hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. we will be back at the un security council in a moment or two. antonio guterres said an all—out war in lebanon would have profound consequences and talked about raging fires in the middle east are fast becoming an inferno. let's speak for the next few minutes to the former prime minister of sweden and current co—chair of the european council. welcome to bbc news. give me your assessment as to where you think we are in the region. i think we are in the region. i think what happened overnight was a major strategic mistake

by the iranians. they essentially gave israel's lesson yahoo the war he wanted, —— they essentially gave israel's netanyahu the war he wanted. where it goes from there remains to be seen. but there remains to be seen. but there is now a situation where nobody really cares about the two state solution on the palestinian issue, all of those things that were the focus of diplomatic focus a few months ago. now it is all about conflict what it iran. you said it is all about _ conflict what it iran. you said it is all about that _ it is all about that confrontation, now, iran and israel. we are carrying the live events from the un security council. where do you think diplomacy is? is it anywhere in the equation? it is anywhere in the equation? it is a difficult question. _ anywhere in the equation? it 3 a difficult question. the americans have been very much,

nearly a year now, trying to get a ceasefire in gaza, trying to restrict the possibilities of this conflict from escalating and succeeded for a while. and a major confrontation that we are aware of. now we are in a different situation where all of the american cause for a ceasefire are worth very little and it looks like netanyahu and the iranians are pursuing their own game without logic and the room for diplomacy, at the moment, unfortunately, seems to be fairly limited.— fairly limited. reddy think that this ends _ fairly limited. reddy think that this ends up. - fairly limited. reddy think that this ends up. let - fairly limited. reddy think that this ends up. let me | fairly limited. reddy think - that this ends up. let me read you a quote from the former israeli prime minister: this is the greatest opportunity in 50 years to change the face of the middle east. when you hear somebody of that weight so that sort of thing and it is increasingly being said and israel as well, what is your response? it israel as well, what is your re5ponse?_

israel as well, what is your response? it might well... it will change _ response? it might well... it will change the _ response? it might well... it will change the face - response? it might well... it will change the face of - response? it might well... it will change the face of the l will change the face of the middle east, the question is what middle east will emerge from this? are lebanon completely in rubble? garzo being as desperate as it is? —— gaza. and iran being doing what it has been accused of doing and hasn't done, going for nuclear weapons? and hasn't done, going for nuclearweapons? if and hasn't done, going for nuclear weapons? if that is a result of what is being seen now it is going to be an even more complicated middle east thanit more complicated middle east than it has been so far. let's hope it can be avoided. we should be aware of the fact that we are in a very dangerous moment in history. if it that we are in a very dangerous moment in history.— moment in history. if it isn't to end up — moment in history. if it isn't to end up over— moment in history. if it isn't to end up over the - moment in history. if it isn't to end up over the abyss - moment in history. if it isn't| to end up over the abyss you just our client, how do you swerve it? i just our client, how do you swerve it?— just our client, how do you swerve it? i didn't get that. how do you _ swerve it? i didn't get that. how do you avoid _ swerve it? i didn't get that. how do you avoid that - how do you avoid that likelihood of going over the abyss you just outlined? abyss you 'ust outlined? well, i would abyss you just outlined? well, i would hope _ abyss you just outlined? well, i would hope that _ abyss you just outlined? well, i would hope that responsible |

i would hope that responsible leaders in iran or israel or wherever else step back and ask themselves: 0k, wherever else step back and ask themselves: ok, i need to go in this direction, or a pressure to do this, but what is the move after that and after that? what is the endgame? where do i want to end up? look at what might be there at the end and then take your actions from there. not the immediate need to retaliate with one more than the other. look at the broader political game. aim for some sort of stability that is stable. that is a tall order these days. because i think that immediately it is going to be the immediate reaction that is going to dominate. and there are reasons to be very concerned.— are reasons to be very concerned. , , , concerned. despite the fact we can watch _ concerned. despite the fact we can watch events _ concerned. despite the fact we can watch events at _ concerned. despite the fact we can watch events at the - concerned. despite the fact we can watch events at the un, i concerned. despite the fact we can watch events at the un, it| can watch events at the un, it carries such a little weight these days. i mean, the un secretary—general has been told he isn't even welcome in israel. this the possibility in

terms of a cycle of violence here is obvious, because tehran has already said if israel strikes there will be a second wave that is even more destructive. is this the moment, do you think, that the us, the white house, has such a change of strategy? how to use levers of influence they so far haven't? ~ ., ., , haven't? well, one would wish that was the _ haven't? well, one would wish that was the case, _ haven't? well, one would wish that was the case, but - haven't? well, one would wish that was the case, but as - that was the case, but as everyone is aware, they are engaged in an election campaign are now five weeks until the election. that limits the room for manoeuvring. i think the israelis know that whatever they do, donald trump will support them and mr biden can't do otherwise. that means of the usa has is very limited in this particular situation. the campaign limits their options considerably. what impact that has the iranians is difficult to know. but even the iranians

will have to look at that particular very carefully. but, the pattern of the past few months is that escalation has happened step—by—step, because for a ceasefire have been either neglected or it has been very difficult to achieve. at the moment, ceasefire seems to be the least likely thing for the next few days, perhaps for a longer period. let'sjust hope the region doesn't go over the brink completely. final brief thought. _ the brink completely. final brief thought. you - the brink completely. final brief thought. you are - the brink completely. final brief thought. you are a i brief thought. you are a veteran of diplomacy. you will have seen the middle east at different moments. be so dangerous. how would you characterise where we currently are? how close to the abyss are we? i are? how close to the abyss are we? ~ . are? how close to the abyss are we? “ ~ ~ , are? how close to the abyss are we? ~ ., ., ,~ we? i think we are fairly close to the abyss _ we? i think we are fairly close to the abyss if— we? i think we are fairly close to the abyss if there - we? i think we are fairly close to the abyss if there were - we? i think we are fairly close to the abyss if there were to l to the abyss if there were to be a confrontation between israel and iran, that leads the iranians to go nuclear, and

they had a nuclear programme in they had a nuclear programme in the past, they closed it down in 2003. they have the ability to acquire bombs, no question about that. they have the possibility of stopping that which is very limited. if they go for an attack with a nuclear installation then the israelis might give the whole installation. there are all sorts of scary scenarios. and then, of course, we shouldn't neglect that it all started with gaza and the hamas terror attack, and that is huge as a humanitarian issue which hasn't been sorted out. and one is created as we speak in lebanon. we have to leave it there, but we are very grateful for your time and your thoughts and analysis. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. thank you. thank you. us here on bbc news. thank you. thank yon-— thank you. let's return to the events on _ thank you. let's return to the events on going _ thank you. let's return to the events on going in _ thank you. let's return to the events on going in the - thank you. let's return to the events on going in the united | events on going in the united nations. we will be back alive in a moment. in case you missed it, let me pay you what we heard from the secretary general antonia

gutierrez shot moment ago. he told the un security council that the cycle of escalation and retaliatory attacks must now stop. and retaliatory attacks must now stop-— and retaliatory attacks must now stop. the raging fires in the middle _ now stop. the raging fires in the middle east _ now stop. the raging fires in the middle east are - now stop. the raging fires in the middle east are fast - the middle east are fast becoming an inferno. exactly one week ago, i briefed the security council about the alarming situation in lebanon. since then, ends have gone from bad to much, much worse. as i told the council last week, the blue line has intentions for years, but since october exchanges of fire have expanded in scope, depth, and intensity. i stated that almost daily exchanges of fire by hezbollah and other groups in lebanon and the israel defense forces are in repeated violation of security council resolution

1701. i emphasise that the daily use of weapons by non—state armed groups is in violation of security council resolutions 15 59 and 1701. and i stress serenity must be respected and the lebanese state must have for control of weapons throughout lebanon. —— software nitty must be respected.— software nitty must be respected. software nitty must be resected. ,, ., ., . ~ respected. the missile attack on israel yesterday _ respected. the missile attack on israel yesterday was - on israel yesterday was described as a significant escalation.— escalation. iran's stated intention _ escalation. iran's stated intention was _ escalation. iran's stated intention was to - escalation. iran's stated intention was to avenge | escalation. iran's stated - intention was to avenge the deaths _ intention was to avenge the deaths of two ir gc supported terrorist — deaths of two ir gc supported terrorist leaders, and i are gc commander as well. inflicting significant damage and death on lsraet _ significant damage and death on israel. thankfully, through close — israel. thankfully, through close coordination seen between the usa — close coordination seen between the usa and israel, iran failed to achieve its objectives. this

outcome _ to achieve its objectives. this outcome doesn't diminish the fact that _ outcome doesn't diminish the fact that this attack, intended to cause — fact that this attack, intended to cause significant death and destruction, marked a significant escalation by around. it doesn't negate the need — around. it doesn't negate the need for— around. it doesn't negate the need for immediate council action _ need for immediate council action i _ need for immediate council action. , ., action. i will give you the latest coming _ action. i will give you the latest coming in - action. i will give you the latest coming in from - latest coming in from jerusalem. writers are reporting israel are again saying that they will respond to the missile attacks and that the forces can strike anywhere in the middle east. that is according to the military chief who has just been speaking. according to the military chief who hasjust been speaking. he said that they will respond, they can locate important targets and help them precisely and powerfully. that is the chief of the general staff speaking at an air force base in israel has said, one day after that iranians attack on israel. let me also showed the live pictures coming into us from doha in qatar. you can see the seats are beginning to be filled. we are told iran's president was there in qatar and will address the

microphones. we will hear the latest in terms of iran's position. we've already heard from the supreme leader, but we will monitor that and bring you the key extracts just as soon as it starts. of course, the region is still reeling after those events of almost 2a hours ago, there strikes by iran, nearly 200 missiles aimed at israel, most of them intercepted, some of them actually getting through. we have this report from yolande knell. is this the launch of a wider war in the middle east? iran fired some 180 ballistic cruise missiles at israel last night. revenge, it says, for strikes on lebanon and israel's killing of leaders of armed groups it supports. translation: if they remove their evil from this region, - without a doubt these conflicts, these wars,

these clashes will disappear completely. while most missiles were brought down by israel's sophisticated air defence system, the entire population was told to stay in bomb shelters. afterwards, inspecting the damage, many agreed with the prime minister that iran must pay the price. my feeling is that it was an attack, but we are very strong, we trust our army, that it will do and complete itsjob, and it will do whatever it needs to finish what they started. today, instead of getting ready for the upcoming jewish new year holiday, many israelis are cleaning up. emergency restrictions have been eased, life looks largely back to normal here. but, the expectation is that israel is planning

a significant retaliation against iran, even as war rages on in gaza and is continuing to attack lebanon. smoke rising up again over the beirut skyline after israel renewed its strikes in the south of the city. the hezbollah stronghold. as israel expands operations against the lebanese armed group, at the airport there is a rush for the few remaining flights out of the country. "i managed to book a flight for today." she says. "we made it, but the last three days were very stressful." while israel insists it is carrying out a very limited ground offensive against hezbollah in the south of lebanon, it is now sending another whole military division northwards to join the fight. it says the aim is to make

its border towns safe. right now, the wider region feels on edge. yolande knell, bbc news. worth giving a reminder of the latest line from the idf. the israeli forces say that they are announcing the death of seven soldiers killed in south lebanon in combat operations. that is a statement from israel's military, announcing the death of seven moth soldiers. we had heard of the death of one earlier. the total of eight soldiers killed. seven of eight soldiers killed. seven of them in one incident. we had about a commander who died earlier in the day. benjamin netanyahu warned about testing days ahead. that is what he said a couple of days ago. certainly, but as they move more troops into lebanon and they are at the start of actual combat between hezbollah and israeli forces, that news just coming into us. these are the

pictures of the smoke over beirut, there, in lebanon. around the world and across uk, you are putting bbc news.

you are working bbc news. before you play some of the latest from israel i want to remind you of the pictures coming into the bbc from qatar. we are expecting, you can see, the flags are set up and the podiums. we are expecting to hear from podiums. we are expecting to hearfrom iran's president who was scheduled to have a visit, he is scheduled to speak soon. we will monitor that. all eyes are on iran after the events yesterday. all eyes are on israel. how they plan to respond to that barrage sent to israel yesterday. we will keep an eye on that. when it starts

we will bring you the key bits from iran's president. let's say with that stop israel's pro minister says iran will pay after firing 200 missiles minister says iran will pay afterfiring 200 missiles in cities including jerusalem and tel aviv. most of the missiles were intercepted. 0ne palestinian was killed in the west bank and a school in israel and restaurant were also hit. benjamin netanyahu said his country was determined to retaliate. the bbc has this report from israel. 0ne retaliate. the bbc has this report from israel. one of the uranium illicit missiles struck last night. this isjust uranium illicit missiles struck last night. this is just north of tel aviv, israel's biggest city, we re were one of the iranian missiles landed. this car has taken quite a lot of the force of the blast. if you look at the middle—of—the—road, between the middle—of—the—road, between the dual carriageway, there is a round of earth were last night there was an absolutely huge crater, perhaps eight metres deep. they have already filled it in but it really gives you a sense of the force

of the blast. we've got some sort of commercial centre behind us, and this is quite a built—up area. if this had hit perhaps a tower block or a football stadium, ora perhaps a tower block or a football stadium, or a shopping mall, then a number of casualties could have been much, much worse. now, nearto here is the headquarters of mossad. that is israel's foreign intelligence agency. we are not allowed to show pictures of that under israeli censorship, but it is possible that that is the target. israel hasn't seen an attack like this from iran in its history. it is unprecedented. dozens, scores, possibly hundreds of people could have been killed. the question, now, is how is israel going to respond? that is a question for the former israeli army general. question for the former israeli army general-— question for the former israeli army general. festival, ithink that we have _ army general. festival, ithink that we have to _ army general. festival, ithink that we have to be _ army general. festival, ithink that we have to be fully - that we have to be fully coordinated with the usa. and i don't think we should do

anything without full coordination consent and participation of the americans. because once it is iran on the stage, it isn't only in israel, it is a war problem. it is the stability of the world. —— it is a world problem will stop we need to do the right thing. we need to do the right thing. we need to do the right thing. we need to respond we need to accept the equation that the army is trying to dictate. 0n the other hand, it has to be in balance, which will build the next step may be to change the middle east and bring into most stability. it means yes, i reply, but a balanced one. that is what you _ reply, but a balanced one. that is what you think _ reply, but a balanced one. that is what you think they - reply, but a balanced one. that is what you think they should do, what you think netanyahu will decide to you

do, what you think netanyahu will decide to— will decide to you know, i am doinu will decide to you know, i am doing my _ will decide to you know, i am doing my best _ will decide to you know, i am doing my best trying - will decide to you know, i am doing my best trying to - will decide to you know, i am doing my best trying to be i will decide to you know, i am doing my best trying to be a l doing my best trying to be a strategic expert, but to be an expert for netanyahu, i am not sure i am the right guy for that. it sure i am the right guy for that. , ., ., , ., sure i am the right guy for that. ., , . that. it is almost a year since the conflict — that. it is almost a year since the conflict in _ that. it is almost a year since the conflict in the _ that. it is almost a year since the conflict in the middle i that. it is almost a year since | the conflict in the middle east erupted with the october the 7th hamas attacks from gaza. for months, diplomats have been trying to avoid this spiralling into a wider regional conflict. they haven't managed to do that. that was jon they haven't managed to do that. that wasjon donnison with the latest in terms of the aftermath of some of what we saw yesterday. we will bring you some of the other news from the day but i want to show you live pictures coming into us from beirut, first of all. we have seen more strikes in beirut today. also, that news that eight soldiers, israeli soldiers, have been killed in combat today. we had heard about one earlier in the day,

but that news in the last 45 minutes that seven soldiers have been killed coming from the idf. so, those are the life pictures coming in from beirut as israel sends more troops into lebanon. let's also return to qatar. i will show seen there. we are expecting the next little while to hear the iranian president. he is there on a scheduled visit. of course, there is a huge tension on iran after the barrage of missiles sent towards israel yesterday. and the potential of israel responding. they have promised to respond. we will monitor what is said in that press conference when it starts to hear if there is any relevant passage on those events that are spiralling in the region. 0ne events that are spiralling in the region. one more area i will show you is the un security council. sierra leone are currently at the microphone. we are currently waiting to hear from the israelis and also from the

lebanese representatives. those are the latest live pictures. we will return to those life events as soon as they begin. that gives me a chance to turn away from the middle east and bring you a couple of other stories. the two main candidates, vying to be the next vice—president of the united states, have gone head to head — in their only tv debate before november's, presidential election. in a debate lasting an hour and 40 minutes, jd vance and tim walz — sparred over key issues like abortion, the economy, and immigration. john sudworth reports. this is a cbs news special... the first question, the crisis in the middle east and tim walz began by attacking donald trump. steady leadership is going to matter. it is clear and the world saw it on that debate stage a few weeks ago. a nearly eighty—year—old donald trump talking

about crowd sizes is not what we need. butjd vance was quick to respond kind, hitting back at kamala harris' record. iran is as close to a nuclear weapon today as they have ever been, who has been the vice president for the last three years, your running mate, not mine. another topic loomed, illegal immigration and a chance forjd vance to reference his family's struggle with addiction. massively increasing the asylum abroad — massively increasing the asylum abroad existing in our system. what — abroad existing in our system. what that— abroad existing in our system. what that has meant is that a lot of— what that has meant is that a lot of sentinel is coming into the country. i had a mother who struggled with opioid addiction. donald trump had for years to do this and he promised america how easy it would be. "i will build you a beautiful wall and mexico will pay for it." less than 2% of the wall got built. mexico didn't pay a dime. the exchanges may have been robust but for much of the media watching here, there was a sense of something else. a real debate.

mr walz attacked republicans over the loss of the right to an abortion. mind your own business on this, things worked best when roe versus wade was in place. and for mr vance... my party has to do a betterjob on earning the people's trust back on this issue. des franklyjust don't trust us. in a divided country, a real exchange at least and perhaps a glimmer of hope whatever side you are on. we are going to have a break in a moment or two. just a couple of new lines coming on as we were watching that piece. first of all, from syria, state media, the reuters news agency reports three civilians have been killed and three others wounded in an israeli air strike in damascus. so, that is the latest coming in of an

israeli air strike, that time in syria in damascus. three civilians are reported killed with three others wounded. and one line from the eu error agency advising airlines to avoid iranians airspace. that is also coming on as a region also ratchets up the tension. hello. the cloud cover varies a lot across the uk today. some of us have had a clear blue skies. for others it has been a little grey with showers. the broad message for the rest of the week is that it will be turning a little bit drier and sunnier, at least for some of us. for most of us. 0n the satellite picture than thick rain bearing clouds clouds are in the south and that is because a large area of high pressure has established itself across the uk. that has given the sunshine across scotland and many western parts of the uk ticker cloud. tech thickr cloud streaming and off

the atlantic further south. thicker cloud streaming and off the atlantic further south. this evening and overnight, some of the cloud fizzling away. some showers left over from parts of east anglia and the south—east. light wind and clear skies mean mist and four for the glens for the glens of scotland and the lowlands also. generally for many others, early thursday morning will be a little colder. the high pressure is pretty much anchored over the uk. that is on thursday. back that means prolonged spells of sunshine. for many of us, a dry and sunny day right from the word go. temperatures will be more or less the same whether you are northerly or soundly but the weather front is trying to sneak in towards the west. that is end of things to come as we head towards the weekend. this high pressure isn't going to stick around. in fact, thursday and friday is beginning to show signs of slipping away towards the east, and these weather fronts and low pressure makes progress. by the time we get a friday it is a case of thick clouds across ireland, western parts of scotland, some outbreaks of rain, but even here there will be some sunshine. england and wales on friday should have a financial dry day.

certainly on the north sea coast, the channel coast, it's a fine end of the week. temperatures around the same. north or south. beyond that, the weekend and into next week, look at the low pressure, the vortices spinning around here and coming close to the uk, spreading towers is our way. later in the week, tail ends of hurricane is even heading our way, that will mean wind and rain. that is still some way off. let's have a look at the outlook. a bit of a mixed weekend on the way eventually. and then into next week, it does look as though it is autumn full throttle with more unsettled weather. goodbye.

the price of crude jumps amid fears of a wider conflict in the middle east — the region supplies more than a third of the world's oil. also adding to nerves — a dock deadlock. union bosses say they'll strike for as long as it takes as a shutdown of america's east coast ports enters its third day. and in the uk, the department store fenwick says the former harrods director nigel blow will not be taking up the post of chief executive. welcome to business today. let's start with our top global story, the conflict in the middle

east, because oil prices have been surging, and global stock markets volatile — after iran launched a barrage of missiles at targets across israel on tuesday. the middle east region supplies around a third of the world's oil — and analysts are concerned a widening conflict could disrupt supplies. the price of crude jumped almost 5% during late trading on tuesday as news of those attacks emerged. as you can see brent crude is up around a dollar — trading close to 75 dollars a barrel. it's one of the key measures around nervousness of global supplies. us stock markets also reacted — the three main indices closing sharply lower — and markets in asia have been following — japan's nikkei 225 ending more than 2% lower. european stock markets though have opened higher — led by shares of energy and defence companies. a mixed picture across london and certainly in frankfurt and in paris.