and all the confrontations could be expanded. i'm ben brown in london — in other main news this hour. for the first time since the second world war — a far—right party comes top in austria's general election. and the american singer, songwriter and actor, kris kristofferson, has died aged 88. hello, you are live with bbc news. i am anna foster here in beirut. hezbollah says it will continue to fight against israel and will choose a successor "at the earliest opportunity"

for hassan nasrallah. he was the leaderfor more for hassan nasrallah. he was the leader for more than three decades. he was killed in the southern suburbs here in beirut on friday. the people you can see here behind me are people that have been here on the streets ever since. people that had left their homes from the sudden suburbs of beirut, there are lots and lots of people, notjust here in beirut but in the east and south of lebanon who have left their homes due to the ongoing violence. the prime minister has said that around 1 million people, huge proportion, maybe one fifth of the population here in lebanon risk being displaced because of the ongoing violence. hamas confirmed its leader in lebanon, fateh sherif abu el—amin was killed alongside his family in a separate attack in the south of the country. israel is vowing to expand

its military operations here after targeting dozens of hezbollah targets overnight. these images show the aftermath of one of those attacks, which killed three palestinian leaders. rescue efforts have been taking place in the kola district in beirut. we will speak to our correspondent that very soon. this strike that happened here in kola at around one o'clock in kola at around one o'clock in the morning was notable because it was the first strike that didn't happen in sudden suburbs of the city. you can see now the live pit chairs as well, you can hear the sirens are a constant sound here in beirut is the injured are taken to hospital. you can see the smoke that is rising above the city. again, that has been a constant feature since friday, since that very significant strike that killed hassan nasrallah. but the strikes have continued over the last few days. as i was telling you, we have had a statement here in

lebanon in the last hour or so from the most senior hezbollah figure since the killing of hassan nasrallah. this is naim quassem, he has been reacting to the strikes and to the death of hassan nasrallah. hezbollah is a proscribed terror organisation by the uk and some other western governments. so we will play you just a short clip of what naim quassem has said. if israel thinks that it's open hand and its determination to commit atrocities and aggression, if you think these will achieve its goals, then it is delusional. yes, there are pains and sacrifices, but we make our future victories. some of us die. some of us are martyred and the remaining ones continue in the path of victory, which is forthcoming soon.

we've all made sacrifices. starting with the pagers and walkie talkies and then the martyrdom of our leader. these will have undermined major armies and organisations. but we continue with the help of god. that is what naim quassem has said here in lebanon. israel's defence minister has been on the northern border and has said the elimination of hassan nasrallah is a very important step, but not everything and this is a short video that has been released and he is telling troops, we will use all the abilities we have and if someone on the other side did not understand what all the abilities mean, it is all the abilities. and you, he said to

his troops, are part of this effort. we trust you to be able to accomplish anything. and he goes on to say that everything that needs to be done will be done and we will use all the forces from the air, sea and land. i also want to play you are short clip. iran's foreign ministry spokesman nasser kanani held a news conference condemning the killing of hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah. mr kanani stated that hassan nasrallah was martyred, his cause is still alive. translation: our foreign minister has had a meetingj and has talked on the phone with his lebanese counterpart. they have been discussing the issues and they have discussed what they should do both by iran and by the lebanese government at the same time so we can follow up on our political and legal demands.

naturally the iranian side would not leave any of the actions by the zionist regime unanswered. we will definitely respond to that, and the zionist regime will have to pay for what they have done to the iranian citizens, to the palestinian people, swiftly. this will not go unpunished, and the islamic republic will do what it takes on its own side. let's talk to our bbc persian middle east

ba re east bare east correspondent. what is the latest? we bare east correspondent. what is the latest?— is the latest? we have been heafina is the latest? we have been hearing from _ is the latest? we have been hearing from them - is the latest? we have been hearing from them how - is the latest? we have been| hearing from them how they is the latest? we have been - hearing from them how they have been hitting on targeting what they say are rockets and rocket launch sites, and senior figures from hezbollah as a group and the assessment, as reported in the israeli media is they really have destroyed much of hezbollah�*s firepower with these very intense aerial campaigns that have gone on for the past week. still we are hearing particularly from the mayors of the towns in the north of israel that have been evacuated as a result of the cross—border missile fire that has gone on now for 11 months, since the start of the war in gaza, those mayors want their citizens to be able to return, they want safety along the border and they say that comes

only with a ground invasion, were dealing with the infrastructure that hezbollah has set up just close to the border and even under the broader sense that devastating war between israel and hezbollah back in 2006. they say people will not go back to their homes unless that is dealt with. there is increasing speculation here about whether israel will go for a ground invasion. those comments are the latest ones by the israeli defence minister, addressing ground troops close to the border and telling them, you are part of this effort and we trust you to be to accomplish anything and we will use that capability is that we have. there have been some reports in the wall streetjournal that actually, elite israeli military units have already carried out limited and focused raids across the border. that is not something that is confirmed at all with the

israeli side. the question being asked is if israel goes into southern lebanon, what would it aim into southern lebanon, what would itaim be? is aim into southern lebanon, what would it aim be? is aim would be to push hezbollah from the border, to keep to the decision made by the un security council at the end of the war, to make sure that hezbollah is in the north, across the river. would israel go in and occupy the area up to the river or would it have a smaller occupation just up to the border? thank ou. just up to the border? thank yom we _ just up to the border? thank yom we can _ just up to the border? thank you. we can see _ just up to the border? thank you. we can see there - just up to the border? thank you. we can see there again | just up to the border? thank - you. we can see there again the live pictures from beirut, the city that has seen so much devastation the last few days. so many people displaced and as we were hearing from anna foster who is in beirut, many people are now on the streets and terrified that there will be more attacks to come. let's go to our bbc persian middle east correspondent.

nafiseh kohna—vard. what is the sentiment among the people there, they must fear further air strikes?— further air strikes? yes, and especially — further air strikes? yes, and especially after _ further air strikes? yes, and especially after last - further air strikes? yes, and especially after last night's i especially after last night's air strikes on the building behind me which is in a sunni majority area in beirut. it is a part of beirut there is not a hezbollah stronghold that was attacked, it was a targeted assassination because only one floor, it is the sixth floor of an 11—storey building, killing the target in the sixth floor of this building, but around the building, i can see a lot of cars that are damaged, smashed, and windows shattered and the sound, the blast sound, we could hear all over. we

could hear it from across beirut. my home was shaken. which was not very close, but not too far as well. but my home was shaken because the blast was so strong and this was the first time after the war of 2006 between hezbollah and israel that are part outside of a hezbollah stronghold is being hit by israel. and now that i am talking to you right now, we have israeli drones over our heads flying solo. we can hear the buzzing. it was the same case yesterday. it is unusual. in the past few days, they are unusually, these drones are flying so, so low and it seems that that is part of the surveillance. there is a big fearfrom people surveillance. there is a big fear from people that soon enough, we will have similar

assassinations or similar attacks in other parts of beirut. that are considered relatively safe and out of the target for israel.— target for israel. thank you, for the moment _ target for israel. thank you, for the moment thank - target for israel. thank you, for the moment thank you i target for israel. thank you, i for the moment thank you very much indeed. that is the latest there from beirut. ijust want to tell you that on our bbc live page, there is analysis from paul adams, who has been in northern israel for quite a few days and just talking about the build—up at israeli tanks that have been massing close to the lebanese border and top people preparing to operate inside hezbollah stronghold. that is the latest on a possible ground invasion, still very much up in the air. you are watching bbc news. still more to come on the crisis in the middle east.

to austria now, where for the first time since world war two — a far—right party has come top in the country's general election. projected results give the freedom partyjust over 29% of the vote — more than two points ahead of the ruling austrian people's party on 26.5%, with the social democrats in third. but this isn't enough for the freedom party to secure an outright majority. with all the main parties ruling out any coalition which includes the fpo leader, herbert kickl. austria's president has called for negotiations in order to find a compromise. chanting fears of the conservatives forming a coalition with the freedom party led to a small group of protesters demonstrating outside the parliament building in vienna, carrying anti—nazi banners.

let's speak to cloudier wallner, senior fellow at rusi and part of the far—right extremism and terrorism research programme. what would you say is the significance of these election results? it does not look like they will be part of any government any time soon. firstly thank you, ben, for having me on. it is definitely important to say this is a historic result with that party coming in first. historic result with that party coming infirst. it historic result with that party coming in first. it is not historic with having been part of previous governments, five times in the past, with the centre—left social democrats and the centre—right people's party. in the past, both cases or the more recent cases ending in candles. i think what this is showing us is really part of a wider trend that we are seeing in europe. with the far

right gaining votes in the increasing speed in the last few years. i think in large part due to the satisfaction with —— dissatisfaction with current government in trying to find alternative solutions there. as you said, it is unlikely for the pfo to lead a coalition government, but nevertheless it will change the political landscape in austria in the coming years. find political landscape in austria in the coming years.- in the coming years. and we talk about — in the coming years. and we talk about them _ in the coming years. and we talk about them as - in the coming years. and we talk about them as far-right| talk about them as far—right party, just tell us a bit more about their politics and what exactly they stand for. i gather they were founded by former nazis in the 19505 and just a couple of days before the election candidates were caught on video 5inging an ss song. caught on video singing an 55 sonu. , song. they were. the interesting _ song. they were. the interesting thing -

song. they were. the interesting thing in i song. they were. the | interesting thing in the austrian spectrum is the fpo i5 austrian spectrum is the fpo is the furthest to the right, there is no one more far to the right than them, they are appealing to wide support of electorates. the support came from mainstream dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction with those governments. they are also appealing to the more extreme end of the political spectrum. really, everyone from pensioners in small towns and in the countryside to younger or older more extreme people, people who are part of online extremist networks. there really is a wide spectrum now. you mention how in other countries we have seen the far right doing well, places like the netherlands, france, germany, what do you think of the common factors between those movements? i

the common factors between those movements?— the common factors between those movements? i think across euro -e those movements? i think across eumpe we _ those movements? i think across eumpe we have _ those movements? i think across europe we have seen _ those movements? i think across europe we have seen a _ those movements? i think across europe we have seen a lot - those movements? i think across europe we have seen a lot of- europe we have seen a lot of dissatisfaction again with incumbent governments in the current context of inflation, cost of living cri5i5, current context of inflation, cost of living crisis, but also still with covid—19, the recognitions from how governments have handled that, also how the everlasting i55ue also how the everlasting issue of migration, which far right parties are capitalised on heavily since 2015 with the large number of refugees seeking europe in light of that cri5i5, seeking europe in light of that crisis, but also recently with countries like ukraine, we have definitely seen that becoming more of an issue again and those parties appealing to their voters on basis of these issues. , ., ., ., , ., issues. very good to get your analysis- _ issues. very good to get your analysis. thank _ issues. very good to get your analysis. thank you _ issues. very good to get your analysis. thank you very - issues. very good to get your i analysis. thank you very much. thank you so much.— analysis. thank you very much.

thank you so much. more than 116 people are now known to have died across several us states following high winds and torrential rain caused by storm helene. several towns have been left in ruins, road5 have been flooded and power cut to more than 2 million people. cbs news corre5podent nicole valde5 report5 from south carolina. historic flooding from helene submerged parts of western north carolina under water over the weekend. there was a whole house right there. this marshall, north carolina, woman says she fled after the waters reached waist deep. i was grabbing stuff. i had my three dogs in the car and my car was, like, almost underwater. the state's governor says rescue efforts are ongoing and that food, water and supplies are being airlifted to those stuck in the hardest hit areas. oh, god! this video shows the moment a bridge in tennessee collapsed into rushing floodwaters.

she was ready to sink. 0n tybee island in georgia, this man, who goes by huck finn and his dog creedy, are hoping high tide carries them back out to sea after strong winds from helene stranded their boat on the side of the highway. i thought we were both going to die, so i had to cut anchor and it brought us here. this morning in south carolina, dozens are dead after hurricane helene pummelled the state. 0ne couple dead after a tree fell on their car. my cat is alive. my neighbours are alive and we are helping each other. massive recovery efforts are also under way in florida. we want to be helpful to get this debris. while touring the devastation, the state's governor warned his state is not out of the woods just yet, with two more months left until hurricane season ends. the american singer, songwriter and actor, kris kristofferson has died at the aged of 88.

he played a major role in defining american country music in the 19705. he was known for the songs me and bobby muggy. help me make it through the night. as an actor he starred in "pat garret and billy the kid" and "a star is born". 0ur arts correspondent david sillito looks back now at his life. # lay your head. # upon my pillow...# it was kris kristofferson�*s mix of songwriting talent and rugged charm that turned this texan oil rig helicopter pilot into one of the biggest stars of the 705. # i was born upon the tide # and with the sea i did abide...# alongside willie nelson, johnny cash and waylonjennings, he took a bit of rock's attitude and musical freedom to create a new

sound, 0utlaw country. you're finished. and there was more than a touch of that mood in his movie roles in films like convoy. # because we have the brightest love~~# — and a star is born, in which he appeared with barbra streisand. i'm sorry this booze will blow your brain. he played a singer with a taste for the excesses of the music world, and there were more than a few parallels with his own life at the time. if you feel that way about it... eh, go to hell. there are so many ways that i got away with murder. just blowing — rolling cars, you know, having accidents on motorcycles. just, uh, uh... ..playing full tilt.

but that hard living texan image was far from the whole story. he'd been a rhodes scholar at oxford university and an army captain, who was at one point offered a teaching post at west point. his family did not approve of him abandoning the military for music. # freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose...# it's perhaps not a surprise that his best known song, me and bobby mcgee... # i'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday...# ..sung here by his girlfriend at the time, janisjoplin, was a celebration of freedom and escape. # help me make it through the night~~#_ and here, with his wife at the time, rita coolidge, a little reminder of the intense, rough hewn charisma of kris kristofferson. # help me make iti

through the night.# kris kristofferson, who's died at the age of 88. let's just take it back to the latest events in the middle east. we can show you live pictures than from beirut. we can see some of the smoke still rising there from beirut after more attacks on the capital of lebanon. hezbollah�*s deputy leader has said it is ready for an israeli ground offensive, should it come. it is the first speech by a high—ranking official since israel killed the hezbollah leader himself hassan nasrallah. this is naim quassem who says that the battle, quote, may be long. at

the same time, we have heard from the israeli defence minister who has been telling israeli troops near the lebanese border that they are prepared to use forces from the air, sea and the land. we will wait and see if there are more development on the possibility of a ground incursion into southern lebanon by israel. that is later seen. stay with us here on bbc news. hello again, we have had torrential rain through this morning and that is still falling. if we look at the rain for accumulation chart, over a0 millimetres is possible. that will be falling on grand already saturated, exacerbating the flooding risk. this is the area of low pressure describing up

area of low pressure describing up weather currently, it is bringing cloud, wet and windy conditions. rain continuing to push northwards, where you see the greens and yellows in the charge, that is the heaviest bursts, behind it lots of clouds, drying in a far north of scotland, with top ten just getting up to about 70 degrees. through this evening and overnight, the rain starts to push back southwards. it will start to turn lighter in doing so. the west will return to clearer skies. so. the west will return to clearerskies. so so. the west will return to clearer skies. so when the on the north sea co coastline with 13 degrees. that takes into tomorrow with that lingering to the south—east and that means here a bit more cloud around and the remnants of the rain across east anglia and parts of england in the south—east, back towards the west, we have got brighter skies and the same for

the north. more sunshine coming through, the rain will be so high widespread and it won't be as heavy, it will not feel as cool as it is today. temperatures around 18. as we move to the middle of the week, dregs of the rain moving away, the weather front still producing cloud and the odd shower in the south—easterly quarter, but a ridge of high pressure is building a crisis, so that means a fair amount of dry weather and some sunny skies. temperatures 13 to 16 degrees. as we had on through the week, moving into thursday, thursday is likely to start off with some mist and fog, but generally fine friday brighter in the east, but more cloud coming in from the west with some rain.

this is bbc news, the headlines: israel says it's expanding its military operation in lebanon, striking dozens of hezbollah sites and targeting another militant group. hezbollah says it will chose a successor "at the earliest opportunity" after its leader was killed. the trial of marine le pen, the leader of france 5 far—right national rally, begins in paris. and, how the pan—indian

film industry is being celebrated at this year's international indian film academy awards. in a sign of potential escalation of its conflict with hezbollah, israel's defence minister yoav gallant has told troops on the lebanese border that the country will use forces from "air, sea and land". in a video released on x, gallant said the israeli defense force would deploy "whatever is needed" as it moves to return 60,000 israelis to their homes in the north. meanwhile hezbollah said they will continue to fight against israel and will choose a new successor "at the earliest opportunity" after their leader hassan nasrallah was killed by an israeli strike on friday. the group's deputy leader said it's ready for an israeli ground offensive, as israel continues air strikes across lebanon. meanwhile, hamas says

the leader of its lebanese group has been killed by israeli air strikes