there has been a lot of reaction, as you would expect, if the last few hours since we got come in the early afternoon in lebanon, the confirmation from hess itself that hassan nasrallah had been killed in what was a huge air strike last night here in the lebanese capital. we saw and heard the plume of smoke, we heard the repeated loud blast echoing across all the buildings you can see around me. we needed to mate over 12 hours for the confirmation —— we needed to wait over 12 hours for the confirmation. it was more a matter of waiting for hezbollah itself to make the confirmation before it became a 100% guaranteed report. it is a pivotal moment notjust for the conflict but for the wider middle east, the repercussions of what has happened here will

have an impact notjust on the continued fighting between israel and lebanon, continued fighting between israeland lebanon, but continued fighting between israel and lebanon, but also on the wider part of the region as well. now, strikes have continued to date here in beirut. i want to show you the strikes that have been going on in lebanon. officials here say that nearly 800 people have now been killed since monday, and that particular attacker was describing to you that killed hassan nasrallah took place here in beirut. you can see the proximity of this to the southern suburbs of the city, i hezbollah strongholds. this is a blow to that group but also to its main backer and finance, iran. already, we are waiting to see how iranians proxies, and there are various of them across the region, we are talking about iranians backed militia groups in iraq and syria, and the houthis in

yemen, and of course, hamas in gaza, who are waiting to see what the response may be. ata at a grassroots response on the streets of beirut, who sought hassan nasrallah leading the hezbollah organisation. he was there at the inception, he was a figurehead of the grid, and you have seen emotion on the street here as well for people today who have only ever known him as this important figure in their lives. they are hezbollah supporters or living in one of those areas. it has been a fast moving day, and our senior international correspondent orla guerin has been following the developments. this is what beirut endured overnight — massive israeli strikes that could ignite the whole region. by day, confirmation from hezbollah that

its long—time leader, sheikh hassan nasrallah, had been killed. for his followers, it's a devastating loss. israel gave this account of killing its old enemy. hassan nasrallah, the leader of the terrorist army hezbollah, was killed by israel defense forces in a precise strike in beirut last night while he was in hezbollah�*s central headquarters commanding more imminent attacks against the people of israel. it's people here who are fleeing today, some heading to the north or the east, clinging to the hope that they'll find safety, even as ambulances rush in for new wounded. we travelled through dahieh, the hezbollah stronghold now looking anything but. the hezbollah stronghold now

it's been bombed time after time. this is just one of the locations that has been hit. there's smoke still rising here, there's ash in the air, and you can smell the explosives, and i can hear a drone now overhead. the strike here happened overnight, and since then, there has been no let—up. in beirut�*s martyrs�* square, many slept in the open, and remained there today, new homeless from the middle east's newest war. the governor of beirut fears for his city. what do you think is the israeli plan here? what are they trying to do? i don't know, but israel want to kill and to kill and to kill. you cannot predict what israel can do. but you fear the worst? may god protect this country. it seems a very sad moment for you. it's the saddest

moment in my life. thank you. and a moment of grave danger for more than hezbollah. no—one can be sure what will come next. orla guerin, bbc news, beirut. hassan nasrallah was a key target for israel and had been for many years, notjust in the last year since the cross—border attacks began on the 8th of october, the day of course after those devastating attacks on the 7th of october in southern israel. he has been a focal point of israel for a long time. he commanded the organisation for more than three decades. we know that a lot of specific israeli intelligence went into the mission. to give you a bit of context, israel said that

hezbollah�*s command centre, the headquarters of a targeted, was buried deep underneath a building in a dahieh in the southern suburbs of beirut. hassan nasrallah had not been seenin hassan nasrallah had not been seen in public for years because of fears of being assassinated by israel. when he made speeches it was always in secret because of fear of disclosing his location. he made speeches from video links. for years he wasn't present in front of a crowd. because... such was the rhetorical price put on his head. the fact israel managed to target and kill him in this very large operation which also of course happened in a civilian area, has been a match mack: uefa champion's league — man city v sevilla — 2nd novemeber 2022 stronghold but a civilian area with residential buildings where families and children were living, israel has talked today about what a significant success that was for them. our security correspondent frank

gardner looks now at a man who is one of the most well—known and influential in the middle east. hassan nasrallah, a towering figure in the violent world of middle east militias, a hero to many lebanese shia, to israel and other some western countries, a leading terrorist. his assassination by israel is hugely significant. it removes at a stroke a key figure in iran so—called axis of resistance against israel. hassan nasrallah had been secretary general of hezbollah for 32 years, overseeing its growth into the world's most heavily armed non—state army and a political party. he was born in lebanon in beirut�*s eastern district. he took over the leadership in 1992 when his predecessor was assassinated by israel.

armed with up—to—the—minute intelligence, the israeli air force targeted the underground bunker where has won bunker where hezbollah�*s leadership was meeting. this is both a major escalation and a challenge to iran. hezbollah�*s power has been seriously weakened by the recent assassinations, the sabotage miscommunications, and air strikes on its weapons dumps. it still possesses powerful long—range missiles hidden underground. will they now aim these are tel aviv and other cities in revenge? will israel send troops into lebanon to find and destroy them ? and can hezbollah recover from all of these blows? hezbollah�*s strategic allies iran, keyed what happens 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 it can ill afford a war with israel. frank gardner, bbc news. our international editor, jeremy bowen, is injerusalem with this assessment of what is next for hezbollah. hezbollah has to

decide what it does. they have to reconstitute their command structure. they've lost all their top leaders, pretty much, as well as nasrallah. they have to try and find how they communicate with each other, and they have to decide what they do with the rest of their arsenal. and it seems pretty clear that they still have some very potent weapons, some of which are hidden away in mountains and in tunnels. so what do they do? the way that wars might spread or war might spread in the region depends on the responses of the parties involved in it. and if, for example, for example, hezbollah decided that they needed to use their weapons because they might lose them, then a fiercer onslaught on israel killing civilians perhaps might respond, israel might respond with a much even stronger response. back now, the israelis themselves have been talking about perhaps a ground invasion of southern lebanon. that, too, would be yet another escalatory steps. and there's also the

issue about what iran, hezbollah�*s backer, would do. they have shown they don't want a wider war in the middle east, but perhaps they're looking at the pressure now that they, are under and thinking that if they don't respond more fiercely, then not only will they lose some of the allegiance of their allies and clients, but also it might amount to a strategic defeat of sorts for them. jeremy bowen reflecting on the responses and reactions that might be over the next few hours and days. in the last hour, we've been hearing from president biden. he made comments about that israeli air strike that happened last night and the death of hassan nasrallah. let's speak tojenny kumah in washington. tell us first of all what president biden has had to say.

yes, in the last hour or so, we have had a statement from joe biden saying that the death of hassan nasrallah is a measure ofjustice hassan nasrallah is a measure of justice there's hassan nasrallah is a measure ofjustice there's many victims. he points to the hundreds of american victims and victims of other nationalities that he says have died as a result of the regime. and he reiterates that the usa is really supportive of israel's right to defend itself. it also says that he has ordered a bolstering of defensive posture of us military forces in the middle east region to act as a deterrent against further escalation from iran, and he has reiterated the need for a diplomatic solution. find has reiterated the need for a diplomatic solution. and what wider significance _ diplomatic solution. and what wider significance can - diplomatic solution. and what wider significance can we - wider significance can we attach to those remarks from president biden?—

attach to those remarks from president biden? well, these remarks are _ president biden? well, these remarks are pretty _ president biden? well, these remarks are pretty much - remarks are pretty much consistent with the message we have had from president biden�*s administration for months now, for the last year, where the us has reiterated its support, often called for israel to be mindful and to avoid civilian deaths. and also, called for a ceasefire and hostage deal. there is a sense of growing tension in the white house, and frustration with this latest strike. president biden said yesterday that the usa didn't know that it was going to happen. and it has happened in a week when the un appealed for a week when the un appealed for a 21 day ceasefire, and in his remarks today, president biden did not make any reference to that. it also... we learned

that. it also... we learned that prime minister netanyahu ordered this strike moments before he appeared... before the un general assembly in new york. so, a number of issues there that has perhaps led to a sense of the us feeling that their request for israel to act in a certain way, not necessarily being adhered to or listened to.— listened to. thank you, that is our correspondent _ listened to. thank you, that is our correspondent in - our correspondent in washington. there will be an election in the usa in the next few weeks, and byjanuary election in the usa in the next few weeks, and by january there will of course be a new president in place, be it, harass or donald trump. nobody knows just yet. what will be interesting is what us policy to israel will be in the future. —— be it kamala harris

or donald trump. it is an issue as well in the election campaign. the us reaction will be interesting to track over the next few months as well as a regional response. we have been talking about that here in the middle east. it is a huge development. we have been talking over the last week or so about this continuing escalation began with those exploding pager and walkie—talkie attacks on hezbollah members in lebanon. we then had israeli air strikes in the south and east of the country, we had strikes in the southern suburbs of the capital, beirut, what israel called precise strikes where they killed various commanders in hezbollah, strikes that targeted one or two apartments within a building. we again saw last night another significant escalation, when keep using, a further escalation yesterday evening when we saw and heard that huge strike here in beirut

which we now know killed the leader of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah, the leader of that group over 30 years and involved since its creation. he was very much a figurehead for it. it leaves questions about what happens am in lebanon and in the wider middle east. it is a hugely pivotal moment. there is a lot of concern about what happens next, but i think one thing that is fair to say is that, as the last week and the duration of this conflict going back decades, it is enormously difficult to accurately predict what will happen next in this region. but, there is fear and concern among ordinary people here who have seen walls here before and who are hoping that this can be de—escalated and that those tensions can perhaps be brought back down. we will of course keep you right up to date with the developments as we have done all day here on bbc news. stay with us. studio: thank you, we will be

back to you shortly. we are going to stay with the story. let's speak now to israel defense forces spokesperson, lieutenant colonel peter lerner. i want to ask you first about the place where hassan nasrallah was. how did israel succeed in targeting him? we call it succeed in targeting him? - call it operation new order. it was designed and implemented based on real—time intelligence, extensive intelligence, extensive intelligence gathered over several years, and based on the instruction of the government to bring back the 60,000 israelis who had been evacuated from their houses now almost one year precisely because of the actions, instructions, and attacks that hassan nasrallah had given against israel. i want to come back to that in a moment. can you tell us more about what is happening right now? we know israel is continuing to carry out strikes on lebanon at the moment. there

are three core _ on lebanon at the moment. there are three core issues _ on lebanon at the moment. there are three core issues we - on lebanon at the moment. there are three core issues we are - are three core issues we are conducting currently: we are continuing to conduct precision strikes against perpetrators of terrorism early today. we took out one of hezbollah�*s senior intelligence officials. that is one role we are continuing to do. the second is indeed taking out the strategic assets that hezbollah has. they have over 100,000, probably more, rockets and missiles and drones, some of those with a precision guided missile capabilities. last night, we took out the three different locations of coast to see precision guided missiles, and this element is important because those tools are tools of death and terrorism and they still remain in their hands. the third is a quick interception when there are terrorists planning to attack and conduct strikes and launch rockets against us. those are the types of things

we have been seeing and have been reporting on through the day. been reporting on through the da . ., ., ., day. on the matter of all the weaponry — day. on the matter of all the weaponry that _ day. on the matter of all the weaponry that has _ day. on the matter of all the weaponry that has won - day. on the matter of all the weaponry that has won a - weaponry that has won a word—mack still has come at israel, hezbollah still has rockets firing into israel. what you have done so far hasn't eliminated the threat he wanted to eliminate. for hasn't eliminated the threat he wanted to eliminate.— wanted to eliminate. for the last 20 years. _ wanted to eliminate. for the last 20 years, hassan - wanted to eliminate. for the i last 20 years, hassan nasrallah has been building a vast armoury of rockets and missiles and drones. more than most european countries, something like 200,000 rockets and missiles and drones. that goes to show it won't be over anytime soon without either a surrender on their behalf or a diplomatic agreement from our perspective. the military has instructions to restore the safety and security to the north of israel. that can be done by taking out the leaders that are instructing these attacks against israel and, as you have said and reported, the leadership of hezbollah has in

the last week been effectively decapitated, and i would say that organisation needs to be taken very seriously if they want to pursue more attacks against israel. the idf is charged with responding and with the response of an security and securing the safety of the people of israel and of israelis who just want to get back to their homes who just want to get back to cultivating their land, these will be disrupted in the last year by his brother word—mack —— hezbollah precisely because thatis —— hezbollah precisely because that is what he built this capability for. so, that has to change when we conducted this operation, operation new order, it is because we need a new order in the situation. i want to ask you — order in the situation. i want to ask you about _ order in the situation. i want to ask you about the - order in the situation. i want i to ask you about the lebanese people. nearly 800 people were killed in the last week and a half. hezbollah may have hidden their rackets and long—range missiles, leaders, amongst residential buildings, but it is through the net —— it is

israel making the decision to fire on those targets. they know what will happen to the civilians, men women and children, who find themselves there in the line of fire. does israel accept any responsibility for those civilian deaths?- responsibility for those civilian deaths? ~ , ., _ civilian deaths? when you say that they may _ civilian deaths? when you say that they may have _ civilian deaths? when you say that they may have these - that they may have these capabilities, i think that there is absolutely no doubt that has intentionally, in an insidious way, positioned intentionally and as a strategy then nerve centre and headquarters and rocket launchers and missiles and all of their tools in and around and beneath these civilian areas. of course, when we went after the nerve centre, the headquarters of hassan nasrallah last night, we understand —— the understanding was that if we don't deal with it, there will be much more death and destruction dealt out by him and by his, effectively, she had a council that he had

gathered in that bunker last night. if you are suggesting we shouldn't defend ourselves and the civilians of israel because hezbollah and hassan nasrallah had positioned his capabilities and tools of terrorism behind the people of lebanon, that is an absurd request. i would say: yes, we need to demand that these tools of terrorism be removed, we need to make sure that they can be removed for the better and for the improvement and safety and security of israelis and lebanese together. i think the situation where the expectation as we do not defend ourselves is an absurd expectation. but my question _ is an absurd expectation. but my question stands: does israel accept responsibility for those civilian deaths? we know what you said about hezbollah and putting those people in their line of fire. aha, putting those people in their line of fire.— line of fire. a terrorist army that built — line of fire. a terrorist army that built its _ line of fire. a terrorist army that built its weapons - that built its weapons intentionally and in

contravention with international humanitarian law and in contravention of the laws of armed conflict and in contravention of the un security council resolution from a 2006 that dictated that hezbollah should not have any weapons south of the river, but it has. there has been a failure of the system. israel is taking responsibility for its civilians that have been under fire its civilians that have been underfire now, for year, under fire now, for year, unprovoked, underfire now, for year, unprovoked, because hezbollah chose to join in this war. so, we are taking the fight to hezbollah. they are responsible for every single death resulting in our activities, and it is their responsibility because it is precisely their strategy of where they put those rockets and missiles and drones and headquarters and command centres and communications capabilities. it is a system. they have done this in a way that we will be having this conversation tonight, talking about the legality of it. of course it is legal. of course it is the right thing to do. it is the moral thing to be, as well. we

are short _ moral thing to be, as well. we are short on — moral thing to be, as well. we are short on time, but you mentioned that there are over 60,000 israelis unable to return to their homes for months because of hezbollah attacks. there are over 100,000 lebanese residents on the move as a result of the last few days. where does this end? is anybody safer? of israelis any safer? , ., , , anybody safer? of israelis any safer? , ., _ , safer? obviously, it has 'ust beuun safer? obviously, it has 'ust begun on i safer? obviously, it has 'ust begun on the i safer? obviously, it has 'ust begun on the front * safer? obviously, it has 'ust begun on the front with h safer? obviously, it hasjust begun on the front with 11 i safer? obviously, it hasjust. begun on the front with 11 on. we are taking our steps, strategically moving slowly and swiftly and decisively against hezbollah and against their weapons. it could be over if they surrender, if they stop launching these rockets, and if there is a solution, from our perspective, a military perspective, a military perspective, our roles are clear, and we are determined to make sure that the people can get home safely and securely. i would say that can be delivered on both sides of the fence and we are concerned with what happens on our side, lebanon needs to be concerned with what is happening on the lebanese

side. ., side. peter lerner from the idf, side. peter lerner from the ma thank _ side. peter lerner from the idf, thank you _ side. peter lerner from the idf, thank you for - side. peter lerner from the idf, thank you forjoining i side. peter lerner from the | idf, thank you forjoining us from tel aviv. let's speak to fawaz a gerges, professor of international relations at london school of economics. good evening to you. i wonder what stepping back from all of this your view is of how things stand tonight? i this your view is of how things stand tonight?— this your view is of how things stand tonight? i think that you ke -t stand tonight? i think that you kept asking — stand tonight? i think that you kept asking the _ stand tonight? i think that you kept asking the spokesperson | stand tonight? i think that you l kept asking the spokesperson of the israeli military about responsibility for civilians, and the answer to your question simply whether it is in gaza or lebanon is that israel doesn't distinguish between civilian and terrorist. the attacks in beirut yesterday, israel dropped 82 tonnes of weapons, bonds, on four buildings, destroying the four buildings and killing a few hezbollah leaders along with dozens of

civilians. we don't know the extent of civilian casualties. according to the israeli military and the israeli newspaper yesterday, the israeli military estimated that 300 civilians were killed in an attack targeting hezbollah. we know what has happened in gaza over the past 12 months. we have over 40,000, 41,000 civilians killed, almost 100 injured, yet israel doesn't believe that the civilians exist in gaza or beirut. ask them any question and they say that it them any question and they say thatitis them any question and they say that it is all about hezbollah and hamas, yet israel, as you know, this is not my word, is now before the international court ofjustice and is accused of committed genocide in gaza. so far, thousands of lebanese people have been killed and injured just in a few days. what i fear is what the general

secretary of the un fears is that lebanon could easily become another gaza if israel continues to wage all—out war in lebanon. ironically, the americans and the french have put a diplomatic resolution this week on the table which israel literally accepted for a temporary ceasefire, and talks in order to resolve the conflict and confrontation after, initially, it was agreed in this initiative that netanyahu was waiting all—out war. and basically, now, he is attacking targets all over lebanon and beirut in the south. �* , ., , south. i'm sorry to interrupt, we obviously _ south. i'm sorry to interrupt, we obviously have _ south. i'm sorry to interrupt, we obviously have to - south. i'm sorry to interrupt, we obviously have to keep i we obviously have to keep moving. i wondered where you think, in terms of this being a massive escalation in so many people's opinion, what happens next? will iranjoin in some

form? before this it had been holding back.— form? before this it had been holding back. look, i know all of us in the — holding back. look, i know all of us in the media _ holding back. look, i know all of us in the media and - of us in the media and television are trying to ask what is going to happen in the next few hours and days. to me, the big picture is of the following: forgive me, as an academic, to say this: israel has declared all—out war against hezbollah. it wants to crush has been wants hezbollah to surrender in the same way it wants hamas to surrender. they wants hamas to surrender. they want total victory. this will never happen. it has proved elusive in gaza, it will be more so in lebanon. what you don't... hezbollah has not responded. the spokesperson of the israeli army said has 100,000 missiles, many of which are precise strategic missiles, ballistic missiles. so far, has

been mad mac ever off—balance. israel has delivered heavy and killed many of its leaders. —— so far, hezbollah has been off—balance. as it regroups you are going to hit the mass attacks in the next few days and next few weeks. this war will most likely lost not only for weeks and months but for years. my take on it is that iran will not directly, basically, come and attack israel, but iran is already thinking of ways to help hezbollah. by helping hezbollah, you're going to see thousands of skilled fighters and advanced fighters from syria and iran and from iran migrating to lebanon over the next few months or so and trying to replenish hezbollah's arsenal and help hezbollah basically put its house in order. the big nature is that

this is a long war. all of us kept warning in the past 12 months about a tipping point and eight spark. my fear, and again, i hope that i'm wrong, is that this is it. we have to think in terms of the cost and the consequences notjust for the consequences notjust for the lebanese civilians and thousands would be killed and the country would be destroyed, but for israel's security, i fear that israel will never have security and peace because, as long as its aim is total victory, and another final point on this question... the spokesperson of the israeli army kept saying: we need to return our 65,000 displaced people to their homes on the lebanese— israeli front. my question is the following: the americans have already told the israelis and the french and the british, can this return with

the all—out war, is there a diplomatic solution of the most effective way to really bring about and to return israeli citizens to their home in their hundreds of thousands of lebanese to their home? my theory is that neither side will have security in the next few months and years. thank you for speaking _ few months and years. thank you for speaking to — few months and years. thank you for speaking to us _ few months and years. thank you for speaking to us today. - (pres)let�*s return to anna foster in beirut — how are you viewing things in this moment? i how are you viewing things in this moment?— how are you viewing things in this moment? i don't think it's inevitable _ this moment? i don't think it's inevitable the _ this moment? i don't think it's inevitable the there _ this moment? i don't think it's inevitable the there will - this moment? i don't think it's inevitable the there will be - this moment? i don't think it's inevitable the there will be a l inevitable the there will be a huge regional work, it's not in anybody�*s interest that i can think of, so it really hinges on three questions. what will hezbollah do next, what with iran and its proxies do next? and what will israel do next? those are the three big things, he kind of touched on them there. so in the case of hezbollah, they are reeling, they are hurt, they are

bleeding, they