in south lebanon as both sides defy international calls for de—escalation israel's prime minister is israel's prime minister is delaying his trip to the us for delaying his trip to the us for the un general assembly. the un general assembly. large numbers of people large numbers of people are continuing to flee are continuing to flee the areas close to the border, the areas close to the border, as fears of war between as fears of war between hezbollah and israel grow. hezbollah and israel grow. you're live with bbc news. i am you're live with bbc news. i am and a foster live in beirut as and a foster live in beirut as we bring you continuing we bring you continuing coverage of an increasing escalation in the conflict here coverage of an increasing escalation in the conflict here in the middle east between in the middle east between israel and lebanon where i am israel and lebanon where i am speaking to you from at the speaking to you from at the moment. it speaking to you from at the moment-— moment. it speaking to you from at the moment-— speaking to you from at the moment. , ., speaking to you from at the moment. , ., moment. it is the middle of the afternoon _ moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here _ moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here and _ moment. it is the middle of the moment. it is the middle of the afternoon _ moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here _ moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here and _ moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here and all- moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here and all morning | afternoon here and all morning we have been hearing reports of afternoon here and all- moment. it is the middle of the afternoon here and all morning | afternoon here and all morning we have been hearing reports of

new strikes by the new strikes by the israeli military, the israeli air force, on southern areas of lebanon. and in particular a large escalation this morning where hezbollah has lodged a ballistic missile towards tel aviv, the most populous area in israel. it's the first time they have lodged a weapon of this scale towards tel aviv. hezbollah says the attack was directed at the headquarters of israeli intelligence agency mossad. they blame them for assassinating senior hezbollah commanders. let me show this piece of footage. you can clearly hear the air raid sirens in this footage which shows the missile just after it was intercepted by israeli air defence systems. the israeli military says it detected the missile crossing from lebanon.

hezbollah said it fired at mossad — holding them responsible for the assassination of senior hezbollah leaders and for blowing up pagers and wireless devices last week. hezbollah confirmed its commander was killed in a raid in beirut, just a couple of kilometres from where i am speaking to you from now. this comes amid increasing cross—border exchanges of fire that have been happening now for the third day, defying calls from world leaders for immediate de—escalation in this situation. as far as the lebanese government is concerned they have called on the us for help to end that wave of israeli assaults. this is the deadliest bombardment the country has seen in

decades. health authorities say that 569 people, including many children, have been killed since monday. it was the deadliest day since the end of the civil war here in lebanon backin the civil war here in lebanon back in 1990. after hezbollah�*s latest attack israel conducted more of these extensive strikes across lebanon, including the town in a predominant christian area just north of the border. ten people have been killed there this morning and 29 have been injured. there are

there this morning and 29 have been injured. there a residents about 630 local time residents of tel aviv and other parts of central israel was sent rushing to their bomb shelters as these rocket warning sirens went off. we had it confirmed by the israeli military that this was the first time hezbollah had ever attacked the israeli city of tel aviv using one of these longer range rockets. what happened very quickly afterwards, the military gave a briefing, saying this was a heavy warhead that had been used and they said that actually, in their view, this rocket was targeting civilian areas while hezbollah had been talking about aiming at the mossad headquarters there. we then saw israel's military responding, saying it was setting, first of all the launch site for this rocket, pointing out that it was quite

deep inside lebanon and then there was another wave of israeli air strikes on the south and in the east of the country as well. we have also had these barrages of rockets being fired into northern israel by hezbollah in the course of the morning. and that has really let people there very much on edge. the israeli military told us that something like 1.3 million israelis are now under the military orders, told to listen out for the different restrictions that are being imposed on public gatherings, staying close to bomb shelters and also with children, seeing their school lessons, in—person school lessons, in—person school lessons cancelled. lessons, in-person school lessons cancelled.- lessons, in-person school lessons cancelled. and you mentioned _ lessons cancelled. and you mentioned there _ lessons cancelled. and you mentioned there in - lessons cancelled. and you mentioned there in the - mentioned there in the headlines that benjamin netanyahu, the israeli prime minister, is delaying his trip to the un general assembly in new york. what has he said about that?— about that? this was a

statement _ about that? this was a statement that - about that? this was a statement that was . about that? this was a | statement that was put about that? this was a - statement that was put out by his office. 0riginally we had expected him to be going to new york for the week, really taking advantage of the opportunity to meet world leaders. it is a sign of this escalation that he is now planning, we are told, to go tomorrow to make his address on friday and then come back again quite quickly. 0f friday and then come back again quite quickly. of course that the un general assembly it has been a big topic for world leaders what is happening in this part of the world. their concerns are that this could be leading to a wider war in the middle east. we have had the us presidentjoe biden talking about how diplomacy could still be used to calm things down between israel and hezbollah. but with all these latest developments the un security council is due to meet later to discuss what is happening. find discuss what is happening. and of course at — discuss what is happening. and of course at the _ discuss what is happening. and of course at the moment, as she

was saying there, we are hearing conversations going on, calls for de—escalation, but the rhetoric that is coming both from israel and hezbollah in lebanon at the moment, that is not matching what we're hearing the international community?— hearing the international community? hearing the international communi ? �* community? indeed. and when we have as different _ community? indeed. and when we have as different israeli _ have as different israeli officials how long this operation might last they have not wanted to be drawn on that, saying they will do whatever it takes to get displaced israeli citizens, some 60,000 people, back to their homes in the very north of the country, close to the border with lebanon. they have really been told to evacuate the areas where they live in 11 months of conflict, which have gone on in parallel to the war in gaza. there have been some comments from israeli officials that it could be that what is happening now puts pressure on hezbollah. their hope is that this would force

hezbollah to accept a diplomatic solution but that seems unlikely. hezbollah has been saying repeatedly that really it will not stop its latest attacks on israel. what we have seen over the past nearly one year, unless there is a ceasefire in gaza. 0f is a ceasefire in gaza. of course fighting against israel, that goes to the very core of what hezbollah is all about, what hezbollah is all about, what it was founded for in the nineteen eighties.— what it was founded for in the nineteen eighties. thank you, our middle — nineteen eighties. thank you, our middle east _ nineteen eighties. thank you, | our middle east correspondent joining us from jerusalem. i just want to show you pictures of one israeli strike that has happened this morning. notable because this is north of beirut. we talk about what has been happening here in lebanon the majority of those israeli strikes are in the south of the country and also in east. we have seen targeted strikes here in the southern suburbs of beirut when israel has been focusing on hezbollah

commanders. but what we are seeing this morning as the striker one of hezbollah�*s northern commanders who they were looking for and notable because it has happened north of beirut and again a lot of the attacks and a lot of the rhetoric around them geography, and particularly the message that sense, when people who are in more northern parts of lebanon, being further away from israel, feel they are further away. we have seen people fleeing the south to get further away from those strikes. but again thatjust adds another dimension to the fighting that we are seeing at the moment. joining me now from beirut is their spokesperson, andrea tenenti. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. just give us your

assessment first of all of what we have seen in the last few days and what you have seen there. in days and what you have seen there. . , , there. in the last few days we have seen _ there. in the last few days we have seen one _ there. in the last few days we have seen one of _ there. in the last few days we have seen one of the - there. in the last few days we have seen one of the most. have seen one of the most devastating bombings, shellings, especially in the south of lebanon, but not only in the south of lebanon, and the whole country, even in beirut. so this has been devastating and something unprecedented. this has been the heaviest days we have seen since october last year but also since 2006. in 2006 a bit over 1000 people were killed in just a few days. now we reach 600 people killed injust a few days. 1800 injured, children being killed, and women, so the proportion is really devastating. the situation is very concerning but we're still working to try de—escalate

tension but it is very unpredictable, very difficult. we are still fully deployed in the south of lebanon but there is now a real need for a political and diplomatic solution.— political and diplomatic solution. what are your peacekeepers - solution. what are your peacekeepers able - solution. what are your peacekeepers able to i solution. what are your- peacekeepers able to actually do on the ground at the moment? is it more humanitarian work they are engaged in while these they are engaged in while these attacks carry on?— attacks carry on?— attacks carry on? these days it is important — attacks carry on? these days it is important also _ attacks carry on? these days it attacks carry on? these days it is important — attacks carry on? these days it is important also _ attacks carry on? these days it is important also to _ attacks carry on? these days it is important also to keep - attacks carry on? these days it is important also to keep in - is important also to _ attacks carry on? these days it is important also to keep - attacks carry on? these days it is important also to keep in - is important also to keep in mind the importance of safety is important also to keep in mind the importance of safety and security of our troops, but and security of our troops, but also the civilian population also the civilian population with the protection of with the protection of civilians, but being out and civilians, but being out and monitoring the areas. there is monitoring the areas. there is a lot of work being done and a lot of work being done and force commander in force commander in communication with the parties, communication with the parties, the channel of communication is the channel of communication is still open. so we are still still open. so we are still trying to de—escalate and trying to de—escalate and mitigate the risk for a wider mitigate the risk for a wider conflict but reminding the part conflict but reminding the part

is that the wider conflict is that the wider conflict would have a in while these would have a catastrophic effect, not only for lebanon for the entire reason. no one can afford it and it is important to put a lot of pressure, especially in the state of the general assembly in new york, with diplomacy from all around the world to try to meet and try to of

parties, to open the windows of opportunities for them to implement a resolution. it is not up to you to fill to prevent a resolution but it is “p prevent a resolution but it is up to the party. let's. in 2006 this is one of the quietest periods in history and we were trying to move forward also discussing our issues. there is no border between lebanon and israel. there never has been and we were trying to move forward there to mark the line with the parties to try to get more land. with the parties to try to get more land-— more land. thank you for “oininr more land. thank you for joining us. _ more land. thank you for joining us. i— more land. thank you for joining us, i am - more land. thank you for joining us, i am so - more land. thank you for joining us, i am so sorry| more land. thank you for| joining us, i am so sorry i have to stop you there. we need to say goodbye to viewers who have been watching us on bbc news, on bbc two. stay with us. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news. i am anna foster here in beirut where we are bringing you continuing coverage from both lebanon and israel on the latest escalation between the

two countries, which is causing serious concern, notjust here in the middle east, but around the world as well. we'll speak to frank gardner very soon about whether or not these attacks by israel deeper into lebanon are having any impact on hezbollah�*s ability to strike targets in israel. we will speak to him very soon on the programme. ijust want will speak to him very soon on the programme. i just want to give you an idea of the difficulties that are being experienced by people, particularly in hospitals here in lebanon, which already had been struggling before this escalation began. dr hassan wazni, a director and doctor at nabatieh governmental university hospital in southern lebanon. thank you forjoining us. tell us what you have been seeing on the kind of injuries you have been treating over the last few days. been treating over the last few da s. ., ~ been treating over the last few da s. . ,, , .,

been treating over the last few da s. ., �* days. thank you. at the university _ days. thank you. at the university hospital- days. thank you. at the university hospital in i days. thank you. at the | university hospital in the south. the situation is dire. hundreds and hundreds of injuries. just minutes before you call we heard 30 metres in front of the hospital... inaudible more than 300 injuries, more

than 30 people died. six patients and six injured in the burn unit, we have a burn unit here. we transferred many of them also to other hospitals in beirut and we say may be hospital or safer areas. now all lebanon is not safe. the escalation is getting more and more... inaudible we have more injuries from all ages. women, children and also

elderly patients. the ages. women, children and also elderly patients.— elderly patients. the situation is caettin elderly patients. the situation is getting more _ elderly patients. the situation is getting more critical. - elderly patients. the situation is getting more critical. you . is getting more critical. you can say a child without family, they died, or you can say a woman... now we have many cases like this but we can't talk everything about them because it is sensitive or they are in very sensitive condition. we have transferred many of them... have transferred many of them- - -_ have transferred many of them... ., ., them... may i ask you, i am sorry to _ them... may i ask you, i am sorry to interrupt. _ them... may i ask you, i am sorry to interrupt. may - them... may i ask you, i am sorry to interrupt. may i - them... may i ask you, i am sorry to interrupt. may i askj sorry to interrupt. may i ask

you about, because the lebanese health minister has talked about really the difficulties that hospitals are having, being able to cope with the number of patients. for how long do you think the health system here in lebanon can cope with these large attacks continue? in with these large attacks continue?— with these large attacks continue? . ., continue? in generalthe health s stem continue? in generalthe health system in _ continue? in generalthe health system in lebanon _ continue? in generalthe health system in lebanon is _ continue? in generalthe health system in lebanon is good. - system in lebanon is good. hospitals are prepared and they have the staff and they have the doctors, and good doctors also and equipment. inaudible 40-50 40—50 patients injured. at the same time i would give you an example about our hospital. we have 20 beds and emergency

rooms but when they are more than 20 we have a problem. irate than 20 we have a problem. we talk about _ than 20 we have a problem. - talk about the number but now the wounded,... now the number is less than before. we can see five, six, ten maybe it's ok. we should have a good connection with other hospitals in beirut and transfer the patients to others.-

in beirut and transfer the patients to others. and that really helps. _ patients to others. and that really helps, doesn't - patients to others. and that really helps, doesn't it. - patients to others. and that i really helps, doesn't it. thank you so much forjoining us. i really appreciate your time but i know how busy you are. thank you for being with us. ijust i just wanted to take a ijust wanted to take a moment to reflect on another issue which is increasingly becoming a concern for governments. this is how they will manage to get expats out of lebanon if this conflict continues, and particularly, as we have been seeing over the last few days, if commercial airline stop flying to the airport here. the uk and the us government have both called on their citizens to leave there is still a number of flights running. we have seen keir starmer reiterate that call to leave. we know there are british expats who are in lebanon who are not leaving just yet. how will they be taken out if commercial routes fail? first of all the _

commercial routes fail? first of all the military _ commercial routes fail? first of all the military staff - commercial routes fail? first of all the military staff in - of all the military staff in the uk will have done an awful lot of planning for this. they plan for non—competitive and evacuation operations all the time. when places go hot like lebanon those plans are dusted off. in a perfect world then, this isn't a perfect world, if commercialflights this isn't a perfect world, if commercial flights aren't available raf transport planes that are based in cyprus, which is only a ten or 15 minute flight away, would be able to ferry an awful lot of people out of the commercial airport very quickly. if that is not an option you are then looking at potentially using helicopters, big heavy lift, chinook helicopters, to the people to cyprus as well. and then thirdly is the opportunity to almost get people off the beaches into navy ships that are in the area. it gets much more complicated if actually we have to put british troops on the ground to protect those sites that to get people out.

we will be working very closely with the americans and i expect other european countries as well, because they will be getting their citizens out to. i think we are very fortunate that we have cyprus so very close, with two big military bases there. and no doubt, with embassy staff still in beirut, being able to control these things. it can be relatively straightforward but if things go really badly it can get even more difficult. i am sure the prime minister is absolutely right by encouraging people to go now when it is more straightforward, and actually having to fight your way out. but we have a lot of experience. last year britain managed to evacuate a lot of citizens from sudan in africa and of course a couple of years ago with afghanistan. so the only saving grace at the moment is cyprus is very close to beirut and we have the troops in position ready to go if required.

in position ready to go if required-— in position ready to go if reuuired. �* . ., ., required. and we have about a minute or— required. and we have about a minute or so — required. and we have about a minute or so left. _ required. and we have about a minute or so left. as - required. and we have about a minute or so left. as we - required. and we have about a minute or so left. as we were | minute or so left. as we were touching on their the geography is part of the difficulty here. it is fortunate cyprus is close ljy it is fortunate cyprus is close by but it means land routes, of course to the south, to israel, or to the east to syria, they aren't an option for people to leave of their own accord. in terms of silly bullion routes you are talking only about the airports. you are talking only about the airorts. ~ ,,., , ., ., airports. absolutely. you are riaht airports. absolutely. you are right there- _ airports. absolutely. you are right there. the _ airports. absolutely. you are right there. the surrounding | right there. the surrounding borders are not easy at all. i am sure, if people want to get out, the need to listen to what the british embassy and others are saying and get to the airport and i am sure that, if required, the british military will be up to the task of recovering those people who want to leave, even if it does get really dangerous, which, let's hope, and we are all praying it doesn't.- let's hope, and we are all praying it doesn't. thank you forjoining — praying it doesn't. thank you forjoining us, _ praying it doesn't. thank you forjoining us, former - praying it doesn't. thank you forjoining us, former soldierj forjoining us, former soldier with the british army describing their some of the

challenges that will face expats, notjust british, but from around the world, who are trying to get out. ijust want to leave you with these live pictures at the moment of the border between lebanon and israel. the scene of so many over the last 11 months or so steady cross—border attacks, but really what we have seen in the last three days now is a huge escalation. we have seen these israeli air strikes around the south of lebanon, but up to the valley and again targeted strikes here in beirut as well. we have seen hezbollah returning fire into israel. it is a developing story and one we will keep you right up to date with. stay with us here on bbc news. you're watching bbc news. coming up we will hear from five women who say they were sexually assaulted by the former harrods boss mohamed al

fayed, who have spoken to bbc breakfast. but first let's get a check on the weather. tuesday brought a slightly drier day for some of us but on wednesday we are seeing the arrival of more rain. it will last on an offer many others over the next few days. the winds are going to be strengthening to sew a very unsettled spell of weather, certainly until friday. let's take a look at the rainfall we are expecting to accumulate over the next few days. some places, particularly north—east, but central and southern and into wales could see up to 80 millimetres of rain and some of that is falling on saturated ground. i think we will see some further problems with localised flooding later in the week. low pressure is driving our weather. it is slowly moving its way in from the west. for the rest of today we are seeing rain across central and northern parts of england into northern ireland. some heavy showers in wales and south—west england overnight. this rainfall across the north—east of england is going to be particularly assisted, blown in by that brisk easterly wind. a

pretty damn start your thursday for many areas with some heavy showers, perhaps in thunderstorms towards the south. temperatures 10—11 in the south. we will see single figures across scotland which has seen some of the drier and clearer weather. through tomorrow we have still got persistent rain pushing on across parts of northern england, particularly heavy in the north—east was not also northern ireland seeing heavy rain. wales, central and southern england is going to be a mix of some sunshine. also scattered heavy showers and some thunderstorms. it is again the north of scotland that is dry but also cooler. temperature is only 11 degrees. the teams further south. we have this colder air as we move because the end of the week which will filter its way in from the north. by the time it gets a friday still a weather front bringing some heavy rain initially for central and south—eastern parts of england. that intent is away throughout the day so we're into the clearer skies but colder conditions. 0nce coming in from the north. temperature isjust around about 9—110 for most of us north to south, perhaps a little bit milder towards the far south—west. little bit milder towards the farsouth—west. but little bit milder towards the far south—west. but by first thing saturday morning seems

like this— a frosty start, even in our towns of cities temperatures 2—3 first thing saturday. cold and then roller spots will stop into the weekend we have high pressure that will be keeping the weather fronts at bay, at least for a time. lightly dry and settled but without colder in place frosty nights to come. most of us sucking dry with some sunny spells, perhaps a bit more rain in the north—west late in the weekend. you are watching bbc news. days after bbc investigation exposed decades of serious sexual abuse allegations against the former harrods owner mohamed al fayed, earlier today bbc breakfast heard testimonies from survivors.

he was the egyptian billionaire with links to the highest level of british society and he died without the world knowing the truth. such an act i woke up startled and he was there wearing nothing but a cell dressing gown, a smoking jacket type thing. and he tried to get into bed with me. i told him? no, i don't want you to and he proceeded to keep trying to get into the bed at which point he was on top of me. i into the bed at which point he was on top of me.— was on top of me. i really couldn't _ was on top of me. i really couldn't move _ was on top of me. i really couldn't move anywhere, | was on top of me. i really | couldn't move anywhere, i was on top of me. i really - couldn't move anywhere, i was face down on the bed. and he pressed himself on me. he threw himself on _ pressed himself on me. he threw himself on top — pressed himself on me. he threw himself on top of— pressed himself on me. he threw himself on top of me, _ pressed himself on me. he threw himself on top of me, his - pressed himself on me. he threw himself on top of me, his hands i himself on top of me, his hands were _ himself on top of me, his hands were all— himself on top of me, his hands were all over me, i was wearing a dress. — were all over me, i was wearing a dress. he _ were all over me, i was wearing a dress, he was very forceful, i a dress, he was very forceful, i reacted _ a dress, he was very forceful, i reacted and kicked him off, ran down— i reacted and kicked him off, ran down the hallway into my room — ran down the hallway into my room in — ran down the hallway into my room in sheer terror because i did not— room in sheer terror because i did not know what would happen. we will _ did not know what would happen. we will say plainly, mohamed al

fayed was a monster.— fayed was a monster. lawyers for his victim _ fayed was a monster. lawyers for his victim says _ fayed was a monster. lawyers for his victim says this - fayed was a monster. lawyers for his victim says this could . for his victim says this could be the worst case of corporate sexual exploitation of young women in the world ever seen. mohamed al fayed owned harrods between 1985 and 2010, in that time, multiple allegations of rape and sexual assault made but neither police or the crown prosecution service were able to bring a case against him. the course of the cps during some of that time told us he had nothing to do with it. ida. had nothing to do with it. no, it did not _ had nothing to do with it. no, it did not cross _ had nothing to do with it. no, it did not cross my _ had nothing to do with it. iifr, it did not cross my desk. senior officers take decisions in the crown prosecution service, hundreds of thousands of decisions are taken every year. i do not know the details. but certainly, i had nothing to do with it.- nothing to do with it. since the documentary _ nothing to do with it. since the documentary aired, - nothing to do with it. since - the documentary aired, dozens of people have contacted the bbc to share their experiences. among them jessica, not her real name, who told me a manager who still works for

harrods sale to investigate