local officials say the number of dead from israeli strikes this week in lebanon has risen to nearly 800 people. i'm helena humphrey, glad you could join me. what stability remained in the middle east amid the israel—hamas war has now been upended by this week's escalation between israel and hezbollah. tonight we'll bring you the scenes from lebanon's capital beirut, where the israeli military has bombed what it says is hezbollah�*s central headquarters there — targeting senior commanders from the group. we'll bring you reaction to the conflict from the united nations, where members are urging all sides to agree to a ceasefire, and from the white house, which says it had no advance

knowledge of friday's israeli air strike in beirut. but first, we can bring you these live pictures from beirut where israeli warplanes have launched new attacks on buildings in the city's south. the israeli military says hezbollah is storing weapons there, a claim hezbollah denies. blasts have been heard in the southern suburbs and residents of three specific blocks were ordered to evacuate. now lebanon's health ministry says the death toll from israel's earlier strike on beirut has risen to six, with 91 wounded. hezbollah�*s leader, hassan nasrallah, was reportedly the target of the attack. neither israel nor hezbollah has formally confirmed his status. israeli air raids on lebanon this week have killed nearly 800 people, according to lebanon's health ministry. we begin our special programme on the conflict tonight with this report from our middle east correspondent hugo bachega in beirut. (explosions) scenes of war in beirut.

hezbollah�*s conflict with israel returning to its stronghold of dahiya, with a series of massive explosions and an escalation with unpredictable consequences. explosion. an attack so powerful that it was seen and heard across the city. lebanon now on the brink of another war. chaos on the streets — and here is what they are running from. dahieh, in southern beirut, now looking like gaza. but amid so much destruction, jubilation. two children rescued from the rubble alive. hezbollah�*s backers, iran, say this strike marks a dangerous game—changing escalation in the conflict.

for israel, it's a strike targeting the heart of hezbollah�*s operations. moments ago, the israel defense forces carried out a precise strike on the central headquarter of the hezbollah terror organisation that serves as the epicentre of hezbollah�*s terror. hezbollah�*s central headquarter was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the dahieh in beirut as part of hezbollah�*s strategy of using lebanese people as human shields. this was apparently the target, one of israel's main enemies. hezbollah�*s long—time and powerful leader, hassan nasrallah, seen here for the last time a week ago. israel says it is still checking whether he was hit and remains alive. hezbollah in iran say reports he is dead are not true.

this is one of the roads leading to dahieh. we tried to get out of the car, but we were stopped by a group of men. there is chaos, there is tension. we've seen crowds gathered by the road with rucksacks and bags, apparently trying to leave dahieh. minutes before the attack, the israeli prime minister finished a speech at the united nations. benjamin netanyahu said his country "wanted peace", but had "no choice" but to fight its enemies. hours later, there was some response from hezbollah, in the way of dozens of rockets on northern israel. one hit this building in the town of safed. for almost a year, there has been concern that something like this could spark a wider regional conflict. tonight, there are two unanswered questions — whether hassan nasrallah is still alive, and if the middle east will be engulfed by war.

hugo bachega, bbc news, beirut. world leaders at the un general assembly in new york have been working to stop an all—out war in the region. the us and france led an effort to broker a 21—day ceasefire between israel and hezbollah. but the effort was cast into doubt when israeli diplomats came out against the proposal. minutes before that initial attack in beirut on friday, the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu gave a defiant speech at the un general assembly in new york. he made no mention of a ceasefire — instead maintaining that israel's offensive against hezbollah in lebanon would continue until its "objectives" were met. i have come here today to say enough is enough. applause . we won't rest until our citizens _ . we won't rest until our citizens can _ . we won't rest until our citizens can return - . we won't rest until our| citizens can return safely . we won't rest until our i citizens can return safely to their homes. we will not accept

a terror army perched on our northern border, able to perpetrate another 7 october style massacre. i have a message further tyrants of tehran. if you strike us, we will strike you. there is no place in iran that the long arm of israel cannot reach. and thatis of israel cannot reach. and that is true of the entire middle east. benjamin netanyahu speaking earlier. you can see there on your screen to view their into beirut, israel says it has carried out further strikes into the south of the lebanese capital, and you can see live images there including of that blaze continuing into the early hours of the morning. the idf says it has been targeting "areas storing weapons", something hezbollah has denied. i've been speaking to danny danon, israeli ambassador to the united nations.

there are reports hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah was the target of the attack, can you confirm that? we are not going to detail of the attack but we can tell you that we targeted the headquarters of hezbollah in beirut, we knew about the meeting that was taking place there, they were bad actors planning bad things against the israeli people. we're waiting anymore, they are plotting to attack us, we will get them first and that is exactly what happened. first and that is exactly what happened-— first and that is exactly what ha ened. ., , happened. you 'ust said there that were— happened. you 'ust said there that we're not — happened. you just said there that we're not waiting - happened. you just said there l that we're not waiting anymore, this appears to be one of largest strikes on beirut in years — is this potentially the beginning of a long war? i years - is this potentially the beginning of a long war? i can tell ou beginning of a long war? i can tell you what _ beginning of a long war? i can tell you what will _ beginning of a long war? i can tell you what will be _ beginning of a long war? i can tell you what will be the - beginning of a long war? i can tell you what will be the end l tell you what will be the end of the process, we want the end of the process, we want the end of the process to see our civilians, 70,000 refugees in israel, going back to their homes and we want to see hezbollah terrorists away from

our... speaks indistinctly. we can either achieve it with diplomacy or we will force hezbollah to move to the north. that is an option.— that is an option. maybe the lebanese — that is an option. maybe the lebanese people _ that is an option. maybe the lebanese people or- that is an option. maybe the lebanese people or the - that is an option. maybe the - lebanese people or the lebanese government will show some courage and will understand that if they want to avoid escalation they should take the initiative and make sure hezbollah is moving away from our fence. hezbollah is moving away from our fence-— our fence. when you say there is the potential— our fence. when you say there is the potential here _ our fence. when you say there is the potential here for - is the potential here for israel to force that, does that mean the possibility of a ground invasion in southern lebanon?— ground invasion in southern lebanon? ., ., , ., lebanon? we have no desire to net into lebanon? we have no desire to get into war- — lebanon? we have no desire to get into war. we _ lebanon? we have no desire to get into war. we were - lebanon? we have no desire to get into war. we were already i get into war. we were already in lebanon many years ago. no—one wants to send his children to fight in lebanon. but the same time there is an obligation for our government to protect our citizens. and since 8 october hezbollah attacked israel without provocation. hassan nasrallah

said attacks came in order to show solidarity with hamas. while we are still counting the bodies of the massacre of 7 october, hezbollah started to launch rockets until today. we have to stop it, so if it will not work with diplomacy it will work with our military capabilities.— work with our military capabilities. work with our military ca abilities. �* ., ,., capabilities. but in doing so, isn't that _ capabilities. but in doing so, isn't that contrary _ capabilities. but in doing so, isn't that contrary to - capabilities. but in doing so, isn't that contrary to the - isn't that contrary to the ceasefire deal that israel has worked on with the united states, that proposal that the united states put forward, isn't that the exact opposite? we welcome negotiations, we welcome the good intention, but as i said earlier, we want to see results, for ii as i said earlier, we want to see results, for 11 months we were very patient, we waited and now it is almost a year since the attacks started from lebanon, we said enough is enough. diplomacy will not work, we want to push hezbollah away from the border and i want to remind you, ijust participated in a security

council debate, after we had a war with hezbollah we achieved an agreement that calls for hezbollah forces to be away from the border and actually part of the lebanese —— called for the lebanese military to be next our border. the lebanese government and military are very weak, and hezbollah is taking advantage of that. i want to touch on what we have seen today, that israel says it takes care to minimise civilian casualties, we have seen today a strike in an area that is a densely populated residential area. what precautions were taken to minimise civilians being killed?— taken to minimise civilians being killed? first i can tell ou that being killed? first i can tell you that we _ being killed? first i can tell you that we regret - being killed? first i can tell you that we regret the - being killed? first i can tell you that we regret the loss | being killed? first i can tell. you that we regret the loss of life of any civilians. hezbollah do the exact opposite. they target israeli civilians and their own civilians and their own civilians in lebanon. but you know, it is challenging because hezbollah think they can hide behind civilians. they think

israel will not retaliate because of that. they were conducting those meetings in basements in the houses of civilians. so that is a challenge. we will get to them wherever they are, and i think we should expect more from the lebanese people. now is the time to call for a change of the policy of the government and to mention what hezbollah is doing. the minister of lebanon will speak shortly here at the security council, i can assure you he will never mention hezbollah, he will condemn israel, and speak a lot about us, but he will ignore the fact that hezbollah is running the show. but the fact that hezbollah is running the show. but let me ask ou running the show. but let me ask you this. _ running the show. but let me ask you this, if _ running the show. but let me ask you this, if you _ running the show. but let me ask you this, if you take - running the show. but let me ask you this, if you take a - ask you this, if you take a look at the death toll in recent days of those people killed in lebanon, around one quarter of those killed in this latest escalation are women and children. is thatjustifiable? children. is that justifiable? i children. is thatjustifiable? i can tell you that we regret the loss of life of civilians,

but we have to do something to stop the attacks against israel. what would the uk do if you had a country sending their records on you, when germany attacked the uk and the uk retaliated against the nazis, there were civilians who were injured unfortunately. when you conduct what that is the price. we need to think how we can avoid the war but once you have avoid the war but once you have a war, civilians are paying the price, both in israel and lebanon. price, both in israel and lebanon-— price, both in israel and lebanon. , ., , ., lebanon. the question is how far will things _ lebanon. the question is how far will things go, _ lebanon. the question is how far will things go, the - lebanon. the question is how far will things go, the un - far will things go, the un secretary general said this week that he is concerned that lebanon could become another gaza. is he right? it is definitely _ gaza. is he right? it is definitely depends - gaza. is he right? it is definitely depends on | gaza. is he right? it is i definitely depends on the position of lebanon and hezbollah. they can stop immediately sending weapons to israel tonight, and then there will be no retaliation. but thatis will be no retaliation. but that is not the case. for 11 months, sending thousands of

rockets, missiles, drones every night. as we speak now there are hundreds of thousands of israelis in bomb shelters because of rockets flying from lebanon into israel. so they can decide to stop the hostility and it will be quiet, but if it is not quite in israel it will not be quiet in lebanon. israel it will not be quiet in lebanon-— israel it will not be quiet in lebanon. , ., ., , ., lebanon. the israeli ambassador to the united _ lebanon. the israeli ambassador to the united nations, _ lebanon. the israeli ambassador to the united nations, danny - to the united nations, danny danon speaking to me earlier. najat saliba is a member of the lebanese parliament, and gave us her reaction to these latest developments. definitely we have six buildings brought down to the ground, they are turned into rubble and those buildings are probably full of people, especially that we have already half a million people displaced from the south, and most of them have families in the dahieh, where this bombing has happened. i think what is happening and what we are witnessing tonight is a continuation of the genocide that started in gaza, and the killing is continuing in the same way, using the same

rhetoric and using the same excuses. there is no excuse to kill people and to really bomb the city the way it happened tonight. i am living in beirut and i have heard every single bomb, i heard the sound of the aeroplanes, and we were all fearfulfor aeroplanes, and we were all fearful for our lives. aeroplanes, and we were all fearfulfor our lives. and aeroplanes, and we were all fearful for our lives. and god help all the families that are now either under the rubble or they have their loved ones over there. i mean, it is really a catastrophe, it's a disaster. joining me live is hussein ibish, senior resident scholar at the arab gulf states institute in washington. i want to begin by asking you about this latest regulation —— escalation and what this means for ordinary people in lebanon. it is a disaster for ordinary people in lebanon. one thing ambassador danon said which is true is hezbollah didn't

consult anyone when it decided to do some cross—border intensification of violence in solidarity with hamas. ever since then, though, israel has beenin since then, though, israel has been in the drivers seat in terms of escalation, it has been pushing the issue. and it has come mainly at the price of lebanese civilians. they are trapped between hezbollah, which is mainly serving iranian interests, and their own narrow interests, and their own narrow interests, on the one hand, and israel which, in spite of what the ambassador said, do not give a damn about any lebanese civilians and is happy to flatten multiple buildings in order to supposedly get a couple of people they thought were worthy of being killed. israel, we should say, says it takes care to minimise civilian casualties. takes care to minimise civilian casualties-— takes care to minimise civilian casualties. obviously not true, if i may point _ casualties. obviously not true, if i may point that _ casualties. obviously not true, if i may point that out. - casualties. obviously not true, if i may point that out. if - if i may point that out. if they were trying to do that they were trying to do that they would notjustify blowing up they would notjustify blowing up huge apartment blocks in order to try to kill political

figures. that is just not, that is something — the laws of war are clear, you don't get to do that. i are clear, you don't get to do that. ., ., _, . ~ ., that. i want to come back to that. i want to come back to that point — that. i want to come back to that point with _ that. i want to come back to that point with regards - that. i want to come back to i that point with regards to what we have seen from hezbollah since 7 october, and from its rocket strikes. tens of thousands of israelis have had to leave their homes in the north. is there a way that israel can manage this while reducing the risk to civilians in lebanon? well, of course. first of all, because for an invasion of lebanon in the israeli cabinet began around 12 october or 13 when minister gallant wanted to invade but was restrained by the biden administration. there was no evacuation then, people have not been evacuated because

of the rocket attacks which have mainly been within a mile of the border and around military targets, they surely there is a risk to those people, no doubt. but that is not the main thing going on here. the principal thing is hezbollah is refusing to stop what for them is basically symbolic attacks, or kind of limited series of actions, trying to protect... speaks indistinctly. risking israel being able to justify this escalation we have seen time and again. i think that israelis are really on the brink of falling into the trap of invading lebanon and trying to create a security barrier in the south, another occupation, which means another open ended counterinsurgency into the future. when the south, one in the north and they may end up with one in the east, in the west bank, it is just crazy. let's touch on the lebanese

side here, the lebanese government. is there a long—term strategy from them which would prevent their people from being at risk? the? people from being at risk? they don't, they _ people from being at risk? they don't, they really... _ people from being at risk? tia: don't, they really... again, ambassador danon was saying it was up to the lebanese, that is silly. the lebanese state is insufficient to deal with hezbollah and this is a chronic problem in lebanon, the lebanese state does not control, does not have a monopoly on violence, is one of the reasons it is a failing state, if not a failed state. and the fact you have this paramilitary organisation with a private army, and a private ability to plunge the nation into war, peace, or do what it wants without consulting the government, is a kind of a cancer at the heart of the lebanese state. but the lebanese state. but the lebanese people and lebanese government does not have the ability to do much about it. and hezbollah acts independently and that is a disaster for independently and that is a disasterfor lebanon, it independently and that is a disaster for lebanon, it has been a disaster for decades and

this current crisis is a perfect example of how dangerous it can be. let perfect example of how dangerous it can be. let me ask ou dangerous it can be. let me ask you lastly. _ dangerous it can be. let me ask you lastly. we — dangerous it can be. let me ask you lastly, we have _ dangerous it can be. let me ask you lastly, we have about - dangerous it can be. let me ask you lastly, we have about 30 . you lastly, we have about 30 seconds, but you spoke about what you said in your words were more symbolic actions than from hezbollah.— were more symbolic actions than from hezbollah.- what . from hezbollah. largely. what does hezbollah _ from hezbollah. largely. what does hezbollah stand - from hezbollah. largely. what does hezbollah stand to - from hezbollah. largely. what does hezbollah stand to gain l does hezbollah stand to gain here? , ., , ., does hezbollah stand to gain here? , .,, ., ,., ., here? the problem for hezbollah was hamas _ here? the problem for hezbollah was hamas demanded _ here? the problem for hezbollah was hamas demanded hezbollah| was hamas demanded hezbollah join them after 7 october, and sort of said rise and shine, it is your time tojoin sort of said rise and shine, it is your time to join the war. hezbollah did not want to do that for obvious reasons, hezbollah's role is to serve as a deterrent against tax on iran and iran's nuclearfacilities, and iran's nuclear facilities, thatis and iran's nuclearfacilities, that is what it is therefore. from iran's network in the arab world, it is not there to fight a war over gaza or hamas. we have two — a war over gaza or hamas. we have two leave _ a war over gaza or hamas. we have two leave it _ a war over gaza or hamas. we have two leave it there for now. , , . ., �* ., now. they felt they couldn't do nothinu. now. they felt they couldn't do nothing. thank _

now. they felt they couldn't do nothing. thank you _ now. they felt they couldn't do nothing. thank you very - now. they felt they couldn't do nothing. thank you very much, hussein ibish. _ presidentjoe biden has been briefed on the strikes by his national security team. the white house said in a statement: the statement went on to say president biden ordered us embassies in the region to take... "protective measures as appropriate." secretary of state, antony blinken described israel's objective in lebanon as important and legitimate — but said the path forward was through diplomacy. the choices that all parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on. with profound consequences for its people now and possibly for years to come. joining us now is former ambassador to lebanon david hale. he also served previously as special envoy for middle east peace.

always good to have you with us, ambassador, thank you for taking the time. if i can begin with getting your assessment to the days events, what we have seenin the days events, what we have seen in beirut today? we the days events, what we have seen in beirut today?— seen in beirut today? we have seen in beirut today? we have seen in beirut today? we have seen in the — seen in beirut today? we have seen in the last _ seen in beirut today? we have seen in the last two _ seen in beirut today? we have seen in the last two weeks - seen in beirut today? we have seen in the last two weeks in l seen in the last two weeks in particular a steady escalation on the part of israel, in my belief anyway, as the gaza operation reaches its end point they are now shifting their attention to the north. defence minister gallant has said as much may have had a of audacious attacks against the amending control infrastructure, captivate up to the very leader of hezbollah, which will put hezbollah on the back foot. what we have seen is the israelis after 7 october have a mindset of never again and they have to face a decision, the israeli cabinet and prime minister, when and whether to send 60,000 civilians, who are elsewhere in the country, back to their homes in the north. they are likely to do that based on an american diplomatic initiative that doesn't so far convince the israelis that it is a path towards returning to terms,

they will take matters into their own hands as we have seen. i their own hands as we have seen. ., ., ., i. ., seen. i want to ask you more about the — seen. i want to ask you more about the conduct _ seen. i want to ask you more about the conduct today - seen. i want to ask you more about the conduct today in i about the conduct today in lebanon, and as a former ambassador, knowing the country, it is widely reported hezbollah has covid bunkers between the suburb of beirut in the south of the city. —— covid. when civilians are asked to get out, do they know they are in proximity of weaponry? i doubt people living in dahieh, everyone knows roughly where hezbollah's locations are. this is an area dominated by hezbollah, the lebanese army itself is unable to move in those areas, it is hezbollah that secures the neighbourhoods. but in no way means we should not mourn and feel terrible about the loss of innocent civilian lives but it is has blood that has put their own people in harm �*s way. by the way they have constructed their facilities.—

their facilities. what we are seeinu their facilities. what we are seeing today _ their facilities. what we are seeing today and _ their facilities. what we are seeing today and the - their facilities. what we are - seeing today and the statement we saw there from the white house talking about assessing the number of troops adjusting if necessary, do you think tonight we are closer to the prospect of concrete us involvement in the middle east? i don't think so. what i heard on your clip was the us officials are saying prudent things that need to be said to protect our embassies, and to protect our embassies, and to protect our embassies, and to protect our military personnel who had deployed in the field. as part of a deterrent strategy to make sure israel is defended against any attacks. most of these assets are designed to help with their protection of the airspace being protected around israel. the united states has not involved itself directly in a ground war or conflict in lebanon since the horrible years of the 1982—84 period and is unlikely to do so again. period and is unlikely to do so aaain. , ., , ., again. the question is are we reachin: again. the question is are we reaching what _ again. the question is are we reaching what could - again. the question is are we reaching what could be - again. the question is are we reaching what could be an - reaching what could be an inflection point here, when we know the united states has said it will come to the defence of

israel, as you say israel does not seem to want to go down that path, of a diplomatic solution here, so what is the other way out?— other way out? no-one has offered a — other way out? no-one has offered a diplomatic- other way out? no-one hasl offered a diplomatic solution that has convinced them that is a path to destroying —— restoring deterrence. i think israelis are taking matters into their own hands and taking strides in that direction, potentially killing one of the most notorious terrorist leaders of our lifetime. this is in a difficult way, deterrence is restored. if you want in the long run to restore peace and stability some of this will be very painful to watch. , �* , watch. president biden is cognizant _ watch. president biden is cognizant of _ watch. president biden is cognizant of the - watch. president biden is cognizant of the fact - watch. president biden is cognizant of the fact he l watch. president biden is| cognizant of the fact he is watch. president biden is i cognizant of the fact he is in his last few months in office, will he realistically wants to leave office knowing that potentially the region, briefly if you don't mind, could be sitting in an all—out war? that sitting in an all-out war? that is a problem _ sitting in an all-out war? that is a problem in _ sitting in an all-out war? that is a problem in the _ sitting in an all—out war? “trust is a problem in the twilight years of any administration, their influence begins to evaporate and they have had a year and their efforts so far

have not — they have had difficulty demonstrating relevance for their diplomacy. and i think that is where we are. but we will face, frankly, after november, decision making by a new administration on how they want to tackle the issue of iran. �* , ., they want to tackle the issue ofiran.�* , ., they want to tackle the issue ofiran. �* , ., ., of iran. ambassador david hale, thank ou of iran. ambassador david hale, thank you very _ of iran. ambassador david hale, thank you very much _ of iran. ambassador david hale, thank you very much for - of iran. ambassador david hale, thank you very much for being i thank you very much for being with us. and you can see there strikes that have continued throughout the night there in lebanon. you are watching bbc news, we will have more for you at the top of the hour. join us thenif at the top of the hour. join us then if you can. hello. on friday, we had some furtherflooding problems, causing disruption on some of our road and railway networks, particularly focused around parts of the midlands. this was how one of our flood—hit communities in warwickshire looked like, and we still have a number of flood warnings currently in force — again, tightly clustered around the midlands. and of course, it's here where we've seen extreme

rainfall so far this month. the wettest place in woburn, bedfordshire, we've had overfour times the september average rainfall, well over three times the average rainfall in oxfordshire, and that's what's caused the flooding issues. now, we have something of a quieter window of weather into saturday. chilly north—westerly winds with us, yes, and a few showers draped around our coastal fringes. many inland areas, dry, clear and cold. yes, heading into the first part of saturday morning, in the countryside, temperatures well down into single figures, cold enough for a nip of frost into parts of scotland and northern england. so saturday, a very cold start to the day for september, but plenty of sunshine for most. the exception is scotland, where weak weather fronts will move in, bringing some thicker cloud and a few patches of light rain. and although there could be an odd shower for northern ireland, the northwest of both england and wales should be mostly dry here. and certainly fine for southern parts of wales, southern england, the midlands and eastern england. lots of sunshine, but it will be another chilly day for this time of the year. sunday, second half

of the weekend is dominated by this next area of low pressure. it's going to be another cold morning, plenty of morning sunshine, but then it turns cloudier from the southwest. the winds start to pick up and it becomes very windy for wales and southwest england — gusts here reaching around 50 or 60 miles an hour. through the afternoon, eventually, we'll start to see some rain getting into northern ireland, wales and western areas of england, leaving the north and east of the uk dry, that's when we'll see some of that rain falling on our flood—hit communities. one thing i would say is the rain isn't going to be as extreme as it has been, but clearly any extra rain is probably not going to be too helpful. a wet and windy day, then, for most of us on monday, and it will continue to be cool for the time of year — temperatures from around 12 in edinburgh to about 16 in london. heading, then, into the first part of october — yeah, where has this year gone? — it looks like it should be dry but on the chilly side. bye for now.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

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