents on

both sides of the border are kept from their homes. what matters now is how they retaliate and when, and i think hezbollah will calibrate this quite carefully. there is a limit to how much you can read into his speech, because it will be full of anger, vowed revenge, we will make them suffer et cetera, and certainly there will be desire from his fighters to do exactly that, you know, many of those people have lost eyes and private parts, you know, really grim stuff from these injuries, so there is a big desire to hit back. but hezbollah know that if they hit back in a way that targets a lot of israeli civilians, the retribution return from israel will be catastrophic for lebanon. james, i will come to you in a second or two, but as we showed that statement has just started, so i want to dip in andjust see started, so i want to dip in and just see some of the early remarks, let's put the microphones up. translation: and the doctors and the , , , .,

and the nurses, they have worked around _ and the nurses, they have worked around the - and the nurses, they have worked around the clock. | and the nurses, they have i worked around the clock. we have — worked around the clock. we have a — worked around the clock. we have a problem in lebanon, the best_ have a problem in lebanon, the best number of injuries, and hospitals _ best number of injuries, and hospitals are not well prepared for these — hospitals are not well prepared for these type of injuries, they— for these type of injuries, they were under pressure, that is why— they were under pressure, that is why there have been delays, but there — is why there have been delays, but there is a thought that the shortage — but there is a thought that the shortage was because they were under— shortage was because they were under pressure, what we witnessed in the previous few days — witnessed in the previous few days and _ witnessed in the previous few days and these days, positive treatment and a serious and big and very— treatment and a serious and big and very serious caring, we're very— and very serious caring, we're very for— and very serious caring, we're very for them. thanks as well for people who give their blood in different areas, in lebanon, even— in different areas, in lebanon, even it— in different areas, in lebanon, even it was— in different areas, in lebanon, even it was said that what happened on tuesday, giving blood. — happened on tuesday, giving blood. it— happened on tuesday, giving blood, it was the biggest blood donation — blood, it was the biggest blood donation in the history of lebanon. thanks for those who initiated — lebanon. thanks for those who initiated the transport of the injured — initiated the transport of the injured persons, because as you

witness, — injured persons, because as you witness, in _ injured persons, because as you witness, in the streets, we reached _ witness, in the streets, we reached that point. so what will carry— reached that point. so what will carry them on his shoulder, his car, his bike, thanks— shoulder, his car, his bike, thanks for— shoulder, his car, his bike, thanks for all those who were happy— thanks for all those who were happy to— thanks for all those who were happy to volunteer, to donate parts — happy to volunteer, to donate parts of — happy to volunteer, to donate parts of their pieces for those injured — parts of their pieces for those injured. greetings and thanks for all— injured. greetings and thanks for all the doctors who open their— for all the doctors who open their clinics free of charge day— their clinics free of charge day and _ their clinics free of charge day and night, many thanks. so we can put the voice to him. and _ so we can put the voice to him. and the — so we can put the voice to him. and the political leaders, the ministers of the parliament, parties. _ ministers of the parliament, parties, political parties, the

elite, — parties, political parties, the elite, the _ parties, political parties, the elite, the social organisations, the syndicates and others. from the blessing of these, _ and others. from the blessing of these, the oppression which we witnessed in these days, that— we witnessed in these days, that we _ we witnessed in these days, that we witnessed among the blessing, that what we witnessed in lebanon recently againm — witnessed in lebanon recently again... waiting for the voice. also— again... waiting for the voice. also among the sacrifice, we have — also among the sacrifice, we have to — also among the sacrifice, we have to address as well, thanks for the — have to address as well, thanks for the countries who have speeded up to send medical teams — speeded up to send medical teams and equipments and medicat— teams and equipments and medical supplies, the iraqi government, the islamic republic of iran, how they send

planes — republic of iran, how they send planes to— republic of iran, how they send planes to transport, they were transported yesterday, the syrian _ transported yesterday, the syrian government, who opened the doors — syrian government, who opened the doors of the hospitals, and numbers— the doors of the hospitals, and numbers of the injured were transported to the syrian hospitals, also many thanks to all the — hospitals, also many thanks to all the countries who have contact _ all the countries who have contact the lebanese government and initiated their readiness to heto _ and initiated their readiness to help. also, many thanks for all those — to help. also, many thanks for all those who condemn these israeti — all those who condemn these israeli crimes from the parties. _ israeli crimes from the parties, governments and elites around — parties, governments and elites around the world, especially those — around the world, especially those who support the resistance in palestine, iraq, syria — resistance in palestine, iraq, syria and _ resistance in palestine, iraq, syria and others. this is we start— syria and others. this is we start with _ syria and others. this is we start with thanking, and first and last. _ start with thanking, and first and last, thanking for god, attah. _ and last, thanking for god, attah. for— and last, thanking for god, allah, for testing and helping and pushing a lot of things.

secondly, on tuesday and wednesday, on tuesday... just i would _ wednesday, on tuesday... just i would like — wednesday, on tuesday... just i would like to give you just a brief— would like to give you just a brief summary, as it is well for you _ brief summary, as it is well for you. the israelis targeted thousands of pagers, and it was exploded — thousands of pagers, and it was exploded at the one time. the israelis — exploded at the one time. the israelis exceeded all the controls and rules and redlines. they didn't care for anything _ redlines. they didn't care for anything at all, not ethical, not humanitarian, not legal. the — not humanitarian, not legal. the explosions took place, some of them — the explosions took place, some of them in — the explosions took place, some of them in the hospitals, some of them in the hospitals, some of those — of them in the hospitals, some of those working in hospitals.

and in— of those working in hospitals. and in the cars and in the street. _ and in the cars and in the street. in— and in the cars and in the street, in the public road, where _ street, in the public road, where civilians and women and kids were — where civilians and women and kids were present. if i was targeting the fighters of hezbollah, he was targeting the whole _ hezbollah, he was targeting the whole legion in the presence, and he — whole legion in the presence, and he used civil tools which are used _ and he used civil tools which are used by wide sectors, hospitals, doctors, conventional companies and transportation companies, this is the — transportation companies, this is the pagers i am referring to. is the pagers i am referring to then— is the pagers i am referring to. then he repeated that, on wednesday, by exploding the walkie—talkies, but he didn't irother— walkie—talkies, but he didn't bother about the place who they were _ bother about the place who they were holding, hospitals, pharmacies, in the street, at

home, — pharmacies, in the street, at home, it _ pharmacies, in the street, at home, it could be on the table. as a _ home, it could be on the table. as a result— home, it could be on the table. as a result of this aggression, turns— as a result of this aggression, turns of— as a result of this aggression, turns of martyrs, among them civilians. — turns of martyrs, among them civilians, men, women and children. _ civilians, men, women and children, thousands were injured _ children, thousands were injured. different type of injuries. and the numbers will appear — injuries. and the numbers will appear. waiting for... we will have — appear. waiting for... we will have the _ appear. waiting for... we will have the exact number, but it is a _ have the exact number, but it is a vast — have the exact number, but it is a vast number, it is a big number _ is a vast number, it is a big number. the enemy is assuming, let us— number. the enemy is assuming, let us talk— number. the enemy is assuming, let us talk about the intention, what happens is something else. he was targeting a group, the pager group, — targeting a group, the pager group, which will talk about in details. — group, which will talk about in details, he assumed and he knows — details, he assumed and he knows that the numbers exceed

4000 _ knows that the numbers exceed 4000 pagers, and he assumed that they— 4000 pagers, and he assumed that they are distributing of the men of hezbollah. brothers and sisters, establishments and different— and sisters, establishments and different units. when he exploded the pagers, instruments, he was intending, we have — instruments, he was intending, we have to _ instruments, he was intending, we have to talk about the intention, he was intending to kill 4000 _ intention, he was intending to kill 4000 individuals in one minute _ kill 4000 individuals in one minute. this is the minimum, the least, _ minute. this is the minimum, the least, to kill 4000 human beings — the least, to kill 4000 human beings at _ the least, to kill 4000 human beings at the moment, that is in addition to what happened on wednesday, for the talkie—walkie, we're still talking _ talkie—walkie, we're still talking the pagers. that is in addition _ talking the pagers. that is in addition to those who will be killed — addition to those who will be killed surrounding them... studio: _ killed surrounding them... studio: well, we are going to come away from that, we are going to continue to monitor what hassan nasrallah is saying, a key line as he gives his response to those pagers

and walkie—talkie blasts, saying that israel has violated red lines by detonating thousands of pagers, and just as we were listening to that, let me tell you, word from the israeli military saying that it is striking hezbollah targets in lebanon. we saw that overnight and this morning, so a continuation of that, but also making the point that the israeli military is saying, their chief is saying that they have approved plans for the northern area of israel, that has come from israel's military chief. let's being injames landale, who was monitoring the early part of what we were just listening to. james, the region is close to the precipice. yeah, so watching what hassan nasrallah saying very closely, so far it has been much what we expected, thanking people, the authorities, the doctors and people who gave blood and

responded to what has happened in recent days, but also, as you said, referring to what he called a greater massacre, israeli crimes, saying that they had breached red lines, that what happened was not ethical or legal. so far, the scale of the threat and responses limited to him saying that what happened requires us to take a stand, so we wait to see exactly what he says about that and what it might mean in practice. that and what it might mean in ractice. �* , , practice. let's bring in bronwen _ practice. let's bring in bronwen maddox - practice. let's bring in| bronwen maddox from practice. let's bring in - bronwen maddox from chatham house, waiting to speak to us, she isjust back house, waiting to speak to us, she is just back from visiting northern israel, the border areas. welcome to the programme. tell us more about what you have seen and where you think the region currently is. , ., ., , , , , is. israel has been very, very keen to _ is. israel has been very, very keen to make _ is. israel has been very, very keen to make the _ is. israel has been very, very keen to make the point - is. israel has been very, very i keen to make the point recently that the evacuation that its people have felt obliged to carry out in the northern areas, right up close to the

lebanese border, that it is intolerable and that it wants to get those 60,000 people back who were dispersed across israel, and in the way of things, beginning to settle into schools and things, so increasing questions about whether they would ever go back, whether the town is up there, very deserted, administrators, how do they keep them secure against looters and so on, what sort of ghost towns. and the government has added its war aims fairly recently, it seems to me, saying that we want to get back the ability of our residents to live safely there, and the military really forthright in saying it is hard to do that without us going into lebanon in some sense and pushing hezbollah back from the border. so that is where it is, it is an escalation of the conflict in the region, of exactly the kind that the us and israel's other allies have been saying, please do not make. it leaves

israel potentially in a very stretched and vulnerable position. 0fficials stretched and vulnerable position. officials are very keen to talk about the ring of fire encircling israel with lebanon and the west bank and then gaza at the bottom. but what it has just done is probably too poor if you that ring of fire, and what we are waiting to see from hassan nasrallah and indeed from tehran, which supports him, is how hezbollah wants to respond to this. is it going to respond by escalating war, lots of suggestions that it does not want a war it cannot control either. i am sure he will be staying in fiery terms... yes, he has said — staying in fiery terms... yes, he has said this _ staying in fiery terms... yes, he has said this could - staying in fiery terms... yes, he has said this could be - he has said this could be called a declaration of war, and i assume he is talking

about israel's actions, as opposed to declaring that on behalf of hezbollah, but what you make of the moment we are in in terms of that sort of language? it in in terms of that sort of language?— in in terms of that sort of language? in in terms of that sort of lanuauae? , ., ., ., language? it comes down to what he chooses _ language? it comes down to what he chooses to _ language? it comes down to what he chooses to do _ language? it comes down to what he chooses to do in _ language? it comes down to what he chooses to do in response. - he chooses to do in response. words are one thing in the region, a lot of serious words by him, but this is a huge humiliation for hezbollah. 0n the other hand, assuming it is israel, and the us for one as tuesday because it is if it is israel, it partly comes back from the huge humiliation that 0ctober from the huge humiliation that october the 7th represented for the israeli military and intelligence. i do not think we know where we are until it happens, and iran does have a lot of influence on his —— on

hezbollah. if the new iranian president does want an easing of sanctions, it might choose to roll back at this point, but this is a big humiliation and provocation, and it may be that hezbollah's leader feels that in order to maintain the support of his people, he has to hit back. let support of his people, he has to hit back.— to hit back. let me ask you about what _ to hit back. let me ask you about what a _ to hit back. let me ask you about what a veteran - to hit back. let me ask you about what a veteran arab| about what a veteran arab affairs analyst told the bbc, because her view, his view was that the attacks have created a rare opportunity for israel to act decisively against hezbollah and its vast stockpiles of missiles. do you agree with the assessment that, for israel, they are looking at this in perhaps a different way, and as he was seeing, perhaps an opportunity to deal with this threat that has been there for decades? i with this threat that has been there for decades?— with this threat that has been there for decades? i am not of that school. — there for decades? i am not of that school, that _ there for decades? i am not of that school, that thinks -

there for decades? i am not of that school, that thinks that i that school, that thinks that israel can deal with hezbollah in any military sense, other than purely tactically, driving it back from the border, securing the border and so on, and hezbollah is immensely strong, it is the biggest non—state actor and well armed one in the world. i do not think that is going to work. on the question is whether israel, in reacting so tactically all the time to these threats on its borders, is going to deprive itself of the opportunity that many countries are urging on it, having peace with other countries, including saudi arabia, which might help you deal with iran in the region, but it is really difficult to get into that conversation israel because of that trauma from october to seventh in the sense of threat on all sides.— on all sides. let's head to jerusalem _ on all sides. let's head to jerusalem and _ on all sides. let's head to jerusalem and talk - on all sides. let's head to jerusalem and talk to - on all sides. let's head to jerusalem and talk to our| jerusalem and talk to our correspondent there, daniel de

simone, i wasjust correspondent there, daniel de simone, i was just saying to viewers that the israeli military have been talking in the last little while, confirming again that there are more strikes that they are carrying out on targets in lebanon. what are you hearing? so that is right, so just before hassan nasrallah began speaking a short while ago, the israeli defense forces put out a statement saying that the idf is striking hezbollah targets in lebanon, it goes on to say the idf is operating to bring security to northern israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes, as well as to achieve all of the war goals. and following that, we began to see reports on social media channels here of air strikes taking place in lebanon. i got a message in few moments ago from a bbc colleague in beirut, who reported that there were fighter jets reported that there were fighterjets seen reported that there were fighter jets seen above reported that there were fighterjets seen above beirut. so it does seem that there are

air strikes taking place, the idf confirm that. as we know, there has been air strikes taking place for a long time now, because hezbollah has been firing rockets and drones into israel, which had been carrying out air strikes. whether this is a large operation remains to be seen, but we are certainly seeing quite a lot of reports of air strikes. as i say, a colleague saying that they had seen a jet also above beirut. daniel, i will be back to you shortly, but i want to bring in malcolm nance onto the programme, a former us navy middle east counterterrorism expert, he is there in new york, and in terms of what we know has happened over the last few days, the walkie—talkie is being targeted, the pagers, hassan nasrallah sing in the last few minutes more than 4000 pagers were distributed to members of the group — i mean, there is so much focus on how this was actually done.-

this was actually done. well, there is a _ this was actually done. well, there is a lot _ this was actually done. well, there is a lot of _ this was actually done. well, there is a lot of focus - this was actually done. well, there is a lot of focus on - this was actually done. well, there is a lot of focus on how it was actually done, but what you need to understand is the strategic effect of what was done. israelapparently done. israel apparently infiltrated the done. israelapparently infiltrated the supply chain, they have backed themselves into the manufacture of the devices, got the hezbollah contract, provided devices to them and then strategically neutralise 3—4000 of the top commanders of hezbollah. if you had a pager, you were a key person within that organisation, and let me honest about this. this may be one of the top five intelligence operations in post—world war ii history, it was strategically carried out, it was brilliantly planned, and i think hassan nasrallah is flailing right now, because they're going to have to resort to using human careers with a self system, i who knows if they are secure. —— couriers. it who knows if they are secure. -- couriers-— -- couriers. it is interesting, what you _ -- couriers. it is interesting, what you have _ -- couriers. it is interesting, what you have just _ -- couriers. it is interesting, what you have just been - -- couriers. it is interesting, i what you have just been saying, because he has been saying in

his televised comments that the group has been dealt an unprecedented blow in all of its history, so exactly what all of the analysts have been saying over the last 48 hours, he too is recognising just the scale of what was done, the infiltration, the damage done. but how fundamentally we can and do you think this group now is? , ., ,., ., ., is? listen, for hezbollah to carry out — is? listen, for hezbollah to carry out the _ is? listen, for hezbollah to carry out the types - is? listen, for hezbollah to carry out the types of- is? listen, for hezbollah to | carry out the types of terror operations they have been carrying out against israel, which is firing thousands and thousands of rockets, it now requires three of four men to get together, to move the rockets, get to the pre—launch firing positions, and then fire them in such a way to overwhelm them in such a way to overwhelm the israeli air defences. they cannot do that safely or securely any more, and is what israel is probably striding now, the key communications nodes and commanders who are

not on the mobile pagers, who are possibly moving into position. this will hinder their operations to doing anything other than small commando raids of firing rockets in small pockets. it has effectively neutralised their organisationwide command and control, and i think they are a little bit frightened today, that they will have to essentially resort to caps and a string to communicate, as far as the intelligence world is concerned. but israel knew this, israel planned this over a very long period of time, this did notjust happen in the last year, and this was a way to kill or injure a large number of the command and control of hezbollah simultaneously and with virtually no civilian casualties. it is a masterstroke in kinetic intelligence and military operations.— intelligence and military oerations. ~ . operations. well, there have been civilian _ operations. well, there have been civilian casualties, i operations. well, there have been civilian casualties, we i been civilian casualties, we have been hearing all of those stories, but i get your point.

malcolm nance, we will leave it there, thank you very much, talking about the below two hezbollah. interesting, their chief just saying the hezbollah. interesting, their chiefjust saying the big blow of the attacks on the devices will not cause hezbollah to fall, so acknowledging and recognising the damage, the blow that these attacks have caused, but insisting that they are resilient and they will not fall as a group. that address is still continuing, so let's dip back in. translation: , ., ., translation: he brought from gaza to the _ translation: he brought from gaza to the west _ translation: he brought from gaza to the west bank, - translation: he brought from gaza to the west bank, didn't . gaza to the west bank, didn't remove anyone from the north, because he has a serious threat from the north, he is an issue with the forces there days ago, one of the israeli channels said, because of the numbers of the forces, the numbers of the

marine forces, for the soldiers in orderfor them to marine forces, for the soldiers in order for them to strengthen their forces in order for them to strengthen theirforces in this in order for them to strengthen their forces in this front. but as the exception, we lost the north, screaming and shouting for 11 months in the north. but as actually why they pallantsaid they would come to the north to sort out the in the north to sort out the in the north. 0ne the north to sort out the in the north. one of the points, actually, for putting this pressure on the enemy, one of the important fronts of the war, in addition to the yemen front and the red sea, or the arab say, or the indian ocean, or the weekly cooperation all the missiles and the last one was palestine too, and the iraq front, this is the lebanese front. no doubt it is very

strong, and it is one of the most important for the lebanese resistance, 0k? from the first day, the enemy tried to stop the lebanese support front, to stop it and to freeze it. and used, for that, many attempts, actually, to pressure, and despite that, he committed too high an extent, not completely, the grounds of rule is not what happened of 11 months... it used to be 1% of what happened

in the south before, to launch, but what happened, it was a balance of deterioration. they tried to split between the north and gaza. they threatened war for 11 north and gaza. they threatened warfor 11 months, and some people here in lebanon they are helping. and today we will have complaints of war, in two hours we will have comprehensive war for 11 months we are living in this environment. and all these we are targeting to put pressure on the lebanese government and the lebanese public and on the lebanese resistance. fir public and on the lebanese resistance.— resistance. or parties in particular— resistance. or parties in particular and _ resistance. or parties in particular and on - resistance. or parties in i particular and on hezbollah. this is to stop this front, the assassination of the leaders and individuals and freedom