in a statement hezbollah vowed it would continue to "confront its enemies, support gaza and palestine — and defend the people of lebanon". let's show you these live pictures from beirut and let's show you these live pictures from beirut and you can see that they still think smoke rising over several locations over the south of the capital as air strikes by the israelis continue in several locations today. elsewhere, the israeli military say they are targeting parts of the valley where rockets were fired. a great many people spending the night outside in central beirut and along the seafront. thousands of people leaving their homes, not knowing where

they can safely seek shelter in they can safely seek shelter in the city. official saying that nearly 800 people have now been killed in israeli attacks since monday. that monday is that number is expected to rise. the death of the hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah was first announced by the israeli military and was then confirmed on hezbollah�*s tv channel in lebanon — al manar — here's the presenter announcing the news. translation: we congratulate his eminence the secretary - general of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah. may god have mercy on him for receiving the highest divine honour. the honour of imam hussein, peace be upon him. in achieving the highest level of faith and pure worship.

a martyr on the path ofjerusalem and palestine. in the coming hour we'll be assessing what impact the killing could have on the situation here and across the middle east. but first, our security correspondent, frank gardner, reports on this latest escalation of the conflict between israel and hezbollah. heavy artillery fire. a devastating blow inflicted by israel, hitting the heart of hezbollah�*s command centre in beirut. within hours, the israeli military announced they had eliminated, as they put it, the group's leader. hassan nasrallah had been secretary general of hezbollah for 32 years, overseeing its growth into the world's most heavily armed non—state army.

he was born in lebanon in 1960, growing up in beirut�*s eastern bourj hammoud district. he took over the leadership in 1992 when his predecessor was assassinated by israel. to thousands, maybe millions of shia muslims in lebanon and beyond, he was a hero. to israel, he was a wanted terrorist. armed with up—to—the—minute intelligence, the israeli air force targeted the underground bunker where hezbollah�*s leadership was meeting. this is both a major escalation and a challenge to iran. translation: this is not | the limit of our capabilities. we must be very clear, there are more tools at our disposal and the message is simple — anyone who threatens the state of israel will be reached, whether in the north, the south or even a more distant places. hezbollah�*s power has been seriously weakened by the recent assassinations, the sabotage of its communications and air strikes on its weapon dumps. but it still possesses powerful long—range missiles,

hidden underground. will they now aim these at tel aviv and other cities in revenge? will israel send troops into lebanon to find and destroy them 7 and can hezbollah recover from all these blows? i probably think they will fight on. they'll take a few days to reorganise their command and control that has been utterly destroyed by very good israeli intelligence and incredible tactics, but it's not strategy. hezbollah�*s strategic ally is iran. key to what happens next in the middle east is what ayatollah khamenei decides. iran has been humiliated but can it ill afford a war with israel. frank gardner, bbc news. as you would expect, there has been a lot of international reaction from various leaders particularly those in the middle east region. and the president of iran has said via

state media that the united states cannot deny complicity in the killing of hassan nasrallah. we also learned early in the day that iran force commander was also killed. iranians officials had confirmed earlier that the deputy operations commander of the force was killed. one of the force was killed. one of the branches of the revolutionary guard corps that specialises in intelligence and command. the idf�*s spokesman rear admiral daniel hagari made this statement confirming the death of the hezbollah leader. the leader of the terrorist army, hezbollah, was killed by israel defence forces in a precise strike in beirut last night

while he was in hezbollah central headquarters commanding more imminent attacks against the people of israel. for decades, hezbollah under the command of hassan nasrallah orchestrated countless attacks on innocent people. hassan nasrallah had the blood of thousands of men, women, children on his hands. israeli, jews, jews across the world, lebanese, american, british, french, syrian and other countless victims across the middle east and beyond. the idf spokesperson,. our international editor jeremy bowen had this analysis following that idf statement. first of all, i think there is deep satisfaction on the israeli side that they have done this. they are aware of the importance of nasrallah, notjust to the hezbollah organisation, but to the iranian network,

the so—called axis of resistance in the middle east. after the iranian leader, he was probably the most prominent persons associated with that. but also a warning for israelis to be careful, no big gatherings. that is a pretty unusual statement for them to come up with, saying that this isn't over yet. so clearly expecting some kind of retaliation. clearly, israel's air force is on full alert, and they have been mobilising reservists, because there has been predictions from senior generals of a ground invasion of south lebanon. but i think hezbollah are clearly under so much pressure, and the iranians as well, not wanting a wider war in the middle east.

who knows what they will do. they might decide not to do a great deal for the time being, waiting to see what israel does. perhaps trying to protect the weapons supplies that they still have. or they might decide that the blows that they are a receiving from israel will, if left unanswered, add up for them to a strategic defeat. so lots of difficult questions for them. i think there's almost a year of a traditional border warfare that preceded it was quite predictable, it was following a pattern. there aren't any patterns now. i think israel senses opportunities. i think the americans and western allies who tried to get a ceasefire even up to yesterday, will be actually sensing dangers that the complications that will come from this, the potential dangers are something that they didn't want.

however, i can absolutely guarantee to you that israelis are delighted by what they have done, and they are really proud of this feat of arms that they are at the moment imposing upon lebanon, against the advice of their allies, against the advice of the americans, who actually provided the aircraft and the bombs, but who have pretty much been spectators while this is going on. the americans have said they were not forewarned about the attack. they were supposed to have an arrangement between them called the no surprises deal, were they don't surprise each other. well, israel surprised a lot of people yesterday. bbc verify has been analysing footage of yesterday evening's strikes which are now

known to have killed hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah. read more on the bbc news live page right now. the sheer scale of the explosions last night in southern beirut and there were multiple videos shot and that has allowed abc verify to translate the precise location of that deadly strike. one early clip shows several plumes of smoke rising from a distant location to the north. we couldn't confirm the precise location of that from such a distance but the footage did confirm that the strikes had taken place in a similar area to other israeli strikes over the previous week in southern beirut. that is some of the work that has gone on with our

colleagues in the verified team. earlier, i spoke to former israeli prime minister, ehud olmert. he told her the current israeli operation has been a success. i don't think we need to go with a ground operation in lebanon. hezbollah has suffered a major blow, notjust yesterday but all throughout the last two weeks and if they will continue fighting, they leave us with no option but to continue bombing and destroying their bases and grant positions, their rockets and launchers and many people will be suffering for weeks, regrettably. this is not our purpose or desire. if they certainly have a good reason to want to stop. and we don't have any interest in a ground

operation inside lebanon because what we want to do is provide security for our residents so they will come back home. which i think it is something that the americans and french are trying to accomplish. they are trying to negotiate between us and the lebanese government. i hope they are successful and i hope that hezbollah will not be seduced by the emotions to try and retaliate because any further military confrontation will be... if further military confrontation will be. . . further military confrontation will be... . , further military confrontation will be- - -_ will be... ifi may, sorry to interrupt- _ will be... ifi may, sorry to interrupt. it _ will be... ifi may, sorry to interrupt. it is _ will be... ifi may, sorry to interrupt. it is important i will be... if i may, sorry to - interrupt. it is important when we talk about that ceasefire, mr netanyahu who is not warmly welcomed the suggestion of a ceasefire. he addressed the un general assembly yesterday, he talked about peace and said that israel wants peace and peaceis that israel wants peace and peace is something that you

pursued after the 2006 war. he says israel wants peace and then 90 minutes later launched this huge strike in the suburbs of southern beirut on residential buildings, civilian buildings. they would have been children killed there. that is not the pursuit of peace, he is saying one thing and doing another. ., , , ., ., another. you insist on ignoring the effects _ another. you insist on ignoring the effects on _ another. you insist on ignoring the effects on the _ another. you insist on ignoring the effects on the ground. - another. you insist on ignoring i the effects on the ground. when netanyahu was speaking they were shooting 150 rockets across the state of israel in continuation of what they were doing for a year long operation now against us. the question is not whether we should argue about the precise effects that took place yesterday, and i hope that netanyahu is on his way back and may have cooled down a little bit. and those of

us who need to do the only thing which is reasonable and responsible for the lives of people and to avoid unnecessary victims. they have to stop the shooting, they have to agree to a compromise that will bring security to the north part of israel and allow us to bring back the people living there. and they will abide by the resolution... and they will abide by the resolution. . ._ and they will abide by the resolution... that is correct that hezbollah _ resolution... that is correct that hezbollah have - resolution... that is correct that hezbollah have to - resolution... that is correct l that hezbollah have to agree resolution... that is correct - that hezbollah have to agree to the ceasefire, but mr netanyahu has to agree to the ceasefire, there is no indication that he is going to do that. in the pursuit of this, you will have seen yourself, the images of that damage and destruction yesterday, is it reasonable to target civilians like that, evenif target civilians like that, even if you are trying to get the leader of hezbollah? do you

consider civilian deaths acceptable collateral damage? civilians were not targeted, i'm sorry. i'm not a supporter of the israeli government... there were civilian deaths. please, be patient. we were attacking the bases of hezbollah, all that section of beirut was a base of hezbollah, this is where they were shooting rockets and attacking every part of the state of israel. few go to the north part of the state of israel you will see townships that are completely destroyed because of attacks coming from that area. there was no other way of stopping it but by attacking that which is the base from where they were out making these attacks against israeli civilians for such a long time. i absolutely, i regret every single citizen who is not

involved who became a victim of this unavoidable and inevitable counter offensive that israel had to take in order to stop the fighting of hamas. but the question is are we going to fight about what happens tomorrow or are we going to make an effort to prevent it? what i say is this, stop fighting, stop shooting rockets against israel. the fighting, stop shooting rockets against israel.— against israel. the former israeli prime _ against israel. the former israeli prime minister, - against israel. the former l israeli prime minister, ehud olmert speaking earlier. we have some other pictures to show you, it is a short clip but this is inside the idf command centre as though strikes on lebanon, southern beirut were happening last night. it gives us a different perspective and shows the inside of what was happening as

they were making these decisions and carrying out the strikes in which the leader of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah was killed. a recent update in the last few minutes from the health ministry in lebanon saying that 11 people were killed on friday as a result of those air strikes, 108 people are known to have been injured. in a separate update this afternoon, the ministry set up afternoon, the ministry set up a hotline for cancer patients saying that they are being transferring those who are having radiotherapy. the medical services in beirut are overwhelmed and really needing to reorganise themselves. that is what they will do with cancer patients. there has been a lot of reaction from the international community and leaders in the region. the president of iran has said that the united states must have been complicit in the

strike that took place. the united states say they were given no warning that israel was behind this attack. in iraq, the senior cleric says that he mourns the hezbollah chief, according to the state news agency. there has been other reaction from leaders in the region, in particular the turkish prime minister, he has said that turkey condemns the recent attacks on lebanon and stands with those who have been affected. the people, the government and offers condolences to those killed. the turkish prime minister has called on the un security council to stop israeli attacks on lebanon, gaza and the west bank. he says that lebanon has

become the new target of the israeli policy of genocide, occupation and invasion. let's speak to sami nader, director of the political science institute at stjoseph university of beirut. thank you forjoining us. in your view, thank you forjoining us. in yourview, how thank you forjoining us. in your view, how big a turning point is it that hassan nasrallah has been killed? that is definitely _ nasrallah has been killed? that is definitely the _ nasrallah has been killed? twat is definitely the major important event that happened this century in the middle east. given its impact on the region, on the whole balance of power. because what is at stake here is the uranium project in the region. hassan nasrallah was notjust simply the region. hassan nasrallah was not just simply a the region. hassan nasrallah was notjust simply a leader, he was a key player in this

bridge that iran has been building for a decade across the middle east to link iran to the middle east to link iran to the mediterranean. this project took a major blow, and definitely will impact the whole region, not to mention the impact on lebanon on domestic policy. because hassan nasrallah was the man calling the shots and deciding the war and the country is in the middle of a deep economic crisis. a deep political divide, society that is very fractured and there are concerns, even fears that this incident and this tragic incident and this tragic incident will have repercussions on the lebanese

society. and this definitely as well has an impact because hassan nasrallah played a major role in syria, his troops are still operating in syria. this is what is at stake, the whole architecture of the middle east today. not to mention that the impact of this killing on the ward that is continuing. so, will hezbollah have the capability to continue the war and continue this escalation process? has the ability to go for a full—blown war? the media

states that he doesn't want a full—blown war but he is prepared for it. the question is is hezbollah still prepared for a full—blown war? a lot of questions, a lot of anxiety and fears here in beirut and people are fearing what is coming next. how iran will react, that is the key question. the killing yesterday crossed all the red lines and if iran is to get into the picture, it is now. up to now, iran was able to keep a distance from the conflict, not to fall in what they call the israeli trap. these are important things to observe for the coming days and

actually, what is israel's next move because israel is gaining the momentum, will it continue, as the objectives of those the stated return of the hostages and the return of the residents or other hidden objectives we do not know of? a lot of questions and anxiety and we are in a deep anxiety here in beirut. ,, ., , , beirut. the united states says it didn't know— beirut. the united states says it didn't know what _ beirut. the united states says it didn't know what israel- beirut. the united states says it didn't know what israel was | it didn't know what israel was planning. benjamin netanyahu was at the un when it took place. how inevitable is escalation if the international community is powerless to intervene and get those involved to make different choices? , involved to make different choices?— involved to make different choices? , , ., choices? this will depend on iran. israel—

choices? this will depend on iran. israel is _ choices? this will depend on iran. israel is provoking - choices? this will depend on iran. israel is provoking iran | iran. israel is provoking iran proxy, hezbollah especially after they completed what they called phase one of the war in gaza which amounts to the major bulk of the war. and they could focus on iran and hezbollah. now the ball is in the camp of iran. will it lead israel on this escalation track or without resort to what they call strategic patience? keeping distance from a full—blown war that can to the advantage of mr netanyahu. not to mention that iran's nightmare is the return of donald trump to the command of washington because mr trump has a radically different view to that of the democratic party.

so any escalation here could play to the advantage of donald trump and to the detriment of the democratic administration and its candidate. so there is and its candidate. so there is a lot at stake for a run, especially that we all know the core issue is nuclear. the core of the conflict and there is one more question, if israel will build on this leveraged and shy to drag the us into the mediterranean and middle east to deal with this issue through military means. irate to deal with this issue through military means.— to deal with this issue through military means. we have heard from israel. — military means. we have heard from israel, we _ military means. we have heard from israel, we are _ military means. we have heard from israel, we are not - military means. we have heard from israel, we are not at - military means. we have heard from israel, we are not at warl from israel, we are not at war with the people of lebanon, it is hezbollah that is the

target. how much further is this going to divide the view of hezbollah by those in lebanon because it is a very mixed picture. it lebanon because it is a very mixed picture.— lebanon because it is a very mixed picture. it is true that hezbollah — mixed picture. it is true that hezbollah has _ mixed picture. it is true that hezbollah has a _ mixed picture. it is true that hezbollah has a lot - mixed picture. it is true that hezbollah has a lot of- mixed picture. it is true that| hezbollah has a lot of friends and a huge amount of support but it also has critics and not only in the lebanese society but all over the middle east, especially after they got themselves involved in the war in syria and got sunni muslim blood on his hands as it is said here. and this is why i was saying we do not focus enough on the possibility, and the fear of repercussions and internal drives from this incident yesterday. this will

have a detrimental impact on the current state of lebanon and syria. one major actor, not to say the most important actor on this arena, took a big blow and it future is at stake. director of the critical science institute in beirut. thank you for sharing your insights. thick smoke has been rising over the sudden districts as israel continues air strikes in beirut. nearly 800 people have been killed in israeli attacks since monday, and that number is expected to rise. thousands of people fled their homes in panic and sought shelter in other parts of the city. many families have been staying in marta square from

which hugo pacheco sent this report. plumes of smoke in beirut and an attack that could set the entire middle east ablaze. last night's israeli air strikes, killing one of israel's rate enemies, the powerful hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah, seen here for the last time in a speech last week. nasrallah came to power more than 30 years ago and transformed hezbollah into a major military and political force with the help of its main this supporter, iran. in an assassination that could have unpredictable consequences. translation: of our many i strategies for lebanon we have started to implement them and this strike has been in preparation a long time and was carried out at the right time in a sharp way. and now we are starting to prepare the next moves. i underscore once again we are at high readiness

on all fronts, all forces are organised together. there will be good coordination, very good preparation. israel is indicating its fight against hezbollah will continue and is likely to include a ground incursion into southern lebanon. overnight in beirut, more israeli air strikes and more residents are urged to evacuate. this is martyrs' square in central beirut and hundreds of people spent the night here after fleeing. also a , in a mosque on this side and also tends set up. a lot of people saying they do not know where they will go if israeli air continue. translation: certainly, - in the end, war has not been officialfor anyone. look at these people sleeping in the streets.

ijust want a roof over my head for me and my son, his kids and his wife. they have been searching all morning but found nothing. there were fresh rockets from hezbollah into northern israel this morning. the group has been weakened but is still powerful. it has not yet deployed its most sophisticated missiles, a calculation that could change. hassan nasrallah may have been killed, and this is the potential to spark a regional war. we are running a special programme, coverage of the news hezbollah has now confirmed that its leader hassan nasrallah has been killed in an israeli air strike in lebanon. he had been its leaderfor more than 30 years. israel says the militia group's command centre in the lebanese capital beirut was targeted. israel's military

said nasrallah had