a statement through a put out a statement through a semi—official news agency. he talked about the strength of the hezbollah organisation. but what he didn't do was address the fate of hassan nasrallah, this totemic figure, this man involved in the inception of the hezbollah organisation, who is revered among his supporters. but of course among many other people and the region, in countries like syria, we saw some images on social media people in syria celebrating his possible death. certainly in israel he was a key target for them. what they say they're trying to do with this current military operation is push hezbollah away from the northern border of israel to that area north of the river,

which after 2006 was designed to provide a buffer zone. israel say they want to bring that back so that residents in the north of israel can return to their homes, around 100,000 orso to their homes, around 100,000 or so of them were evacuated in the days after october 7, when filing started to come across the borderfrom lebanon into israel. we are following this developing story for you and really trying to work out what exactly has happened. we know what we have seen, we have seen those pictures of destruction, we saw the pictures of the significant main strike last night that israel said it targeted the headquarters of hezbollah. and also this air strikes that continued to come through the night until the early hours of this morning, and more againjust in early hours of this morning, and more again just in the last few hours. some breaking news

just coming to me now. it looks like we do now have that statement from hezbollah confirming the death of hassan nasrallah. bearwith confirming the death of hassan nasrallah. bear with me, confirming the death of hassan nasrallah. bearwith me, i'm just looking at this as it is coming injust now. this looks like it is a statement on telegram that has come from hezbollah, confirming that hassan nasrallah has been killed. that is the latest that we are hearing from then as we said, the israeli defense forces said this morning, that they had killed hassan nasrallah but we are hearing now from hezbollah, confirmation from hezbollah. they are saying that hassan nasrallah, a significant moment, they say, was killed in that air strike here in southern beirut last night. thank you very much for that. we are just

thank you very much for that. we arejust digesting thank you very much for that. we are just digesting that the latest breaking news from anna there. wejust latest breaking news from anna there. we just want to recap what we are hearing. this is for the reuters news agency, a significant development. lebanon's hezbollah says its leader has it been killed in a statement. they say that the group will continue its hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah has been killed. now just hearing a newsflash from a news agency repeating the same information. we have been waiting a couple of hours from any confirmation from hezbollah or from any confirmation from hezbollah orfrom iran and it seems any confirmation from hezbollah or from iran and it seems that we have it. let's cross back to a knight who still live for us in beirut. so we have got confirmation from hezbollah�*s

point of view. what does this mean? it point of view. what does this mean? , . , mean? it is a hugely significant _ mean? it is a hugely significant moment, | mean? it is a hugely - significant moment, lewis, as we've been reflecting all morning. this is what israel said several hours ago. they said several hours ago. they said that they had very precise and clear intelligence that hassan nasrallah had been killed. we were really waiting for that confirmation from hezbollah themselves and it is nearly 2a hours now says that strike, but they have released this statement. they say, his brother, that their battle against israel will continue but the significance of this moment is huge on several fronts —— —— hezbollah. 0ne moment is huge on several fronts —— —— hezbollah. one is the actual organisation itself. it is interesting yesterday evening in the first three hours after this strike, some of the rhetoric coming from iran. they started talking about the fact that every leader and organisation had people ready to take over. i think that was the first hint that hassan nasrallah may have been killed. there is talk

about the strength of the organisation but again, he was involved right from the start. he was involved in the inception of hezbollah. it is his face that is on the post is that you see in the hezbollah�*s strongholds. it is his voice that delivers two speeches regularly. he is very much the figurehead of that organisation. we have been talking about several of the top commanders who have also been killed in israeli strikes over the last three days but none of them has the name or face recognition of her son nasrallah. it will have —— hassan nasrallah. it will have an impact on the organisation. it is a prescribed terrorist organisation, it is important to remember among various governments around the world but also political party here lebanon. it will be interesting to see the impact it has on hezbollah but also it is of potential responsibility he is a significant figure in the middle east and that axis of resistance. it is raining assets —— access of this

distance that brings in hamas, —— hezbollah houthis in syria. bearin —— hezbollah houthis in syria. bear in mind is my honey he was is my honey he was bear in mind is my honey he was a significant figure in hamas, a significant figure in hamas, he was their political leader, he was their political leader, he was their political leader, he was their political leader, he was their political leader, he was their political leader, he was one of the top two along he was one of the top two along with another leader, he was with another leader, he was also killed and it's run did also killed and it's run did not claim a strike, he was not claim a strike, he was killed and there has not be killed and there has not be what you would describe as a what you would describe as a significant response to dutch. significant response to dutch. what would be happening in tay what would be happening in tay run is that they will be taken run is that they will be taken as stock and they will be as stock and they will be considering what they want to considering what they want to do and say in response to what do and say in response to what you were saying a very you were saying a very significant moment. this large significant moment. this large strike, which we saw and heard strike, which we saw and heard in the southern suburbs of in the southern suburbs of beirut last night, which we beirut last night, which we know has now killed the leader know has now killed the leader of hezbollah hassan nasrallah. of hezbollah hassan nasrallah. ijust of hezbollah hassan nasrallah. i just want to bring you just a ijust of hezbollah hassan nasrallah. i just want to bring you just a

couple of lines from that couple of lines from that statement. this is released by hezbollah. the talk about hassan nasrallah in their words, moving, he has moved to the side of the lord and do his pleasure, is a great amount out, a heroic, brave, insightful and fatal leader. they say that he has joint is great immortal matter, as his party led for 30 years. it was a talk about the continuation of hezbollah and of hezbollah�*s mission and they say to support a geyser and palestine, to defend lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people. it is a long statement and that is just a favour of it. that is very much hezbollah's mission of hassan nasrallah. 0f hezbollah's mission of hassan nasrallah. of course, in many parts of the region, in syria, for example, his death will be celebrated and certainly, in

israel, they wanted it to remove him as the leader of hezbollah because, they have been of course this herb —— man hezbollah strikes coming across the borderfrom israel —— back into israel. they wanted to move israelis back into the northern part of the country. they were said to see this as a victory for israel, something that will strengthen israeli security and they will see it as a very successful military mission. just confirming that news that we have been talking about and waiting for the last three hours. hezbollah have now confirmed the death of their leader hassan nasrallah after that strike ye in babies last night. that strike ye in babies last niuht. �* . ~' ,, , night. anna, i think you very much for _ night. anna, i think you very much for that _ night. anna, i think you very much for that in _ night. anna, i think you very much for that in the - night. anna, i think you very l much for that in the moment. night. anna, i think you very - much for that in the moment. -- matt after— much for that in the moment. » matt after that strike in beirut last night. we matt after that strike in beirut last night. matt after that strike in beirut last niuht. ~ ., , beirut last night. we have been live in is ralph _ beirut last night. we have been live in is ralph -- _ beirut last night. we have been live in is ralph -- in _ beirut last night. we have been live in is ralph -- in lebanon. | live in is ralph —— in lebanon. this one to bring you back up today to the regulated that we

know. if you are justjoin today to the regulated that we know. if you arejustjoin in, we are continuing special coverage following the news that israel that it has killed the leader of hezbollah hassan nasrallah in an overnight strike on the capital, beirut

hassan nasrallah. 0ur correspondent is live for us in beirut. just talk us through now that we have this confirmation from hezbollah, that he has been killed, just talk us through the implications now. talk us through the im - lications now. ~ ., implications now. well, now, it's clear. _ congratulating in its statement its supporters an— implications now. well, now, it's clear. _ implications now. well, now, it's clear, hassan _ implications now. well, now, it's clear, hassan nasrallah, | implications now. well, now, it's clear, hassan _ implications now. well, now, it's clear, hassan nasrallah, | it's clear, hassan nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah has it's clear, hassan nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah has been killed. everyone was been killed. everyone was waiting for an official waiting for an official statement by the group because statement by the group because until then, until then, statement by the group because untilthen, media statement by the group because statement by the group because untilthen, media statement by the group because until then, media was awaiting until then, media was awaiting for confirmation and you would for confirmation and you would not be able to be sure despite not be able to be sure despite that israeli army and french that israeli army and french foreign ministry and those that foreign ministry and those that they have confirmation that he they have confirmation that he was killed. but now, it is was killed. but now, it is clear that the group itself clear that the group itself saysin clear that the group itself saysin clear that the group itself says in a statement and says in a statement and congratulating in its statement congratulating in its statement its supporters and its supporters and promising

that they will continue. the mood here is very different. i can't really describe, is it a pleasant mood? is it a shock to me to? probably a mix of all of them —— is it a tense mood? they fled from some

under mr hassan nasrallah. some people, even at lebanese media, were insinuating that they think that the next target will be the leader of hezbollah but i think many did not expect that it will be this scene. so, everyone is surprised to hear this. ~ , ., , , everyone is surprised to hear this. , , ., this. why does this mean in terms of — this. why does this mean in terms of the _ this. why does this mean in terms of the organisation. l terms of the organisation. clearly, the assertion will be from the israeli perspective that the organisation will be significantly weakened without is leader of three decades or so —— the assumptions will be from the israeli perspective. would that be the case where you are? would that be the case where ou are? �* ., , you are? before his assassination, - you are? before his assassination, he . you are? before his - assassination, he appeared you are? before his _ assassination, he appeared on the camera talking to me its people, nissan has roller, right after pager —— hassan nasrallah right after pager

explosions that left many injured. he said that this was a very... it was a strong attack and blow it to hezbollah and he himself said that a week ago and right after that, we had a series of assassinations. at least, 16 commandos were killed in one building from hezbollah right after these pager attacks —— mag 16 commanders. if you have a look to the chart, he was the top and everyone under him was already killed. hezbollah itself is a very laid organisation. they always have commanders ready to take and step in, and take their responsibility but now, we are talking about the leader of the group. the people, the name

that we had and we had from hezbollah sources before that if something happened to hassan nasrallah, who will replace him? it seems that those people also have probably been killed. so it is very —— it is a very vague situation. i think that even the organises it —— but the organisation itself doesn't know what is next. he the organisation itself doesn't know what is next.— know what is next. he very clears -- — know what is next. he very clears -- clearly _ know what is next. he very clears -- clearly laid - know what is next. he very clears -- clearly laid out i know what is next. he very l clears -- clearly laid out the clears —— clearly laid out the significance of this moment. of the sea, we don't know and they may not even know what their response may be. we're not going to speculate or guess. but what i do want to think about for the moment is what kind of options are open to it had been of a response and what are the kind of calculations and who, for example, will be involved in that? how much will it invite —— iran be involved in any response? i it invite -- iran be involved in any response?— it invite -- iran be involved in any response? i think iran itself a shot _ in any response? i think iran itself a shot at _ in any response? i think iran itself a shot at the _ in any response? i think iran itself a shot at the moment. j in any response? i think iran l itself a shot at the moment. it is not clear what their

reaction will be. there supreme leader denounced the attacks on lebanon and declared support for hezbollah but here, the feeling is that even some hezbollah supporters that iran left them alone. this is the feeling that some people have. those displaced from the south, from here, they think that iran did not sue enough while on the other hand, there are some that believe that iran will come and reorganise its allied group in lebanon. it is the strongest allied group or some call it, proxy in the region, hezbollah was the most organised group and most elite organised and heavily armed group supported by iran in the region. so

again, it is very difficult, it is very difficult to analyse what is happening right now. because, we don't know —— like we don't know what stance iran were to take because it is also in negotiation for its own nuclear deal with the west and they want to de—escalate. that was clear in the message that iran's new president said in the un assembly during his speech and also, during several interviews that he did in new york. you clearly kept repeating that they don't want war, they wanted the escalation. —— they did not match the explanation —— excel escalation. match the explanation -- excel escalation-— escalation. just talk about what's happened - escalation. just talk about what's happened here. . escalation. just talk about| what's happened here. six o'clock yesterday evening, friday evening, we started to

see those strikes from israel into lebanon, into bravery region and you can see that area out there in a red where the targeted strikes took place. now, at that point overnight, the reporting was that hassan nasrallah had been specifically targeted by israel. we had no confirmation that he had been hit, whether he was dead or alive and then, this morning, the idf, israel's military said that they had killed him in those strikes. and then, in the last 30 minutes or so, we had confirmation from hezbollah that its chief hassan nasrallah had indeed been killed in those strikes. so now, we have that confirmation, those bigger wider questions about the region, regionalspeed region, regional speed stability, any region, regionalspeed stability, any potential response and the involvement of international countries like iran or come to the forefront.

we are going to try to get to the bottom of some of this now. we're to talk to an associate professor of international relations at ucl. thank you for coming on the programme. now that we have confirmation on both sides from israel and from hezbollah that he has been killed, what is your reaction to that, the significance of it? �* , ., , , to that, the significance of it? . ,, it? as we have missed saying all morning. _ it? as we have missed saying all morning, this _ it? as we have missed saying all morning, this is _ it? as we have missed saying all morning, this is a - it? as we have missed saying all morning, this is a massive blow for hezbollah for iran's access of resistance and for the region. hassan nasrallah led hezbollah for over 30 years and made is the political and military pie house that it is. not only 11 aren't but a larger region —— but it made if the military powerhouse that it is. not only around lebanon but the larger reading. in terms of the operation that we have seen over the last several weeks, i would say that israel has

carried out these kinds of assassinations before on, for example, on hassan nasrallah's predecessor of hezbollah and hamas and other groups. most of these goods are able to keep going. there are still other people in the ranks who are able to keep going. even though that this is a huge hit for hezbollah, i don't think it will be their downfall and if anything, i imagine that this will spark a retaliation from hezbollah and iran i think that is what we are all looking at are trying to ascertain right now. if are trying to ascertain right now. . , are trying to ascertain right now. ., , y ., now. if that is your assessment. - now. if that is your assessment. took| now. if that is your - assessment. took us to now. if that is your _ assessment. took us to watch anything that looks like. what are some of the options? i think they are two main options. 0ne think they are two main options. one is for hezbollah itself to take direct actions against israel. right now, the hits that we have seen it hezbollah to end israel said to be very large scale but they have not used their most significant rep and we are yet to be very large scale but they have not used their most significant rep and we are yet

to. they do israel as deep as tel aviv and jerusalem and have not ruled that out yet. i think that would be one option to shift to those more sophisticated parts of their arsenal. the second option is of course, with iran itself and as we have had throughout the week, iran has seemingly been shown over this last year and do not seem to want a direct conflict and this simply force there had to have their primary if it in the region damaged in this way. i think it is going to be hard for them to ignore icy pressure will be on them to retaliate and respond in some way well —— it will be high for them to ignore this pressure. can you stay right there? i am going to come straight back to you in a moment to but have just been sent in some pictures. this is apparently released by the idf footage from the command centre at the operation to kill hassan

nasrallah is under way. —— as the operation to kill hassan nasrallah is under way. these pictures, these are not bbc pictures, these are not bbc pictures, these are not bbc pictures, these have been released by the idf appearing to show a command centre during the operation to kill hassan nasrallah. don't think we have any sound or anything to go with those pictures, but i am seeing those just as you are for the first time and just wanted to show them straightaway. ijust have one break line from the reuters news agency saying is palestinian group hamas are saying in a statement, it mourned the death of lebron on's hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah on saturday. we now have a response from the reuters news agency from hamas to events and we have just had from the israeli military there

in the command centre and they say is the moment the operation was taking place to kill d has been let's go back to doctor julie norman. thank you very much for standing by for us therejust as we much for standing by for us there just as we are getting those pictures into the building. just want to be cleared —— kid that they were not —— make clear that they were not filled by the bbc. now, where does iran sit, what other conclusion be made there now? ., ., , ., other conclusion be made there now? ., ., ., now? iran does have a new president _ now? iran does have a new president and _ now? iran does have a new president and has - now? iran does have a new president and has been - now? iran does have a new| president and has been said now? iran does have a new - president and has been said he was at the un general assembly this week. his messaging there and prior has been leading towards a more open approach she was the west. sanctions on iran are done, maybe broker some kind of arrangement around a nuclear deal. we have been seen a more open hand approach from iran to date and i would say that it was read in other ways as well. they did not respond to the assassination of

hemp will hamas leader of ismail haniyeh. this is going to put a press —— ismaiel haniyeh. this is going to put pressure on them as well. you had a complex governance and framework that even the president does not always make the final call. there is going to be pressure from many within iran's government structure. it would be very difficult, i think to maintain the reputation of the axes of visitors if it takes a blade like this without some kind of response. —— axis of resistance. response. -- axis of resistance.— response. -- axis of resistance. ~ ., ., resistance. we have looked at this from _ resistance. we have looked at this from the _ resistance. we have looked at this from the hezbollah - this from the hezbollah perspective. let's look at this from the israeli perspective. when you think this leaves them today? when you think this leaves them toda ? , ., , ., , when you think this leaves them toda ? , .,, ., 4' today? this losing was to kind ofto today? this losing was to kind of to calculate _ today? this losing was to kind of to calculate it _ today? this losing was to kind of to calculate it with - today? this losing was to kind of to calculate it with this. - of to calculate it with this. one, they obviously rack it it 0ne, they obviously rack it it is up to a very high level with

this strategy of potentially escalated to de—escalate. can we put so much pressure on hezbollah that the due agreed to a deal to move back behind the river and keep that buffer zone between northern israel in southern lebanon on a free of rockets and attacks and whatnot. i don't think that is very likely an ice so, i think the other option for israel is again to prepare further operations which as we have been discussing, which could include a ground operation. i think israel has carried out his operation, carried out the strike to see how hezbollah will respond if hezbollah gives operations going, israel will as well. . ~ operations going, israel will as well. ., ~ , ., ., operations going, israel will aswell. ., ., as well. thank you for coming on the programme, _ as well. thank you for coming on the programme, giving - as well. thank you for coming on the programme, giving us| on the programme, giving us your analysis on what has played out over the last couple of hours. just to market your card, we are waiting

potentially for an update from israeli authorities. we are waiting for a press conference. there are the flags there as you can see, the electing set and the microphones there. as and the microphones there. as and when anyone appears, in front of this micro phrase, we will head straight there to tel aviv for that briefing —— back in front of the microphones. a. of course, we have plenty of continuing coverage here on bbc news. you stay with us. this is bbc news. —— do stay with us here on bbc news. hello. some welcome dry weather for much of this weekend in areas hit badly by floods through the past week, but there is more rain to come. 0ur rainfall forecast chart showing the amounts between now and tuesday, shows that whilst scotland is dry across england

and wales, mainly from later sunday onwards, we could widely see around 20 to 30mm darker spots. the ground is saturated that we exasperate existing flooding issue. this is a fine dry weather three today. it is going to continue with a better sunshine and it will be towards the middle and southern and eastern england elsewhere a bit more clout than the north and west but a few showers, most of the rain for north of scotland. their chilly rain after that cold start, 11 to 1a or 15 degrees. clear skies, central northern and eastern parts with light winds. going to turn quite chilly once again. temperatures so you are covering out west. that is because we have got to

this new area of low pressure working his way into the increasing breeze from the south was about of high pressure, short lived and starts to ebb away into the new continent. so this does a fine, with some early sunshine but it will fade with the best of sunshine for the northern half of scotland, telling cloud are windier and wetter the further south and west that you are as is area of low pressure moves in for them a couple of yellow warnings for rain and wind here. denbighshire wise, mid scenes in the south and low to mid—teens further north. sunday night, we see the wind and rain entries across england and wales to what is south and west and that rain could be heavy and that rain could be heavy and like i mentioned, could exasperate that exacerbate flooding issue. monday, it will become very slow moving and a bit of a? to the north and south that of the rain. at the moment, it like is angular, up into southern scotland which you can see the heavies of the rent again. that could cause issues are been a while. such an across the south. a 17 or 18

degrees. the rain plays away, gradually on tuesday and wednesday, high—pressure bills into and should turn fine and settled. —— high—pressure builds.

central headquarters, this is bbc news, i'm lewis vaughanjones. welcome to our special coverage — and the breaking news that in the last half hour, hezbollah has released a statement confirming that the group's leader, hassan nasrallah, has been killed. it follows a massive israeli air strike, on friday, on the lebanese capital, beirut. israel had earlier said it had killed nasrallah in a "targeted

strike" on the militant group's