the labour conference where sir _ the labourl conference where sir keir starmer will deliver his first speech as prime minister to say there is light at the end of there is light at the end of the tunnel. home secretary yvette cooper uses her labour conference speech to take aim at those responsible for the riots last month. it was racism. it was thuggery. israeli air strikes on hezbollah continue overnight after the deadliest day of conflict in decades. and, the flood clean—up continues for review agra uk residents as areas report more than a month of rain in a matter of hours. good morning. you're watching bbc news with me, sarah campbell. let's go straight to liverpool. in his first labour conference speech as prime minister,

sir keir starmer will say there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of faster economic growth and falling nhs waiting lists, but he'll warn there are no easy answers. we'll bring you full coverage of that as it happens 2pm. the home secretary yvette cooper has addressed the conference in the last hour and lisa nandy, the secretary for culture, media and sport is expected to speak in about half an hour. so, don't anyone tell me that was a protest. don't anyone tell me that was about immigration, policing or poverty. plenty of people have strong views on immigration, crime, on the nhs and more, but they don't pick up breaks and throw them at the police. they don't set light to buildings with people inside. it was arson, it was racism, it was thuggery, it was a crime.

applause and you know it happened because criminals thought they could get away with it. they saw the cracks in the system, the impunity that built up system, the impunity that built up through the tory years, and when they decided to run riot those early august days, they thought no one would stop them. they were wrong. with the leadership of keir starmer, this labour government made clear that we would back our police, not blame them. we would stand up for our courts, not undermine them. we would pull our communities together, not divide them. we stood up for the rule of law, decent people stood up for their communities, and together we put the disorder down. that was

the home _ put the disorder down. that was the home secretary _ put the disorder down. that was the home secretary speaking i put the disorder down. that was the home secretary speaking an hour ago. the secretary for culture, media and sport is expected to speak in half an hour. our political corerspondent alex forsyth is in liverpool. good morning. we are at the labour party conference and we have heard from the home secretary so far this morning, with a real focus on law and order. but the big ticket item from the programme today is the speech by keir starmer in three hours' time. the message we are expecting to hear from hours' time. the message we are expecting to hearfrom him is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. effectively, stick with us, it's going to be tough but we have got a plan and we hope it is going to get better. that is what we are expecting to hear. i am joined by nicola smith, head of economics and employment rights at the trades union congress. thank you for being with us here in liverpool. what are you hoping to hear from the here in liverpool. what are you hoping to hearfrom the prime minister? i hoping to hear from the prime minister? ~ , minister? i think this afternoon _ minister? i think this afternoon we - minister? i think this afternoon we are - minister? i think this i afternoon we are hoping minister? i think this - afternoon we are hoping for minister? i think this _ afternoon we are hoping for the prime _ afternoon we are hoping for the prime minister to set out his ambition_ prime minister to set out his ambition and his vision for the

sort _ ambition and his vision for the sort of— ambition and his vision for the sort of economy that we can achieve _ sort of economy that we can achieve after 14 years of incredibly tough times for pe0ple _ incredibly tough times for people at work across the countrx _ people at work across the country. we know that the government is ambitious for the strong _ government is ambitious for the strong approach that will deliver— strong approach that will deliver betterjobs and training and opportunities for young — training and opportunities for young people, and we know that there _ young people, and we know that there can — young people, and we know that there can be an economy where we have — there can be an economy where we have decentjobs where peorrte _ we have decentjobs where people are treated properly at work — people are treated properly at work and _ people are treated properly at work and where living standards are rising — work and where living standards are rising again after such a tong — are rising again after such a long period over which they have — long period over which they have been stand for macro stagnating and people feel no better~ — stagnating and people feel no better. there is an important chance — better. there is an important chance today to talk about what that means for peoples lives, the benefits that governments can deliver, and crucially also, _ can deliver, and crucially also, the _ can deliver, and crucially also, the public service improvement that investment over— improvement that investment over start to mean for people across — over start to mean for people across the _ over start to mean for people across the country. gn over start to mean for people across the country.— across the country. on that last point. _ across the country. on that last point, we _ across the country. on that last point, we heard - across the country. on that last point, we heard from | across the country. on that i last point, we heard from the chancellor, rachel reeves, yesterday who said there is not going to be a return to austerity, but she is also talking about difficult decisions that are coming up at the budget. are you worried that there are going to be further cuts to public services? i further cuts to public services?— further cuts to public services? ~ ., further cuts to public services? ~' ., , services? i think we have seen an assurance _ services? i think we have seen an assurance from _ services? i think we have seen an assurance from the - an assurance from the

chancellor yesterday that she understands the importance that realty _ understands the importance that really good public services have — really good public services have two ensuring a strong and growing — have two ensuring a strong and growing economy. everybody who is trying _ growing economy. everybody who is trying to — growing economy. everybody who is trying to access an nhs appointment knows how long the waiting _ appointment knows how long the waiting lists are. people can see what— waiting lists are. people can see what that means for those people — see what that means for those people who are out of work with health _ people who are out of work with health conditions that are preventing them from moving back— preventing them from moving back into _ preventing them from moving back intojobs. anyone preventing them from moving back into jobs. anyone with a kid coming up to leaving school knows — kid coming up to leaving school knows how few decent apprenticeship and training opportunities there are, and what — opportunities there are, and what some of the challenges are in our— what some of the challenges are in our schools with special educational needs provision, or with— educational needs provision, or with accessing the good quality further— with accessing the good quality further and higher education provision that children needs. that— provision that children needs. that needs investment and we know— that needs investment and we know that the workforce across the public— know that the workforce across the public sector is facing a bil the public sector is facing a big recruitment and retention challenge and we know that the government has recognised the importance of working with the public — importance of working with the public sector to deliver those public — public sector to deliver those public services that are part of where _ public services that are part of where the country needs to -et of where the country needs to get to — of where the country needs to net to. ~ . ., of where the country needs to netto. ~ . ., ., get to. we have had some of the words we are _ get to. we have had some of the words we are expecting - get to. we have had some of the words we are expecting to - get to. we have had some of the words we are expecting to hear l words we are expecting to hear from keir starmer already, so i already mentioned "light at the end of the tunnel", the long—term gain and short—term

pain. but does he need to be more specific about what this all means to people? do you want to hear some policy? do you want more meat on the bone as opposed to just the rhetoric? as opposed to “ust the rhetoric?h as opposed to “ust the rhetoric?_ as opposed to “ust the rhetoric? ~ ., ., rhetoric? we have got some really important _ rhetoric? we have got some really important policy - rhetoric? we have got some really important policy that. really important policy that the government has made commitments to, and i think that— commitments to, and i think that the _ commitments to, and i think that the challenge now is as we move _ that the challenge now is as we move towards the budget, setting _ move towards the budget, setting out to people how that is going — setting out to people how that is going to start to impact on their— is going to start to impact on their lives— is going to start to impact on their lives day to day. when you — their lives day to day. when you took. _ their lives day to day. when you look, for example, at the plans— you look, for example, at the plans by— you look, for example, at the plans by the government to make work— plans by the government to make work pay, — plans by the government to make work pay, that will deliver reat— work pay, that will deliver real tangible improvements for people — real tangible improvements for people across the country. if you are _ people across the country. if you are on _ people across the country. if you are on a 0—hours contract and _ you are on a 0—hours contract and going — you are on a 0—hours contract and going day—to—day without any security about how many hours — any security about how many hours you _ any security about how many hours you are going to work, about— hours you are going to work, about whether your shifts are going — about whether your shifts are going to _ about whether your shifts are going to be cancelled or whether you will be pay if your shift _ whether you will be pay if your shift is — whether you will be pay if your shift is cancelled at short notice. _ shift is cancelled at short notice, the government will legislate to stop that happening and to improve the quality— happening and to improve the quality of your working life. if quality of your working life. if you — quality of your working life. if you are _ quality of your working life. if you are on low wages and you don't _ if you are on low wages and you don't get — if you are on low wages and you don't get any sick pay when you are off— don't get any sick pay when you are off work, the government is going _ are off work, the government is going to — are off work, the government is going to legislate to change that — going to legislate to change that. there's lots that the government has committed to that witt— government has committed to that will deliver important benefits for people at work and the time — benefits for people at work and the time now is to make that case — the time now is to make that case and _ the time now is to make that

case and to get on with delivering.— case and to get on with deliverinu. . ~' , ., .., ., delivering. thank you. nicola smith, the — delivering. thank you. nicola smith, the head _ delivering. thank you. nicola smith, the head of _ delivering. thank you. nicola | smith, the head of economics and employment rights at the tuc, looking ahead to the speech by keir starmer which will take place in three hours. and as that countdown continues we are watching lots of people milling around behind you but what would you assess the mood to be? is there excitement, waiting to hear the first labour leader as prime minister for many, many smugness has not been the easiest run—up to this conference in terms of negative headlines. conference in terms of negative headlines— headlines. no, it has not had the smoothest _ headlines. no, it has not had the smoothest backdrop - headlines. no, it has not had the smoothest backdrop withj the smoothest backdrop with stories about freebies and the pay of senior people in downing street, and then the contentious issue of the winter fuel payments. to be honest, head of any prior minister �*s speech there's always a lot of anticipation and this is a significant conference for the labour party. it is their first as a party of power in 15 years. the first labour prime minister that will take that podium after a long period in opposition. a lot of the people here, the activists and members and delegates, would have been

beside the labour party through those long years of opposition, so i do think people are looking ahead to his speech and the queues are going to start building to get a seat. as well as the tone that he strikes, i think a lot of people are going to be looking for detail about what exactly it is this government is going to do. thank you, alex. we will go back to alex at the labour party conference a little later. in the last hour we heard from the home secretary, yvette cooper. i thought it was a barnstorming speech— i thought it was a barnstorming speech from yvette cooper, who is a very— speech from yvette cooper, who is a very good orator. i think she — is a very good orator. i think she got— is a very good orator. i think she got the flavour of what the conference wanted to hear, which — conference wanted to hear, which was a message of hope at the end. — which was a message of hope at the end, change is coming, change _ the end, change is coming, change will begin, but sort of crafting — change will begin, but sort of crafting that on what she would

say is _ crafting that on what she would say is the — crafting that on what she would say is the ruins of the conservative government, which has stoked division and hatred and fear. _ has stoked division and hatred and fear, but the hope that has come. — and fear, but the hope that has come, that has sprung out of the riots— come, that has sprung out of the riots when communities came together— the riots when communities came together afterwards to rebuild community centres and so on, and _ community centres and so on, and try— community centres and so on, and try and _ community centres and so on, and try and clean up the streets _ and try and clean up the streets after those riots, so that— streets after those riots, so that is— streets after those riots, so that is the bit of hope that i think— that is the bit of hope that i think she _ that is the bit of hope that i think she was sending a signal about — think she was sending a signal about. saying look what has happened after the riots, communities came together to reclaim — communities came together to reclaim the streets and this is what — reclaim the streets and this is what we — reclaim the streets and this is what we are going to do. before that, _ what we are going to do. before that, she — what we are going to do. before that, she had outlined a series of ways— that, she had outlined a series of ways in— that, she had outlined a series of ways in which the labour government intends to do that. ithought— government intends to do that. i thought the most powerful bit was when she talked about the riots— was when she talked about the riots and — was when she talked about the riots and she said "this was not — riots and she said "this was not about— riots and she said "this was not about concerns about immigration, policing or anything like that. it was arson, _ anything like that. it was arson, thuggery and crime". she -ot arson, thuggery and crime". she got a _ arson, thuggery and crime". she got a huge — arson, thuggery and crime". she got a huge response from the

audience _ got a huge response from the audience in the conference hall and i_ audience in the conference hall and i think that was the strongest part of the speech and it— strongest part of the speech and it really tapped in to a sense _ and it really tapped in to a sense out there that what those riots _ sense out there that what those riots were — sense out there that what those riots were about was crime. there's_ riots were about was crime. there's other issues that can be discussed but most people don't — be discussed but most people don't go — be discussed but most people don't go onto the streets and uett — don't go onto the streets and pelt police vans with bottles and bricks and so on.- and bricks and so on. let's talk about _ and bricks and so on. let's talk about halving - and bricks and so on. let's talk about halving knife . and bricks and so on. let's i talk about halving knife crime in a decade. that's one of first things she said in her speech. how possible is that? we have been seeing it over the last couple of days this huge issue, particularly with zombie nice, but the pledge is there to halve knife crime in a decade. to halve knife crime in a decade-— decade. look, it is a stretching _ decade. look, it is a stretching target. i decade. look, it is al stretching target. the government has not set out yet the parameters or the baseline on which — the parameters or the baseline on which that is going to be measured. 50, iwould hope and

expect— measured. 50, iwould hope and expect that that will be set out soon. it will require a lot of work— out soon. it will require a lot of work on _ out soon. it will require a lot of work on different fronts, and — of work on different fronts, and yvette cooper outlined some of that _ and yvette cooper outlined some of that work. youth hubs, a sort — of that work. youth hubs, a sort of _ of that work. youth hubs, a sort of sure start for teenagers is how she has depicted it. there will be enforcement action on the streets _ enforcement action on the streets involving the police and — streets involving the police and i— streets involving the police and i think some announcements have _ and i think some announcements have treen— and i think some announcements have been made about that. as well as— have been made about that. as well as cracking down on online sates— well as cracking down on online sates of— well as cracking down on online sales of dangerous knives and so on — sales of dangerous knives and so on so— sales of dangerous knives and so on. so there is a series of things— so on. so there is a series of things that _ so on. so there is a series of things that will have to be brought to bear in order to try and get — brought to bear in order to try and get close to that target. i think— and get close to that target. i think that will be judged on whether it is making progress towards — whether it is making progress towards that target. that was | danny shaw, former adviser to the home secretary, and also former home affairs correspondent with the bbc. so that was yvette cooper �*s speech. and then, of course, sir keir starmer �*s speech is coming up this afternoon and

earlier we heard from the political correspondent for the times newspaper, and andrew fisher, columnist for the the independent about what we can expect to hear from the prior minister. when you speak to people what they want to hear today, they want — they want to hear today, they want keir _ they want to hear today, they want keir starmer to put a stamp— want keir starmer to put a stamp on this conference and say what _ stamp on this conference and say what he believes in and what — say what he believes in and what this government is for. we have _ what this government is for. we have had — what this government is for. we have had a — what this government is for. we have had a difficult couple of weeks — have had a difficult couple of weeks for the government, things— weeks for the government, things like the freebies and the salary of sue gray and there _ the salary of sue gray and there are tensions at number ten at — there are tensions at number ten at the _ there are tensions at number ten at the top of government. some — ten at the top of government. some say— ten at the top of government. some say there is a void that keir— some say there is a void that keir starmer has left and into that— keir starmer has left and into that void _ keir starmer has left and into that void he now needs to state what _ that void he now needs to state what he — that void he now needs to state what he needs and that's what we need — what he needs and that's what we need to see from him today and he — we need to see from him today and he needs to stamp his authority on this conference. another— authority on this conference. another thing was this sense we got from the government about tough decisions, the winter fuel payments which is a contentious decision. and we have heard from some people saying you need to inject a bit more optimism, which the chancellor tried to do yesterday. do you think keir starmer is going to try to do

that today customer i think he will. i that today customer i think he will. ~' , ,., , will. i think he is saying we will. i think he is saying we will have — will. i think he is saying we will have to _ will. i think he is saying we will have to take _ will. i think he is saying we will have to take tough i will have to take tough decisions so we can have a better tomorrow, decisions so we can have a bettertomorrow, i decisions so we can have a better tomorrow, i think there will be his message. i'm not sure it really cuts it because a lot of people at the moment have heard one policy from this labour government which is that we are going to cut the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners, people on £11,500. plus, there are lots of people who don't claim pension credit who don't claim pension credit who are under that and will also lose it. it is not a popular policy, and i think a lot of labour people think this is a mistake. look at the polls and his own personal ratings have tanks, labour �*s repulsive gone down a lot. i think it is a mistake tojust leave gone down a lot. i think it is a mistake to just leave that one policy out there which is only raising tiny amounts, £1.3 billion. if you get more pensioners going into hospital, then that eats away at it. it's not going to solve this £22 billion black hole anyway, so it is a really odd thing to have done. and all the other things as well, there have been a lot of poorjudgments and i think people want to see him get a grip and really state

what the labour government is for and perhaps reverse that winter fuel payments cut. that doesnt winter fuel payments cut. that doesn't seem — winter fuel payments cut. that doesn't seem to _ winter fuel payments cut. that doesn't seem to be _ winter fuel payments cut. that doesn't seem to be any - winter fuel payments cut. that doesn't seem to be any sign of that, with the chancellor said yesterday it was the right decision. do you think we will get anything else on policy specifically from keir starmer today customer i think we will get a welfare offering. tote today customer i think we will get a welfare offering. we will hear about _ get a welfare offering. we will hear about a _ get a welfare offering. we will hear about a crackdown i get a welfare offering. we will hear about a crackdown on i hear about a crackdown on benefits _ hear about a crackdown on benefits. they are hoping that will save — benefits. they are hoping that will save £1.6 billion. this is particularly interesting because it's not something we have _ because it's not something we have heard a great deal from labour — have heard a great deal from labour about it yet by way of policy — labour about it yet by way of policy. it _ labour about it yet by way of policy. it is certainly something, when you hear from liz kendall to work and pensions secretary, that she would — pensions secretary, that she would not necessarily be happy with the — would not necessarily be happy with the announcement today. you say — with the announcement today. you say she had talked about moving — you say she had talked about moving towards the language of strivers — moving towards the language of strivers versus scroungers which — strivers versus scroungers which the previous government used, _ which the previous government used. but — which the previous government used, but the benefits bill is rising — used, but the benefits bill is rising. keir starmerwill use today— rising. keir starmerwill use today in— rising. keir starmerwill use today in part to make that offer _ today in part to make that offer on _ today in part to make that offer on welfare, but with that comes— offer on welfare, but with that comes the question of what else he is _ comes the question of what else he is going to do to tackle

that— he is going to do to tackle that bill _ he is going to do to tackle that bill. gf he is going to do to tackle that bill-— that bill. of course, the government _ that bill. of course, the government has - that bill. of course, the government has put i that bill. of course, the i government has put getting economic growth at the heart of everything they do. if we get the economy growing, the country will be better off and so will everyone else therefore. 0n so will everyone else therefore. on this point about a welfare and benefits, about getting people back into work, is that a valid point that we need to be focusing on? part of the reason _ need to be focusing on? part of the reason we _ need to be focusing on? part of the reason we have _ need to be focusing on? part of the reason we have got - need to be focusing on? part of the reason we have got more i the reason we have got more people on sickness benefits than ever before is because of the nhs waiting lists. there's a lot of people waiting either for cognitive hair micro care and mental health or physical operations to get back into work. people of working age who can't work at the moment because of these things. and there's a real skill straining out. the previous government cut the adult skills training budget quite significantly, and therefore if you want people to re—skill you need to give them that support. it is not about stick, and i worry about universal credit, if you are a single person you get £400 a month, and we are talking about a crackdown on people on benefits. you know, if you

listen to most charities they will tell you that people who overcame either do so in error, or because they are basically struggling to make ends meet and need more money. it is not out of greed. of the sea there is a small criminal element doing it for that obviously. but again, is not a significant policy that is going to get people saying this is a good thing that the labour government is doing. thought from both _ government is doing. thought from both a — government is doing. thought from both a view— government is doing. thought from both a view of— government is doing. thought from both a view of the i government is doing. thought from both a view of the mood | government is doing. thought l from both a view of the mood at the conference here because you have both been here for the past few days. this is their first conference as a party of power for 15 years. you would have thought they would have been able wall—to—wall sense of celebration, but what is the mood you are both picking up? by, mood you are both picking up? a great deal of nervousness from some _ great deal of nervousness from some people in government, a sense — some people in government, a sense that actually it is very early — sense that actually it is very early on _ sense that actually it is very early on in keir starmer 's premiership to be facing a difficult test of his authority, but sickly on these difficult — authority, but sickly on these difficult briefings he has had in recent there is a worry that people — in recent there is a worry that people want to celebrate but actually they haven't quite got control— actually they haven't quite got control of the narrative yet. yes, _ control of the narrative yet. yes, there is a lot of anxiety,

i agree. i've been coming to these conferences for 25 years now and i have never known a conference where there is not a significant policy announcement, whether in government or in opposition, and it has allowed all the other stories about donations and freebies and sue gray to dominate because there was just a void and that is a real problem. also at the conference, the chief executive of the public affairs agency cicero told alex forsyth that rachel reeves message to business people was "pitch perfect". message to business people was "pitch perfect'-— "pitch perfect". this conference - "pitch perfect". this conference is - "pitch perfect". this conference is taking j "pitch perfect". this i conference is taking place probably in advance of a budget that is— probably in advance of a budget that is going to be the most important keynote feature of this government on the 30th of 0ctober~ — this government on the 30th of october. what did she say? she said that — october. what did she say? she said that you can't tax and spend _ said that you can't tax and spend your way to growth. now, a lot— spend your way to growth. now, a lot of— spend your way to growth. now, a lot of business leaders, people _ a lot of business leaders, people like myself, anybody who is running — people like myself, anybody who is running a business, that was absolutely— is running a business, that was

absolutely pitch perfect, that message. we need economic stability. _ message. we need economic stability, we don't need policies that are chopping and changing every five minutes. the — changing every five minutes. the proof— changing every five minutes. the proof will be in the pudding in six weeks' time. and of course. _ pudding in six weeks' time. and of course, the _ pudding in six weeks' time. situc of course, the pursuit of pudding in six weeks' time. fific of course, the pursuit of this government is economic growth. they want investment, they want to get the economy moving again. we know that there are going to be difficult decisions in the budget on october the going to be difficult decisions in the budget on october the 30th because the chancellor has 30th because the chancellor has told us that is the case. in told us that is the case. in the business community, do you the business community, do you think this government is think this government is lending enough confidence to lending enough confidence to get the investment they want to get the investment they want to achieve? ., ., ~' , achieve? ., ., ~' , get the investment they want to achieve? ., ., ,, , ., , , achieve? look, they have spent get the investment they want to achieve? ., ., ,, , ., , , achieve? look, they have spent the summer— the summer— achieve? look, they have spent the summer outlining _ achieve? look, they have spent the summer outlining the i the summer outlining the problem. maybe they spent a achieve? look, they have spent the summer outlining _ achieve? look, they have spent the summer outlining the i the summer outlining the problem. maybe they spent a little — problem. maybe they spent a little bit — problem. maybe they spent a little bit too long outlining little — problem. maybe they spent a little bit — problem. maybe they spent a little bit too long outlining the problem. ithink conference. decisions the problem. ithink little bit too long outlining the problem. i think actually the problem. i think actually little bit too long outlining the problem. i think actually the problem. i think actually the electorate, businesses made the electorate, businesses made a judgment on the previous a judgment on the previous government on election day government on election day itself— itself— government on election day itself which is why the government on election day itself which is why the conservatives were not elected, but there — conservatives were not elected, but there — conservatives were not elected, but there is a really big tent conservatives were not elected, but there is a really big tent here — but there is a really big tent here — but there is a really big tent here in— but there is a really big tent here in liverpool to reset that here in— but there is a really big tent here in liverpool to reset that message, _ here in liverpool to reset that message, to inject that message, _ here in liverpool to reset that message, to inject that

conference. —— big attempt. when— conference. —— big attempt. when you— conference. —— big attempt. when you look at the performance of the stock market. _ performance of the stock market, when you look at the performance of sterling since the election, people are looking in at the uk right now, suggesting that, compared to lots of— suggesting that, compared to lots of other territories, this could — lots of other territories, this could be _ lots of other territories, this could be the stable place to invest _ could be the stable place to invest. �* , , , . invest. i'm pretty optimistic. you have _ invest. i'm pretty optimistic. you have still— invest. i'm pretty optimistic. you have still got _ invest. i'm pretty optimistic. you have still got your i invest. i'm pretty optimistic. you have still got your eyes | invest. i'm pretty optimistic. l you have still got your eyes on the budget, i expect much about everybody has got their eyes on that budget. we are going to head back to the conference and you can see on the screen there that you can use this qr code if you can't bear not to watch it. we are waiting for the culture secretary to take to the podium in the next few minutes and we will bring that to you. just before we do that, let's return and bring you the latest line from the middle east. hezbollah says it has attacked dozens of military targets in northern israel with rocket fire a day after israeli air strikes on southern lebanon killed nearly 500 people.

it was the deadliest day of conflict since the lebanese civil war in the 1980s. israel says it hit dozens of hezbollah targets in south lebanon overnight. this video, filmed in taalbaiya in lebanon's bekaa valley on monday evening, is said to show the aftermath of at least one air strike. the extent of the damage is not known. the fires are burning in what appears to be a residential area. israel says it hit around 1,300 targets, which it says were hezbollah sites housing cruise missiles, rockets and drones. it released this footage of some of the air strikes,

the white house saying that president biden will present concrete plans for ending the crisis later this week. israel said it hit around 1300 hezbollah targets in lebanon yesterday. there were warnings. phone messages to residents to leave areas where hezbollah weapons were stored, and this from the prior minister, benjamin netanyahu. don't let hezbollah endanger _ benjamin netanyahu. don't let hezbollah endanger the - benjamin netanyahu. don't let hezbollah endanger the lives l benjamin netanyahu. don't let| hezbollah endanger the lives of your loved ones, don't let them endanger— your loved ones, don't let them endanger lebanon.— endanger lebanon. please, get out of harms — endanger lebanon. please, get out of harms way _ endanger lebanon. please, get out of harms way now. - endanger lebanon. please, get out of harms way now. on i endanger lebanon. please, get out of harms way now. on the l out of harms way now. on the roads, a mass exodus. tens of thousands heading north towards beirut. and, in the port city here, people took whatever transport they could to get to safety. this school opened its

gates to give shelter to families. this woman said "they struck right next to our house and our building was shaking. we got very stressed and this is why we had to leave and we came here. we were told it is safe here." hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government, has hit back. in northern israel, david had seconds to get into a safe room before a rocket came through his roof. he says israel did not want this war. tote his roof. he says israel did not want this war. we don't have a war _ not want this war. we don't have a war with _ not want this war. we don't have a war with them. i not want this war. we don't have a war with them. they start — have a war with them. they start with _ have a war with them. they start with no reason, so now we are giving — start with no reason, so now we are giving back. across northern israel, sirens wailed and rockets fell. overnight, missiles were intercepted over the northern israeli city of haifa. israel has acknowledged the high number of casualties in lebanon. it says hezbollah had hidden weapons inside people's homes and says its strikes were precisely targeted. you can see here that

the rocket is stored on a hydraulic system and is prepared for a launch out of an opening in the roof directed at the communities in northern israel. and more than that, under this attic, a family lives and serves as a human shield for hezbollah. meanwhile, world leaders are viewing these events with unease. us presidentjoe biden met with the president of the united arab emirates yesterday. the two leaders say they're discussing ways to bring down tensions in the region. at the un general assembly in new york, there's been calls by france and from the uk's foreign secretary, david lammy, to bring about a ceasefire. israel and hezbollah are old enemies. this looks like a new chapter of the war. it's the people of lebanon and northern israel who are caught in the middle. aruna iyengar, bbc news.

hundreds have been wounded and 558 people have been confirmed as killed. the main route to beirut is still congested with thousands of people trying to flee those areas to the south of the country. yesterday we met some families, many of whom were carrying only some bags with some belongings. they describe the intensity of the israeli air strikes and the lebanese government minister described what happened yesterday as an israeli atrocity, the lebanese authorities are saying that most of the sites hit by the israeli attacks were residential sites, although the israeli military is saying it targeted hezbollah positions and accused hezbollah of hiding weapons in houses, using the population as human shields. we see the attacks

continue, the israeli military says more attacks were carried out this morning and hezbollah has remained defiant. more attacks from hezbollah, the group is saying these attacks will continue until there is a ceasefire in gaza and the indications from the israeli authorities are that this is just the beginning of a wider offensive against hezbollah and the speculation is that we could see a ground invasion of southern lebanon to create a so—called buffer zone to push hezbollah fighters away from the border. i think for many of those residents they will flee southern lebanon and there is the very real possibility that many of them may never be able to go back home.

this is one assessment of the escalation of air strikes over the last few days.— escalation of air strikes over the last few days. you know, it is a crazy _ the last few days. you know, it is a crazy situation. _ the last few days. you know, it is a crazy situation. it - the last few days. you know, it is a crazy situation. it is - the last few days. you know, it is a crazy situation. it is an i is a crazy situation. it is an ongoing _ is a crazy situation. it is an ongoing nightmare since october the 7th _ ongoing nightmare since october the 7th last year, almost a year— the 7th last year, almost a year from now. what happened was that— year from now. what happened was that after the massacre of the hamas in the south, hezbollah announced immediately, the day after that they will— immediately, the day after that they will launch their attacks on the — they will launch their attacks on the northern part of israel, as a _ on the northern part of israel, as a sort— on the northern part of israel, as a sort of— on the northern part of israel, as a sort of emotional support for hamas. so it was really not provoked — for hamas. so it was really not provoked by israel and they try to have — provoked by israel and they try to have a — provoked by israel and they try to have a kind of low—level war

between — to have a kind of low—level war between us so that israel had to evacuate more than 60,000 people _ to evacuate more than 60,000 people to — to evacuate more than 60,000 people to the south, and these people. — people to the south, and these people. i— people to the south, and these people, i mean the kids don't study. — people, i mean the kids don't study. or— people, i mean the kids don't study, or study in a very partial— study, or study in a very partial way, their parents don't _ partial way, their parents don't work, it is a nightmare for them _ don't work, it is a nightmare for them and for the whole of lsrael — for them and for the whole of lsrael i— for them and for the whole of israel. i am for them and for the whole of israel. lam not for them and for the whole of israel. i am not defending the current— israel. i am not defending the current government of israel. i believe — current government of israel. i believe that benjamin netanyahu should _ believe that benjamin netanyahu should have resigned immediately after the massacre a year— immediately after the massacre a year ago, but nevertheless, the situation is that israel did not— the situation is that israel did not have any intention to attack— did not have any intention to attack lebanon, which does not have _ attack lebanon, which does not have actually any institutions. i have actually any institutions. i mean. — have actually any institutions. i mean, everything there is broken _ i mean, everything there is broken. there is nothing but hezbollah. but when his brother mike _ hezbollah. but when his brother mike decided to increase the level— mike decided to increase the level of— mike decided to increase the level of the violence ——

hezbollah, there was no option and when — hezbollah, there was no option and when israel acts it is not and when israel acts it is not a joke — and when israel acts it is not ajoke. israel and when israel acts it is not a joke. israel knows how to act and hezbollah understand it is and hezbollah understand it is a strong — and hezbollah understand it is a strong country and their retaliation would be very hurtful _ retaliation would be very hurtful. the un i secretary-general has hurtful. the un _ secretary-general has been secretary—general has been quoted as saying he does not want lebanon to become another gaza. do you think that is a possibility? i gaza. do you think that is a possibility?— gaza. do you think that is a ossibili ? ., , ., ., , possibility? i hope not. i hope that will not _ possibility? i hope not. i hope that will not happen, - possibility? i hope not. i hope that will not happen, and i i that will not happen, and i also — that will not happen, and i also know the solution. the solution _ also know the solution. the solution is very simple in lebanon. we agreed in 2006 with the us— lebanon. we agreed in 2006 with the us resolution —— un resolution, which among many other— resolution, which among many other things, resolution, which among many otherthings, hezbollah resolution, which among many other things, hezbollah would evacuate its forces in the south _ evacuate its forces in the south to _ evacuate its forces in the

south to the river, and that there — south to the river, and that there will— south to the river, and that there will be negotiations on several— there will be negotiations on several issues between the government of lebanon and the government of lebanon and the government of lebanon and the government of israel. i believe that work— government of israel. i believe that work should be done to return — that work should be done to return to _ that work should be done to return to the same un resolution. i'm sure that he knows _ resolution. i'm sure that he knows exactly what kind of resolution it is and it is a very— resolution it is and it is a very good one, but it was not fully— very good one, but it was not fully implement it. it should be implemented. this very specific— be implemented. this very specific resolution should be made — specific resolution should be made lt— specific resolution should be made. ., , ., ., , , made. it does not feel a simple solution at _ made. it does not feel a simple solution at the _ made. it does not feel a simple solution at the moment. - made. it does not feel a simple solution at the moment. we i made. it does not feel a simple l solution at the moment. we have got air strikes first. do you think ground forces going in is the only way to get to what you are talking about for the israeli war aim is to be satisfied?— israeli war aim is to be satisfied? ., , ., , satisfied? god forbid, really. god forbid. _ satisfied? god forbid, really.

god forbid. it— satisfied? god forbid, really. god forbid. it is _ satisfied? god forbid, really. god forbid. it is so _ god forbid. it is so unnecessary to continue it now. ithink— unnecessary to continue it now. i think that _ unnecessary to continue it now. i think that the best way for both— i think that the best way for both sides, they have paid a high — both sides, they have paid a high price already in the last year. — high price already in the last year. is _ high price already in the last year. is to— high price already in the last year, is to sit together. hezbollah will not sit with lsrael. _ hezbollah will not sit with israel, and it is considered a terrorist _ israel, and it is considered a terrorist organisation and rightly— terrorist organisation and rightly so, but they need a third — rightly so, but they need a third party and put an end to it. we should put an end to it. the secretary general is right in saying this.