wall. is not that. far. right. so we are awaiting more information from the government but what occurred outside what the authorities are saying was a where hoists explosion there are further blasts coming from not including fires which of being struggled to be put on it's this still being put out right now we spoke to freelance journalist holed away in roots he described to us what he saw experience. in the poem boston system i hate to break down completely lost

large parts of the arabic he does he come from the right so i may post up the drugs taken a significant amount of people been injured. 60 pounds suited me she happened to like the building the infrastructure in the whole area devastated. shops around you've been completely destroyed you see behind me you know that in terms of the problems that left in this crazy riot the infrastructure that help this ticket was paid very much from strain from the ongoing and epidemic and these crimes and to me that if this country the area that i mentioned taking a lot of the ensure that it was not the right she's been easy z.z.z. very very nicely and prosecute the whole very very very. well let's get to our middle east correspondent paula sneer who's speaking to us from tel aviv at.

just really dreadful scenes with the latest pictures we're seeing there is from the the hospital in beirut relief. i think it was you that said before that they're being treated. it's an unbelievable tragedy unfolding in beirut right now i was in the. years and just a few moments ago you mentioned the death toll had reached $66.00 we're now hearing that it's at 70 so this is likely to happen in the coming hours that that death toll will continue to count especially as we hearing thousands of people have been injured here in israel in the last few moments the country's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has instructed the national security council chief to discuss possible aid to lebanon with the united nations for ordinator for the middle east peace process now this is unprecedented the 2 countries are technically at war so we see israel offering assistance to levanon through mediators we heard earlier from the country's president offering condolences now this does not do away with

speculation that we heard earlier the speculation that israel might have been involved in israeli officials denying that but of course the speculation does persist canada has now also offered assistance to lebanon canada joins jordan no doubt a number of other countries will come through and offer assistance as well we're also hearing that these damage to a freak international airport the damage is extensive eyewitnesses reporting that they saw we can see from the pictures we've been witnessing damaged buildings in the vicinity some people referring to it as a war zone a disaster area and of course we're hearing from the emergency services on the scene that they still struggling to get to some of the people who are trapped within the rubble. yeah just on what you were saying about israel. help being. offered more than likely will be given through

a 3rd. a 3rd way so not directly between the 2 as you say they're still technically at war but this this will be seen either as a negative or as a positive in many quarters in israel itself of course there will be a lot of people looking at the devastation to today but also you may be more hawkish elements saying 'd that the portables were a lot of attacks on israel or were believed to have been hopping from before so you've got a lot of elements paula in this story developing in lebanon right now. when i mean we've heard from the lebanese interior ministry not to speculate and fishel investigation has been launched and to wait until those official results come out but certainly the initial indications are that what was his was a warehouse with explosives and that's why we've seen some of that speculation that

maybe israelis were involved because a lot of the israeli attacks have been on the warehouses where ammunition was have been held so no doubt you'll have your whole culture in their hands and as well as you can at least say state pointing out that these were explosives the question is are there explosives that were potentially going to be used against israel because that's the way it's one that's always justified any kind of attacks that she's carried out against his by the militants in lebanon always it's because they are transferring their housing and munition that will ultimately be used against israel so that is the israeli argument that is used when they justify the attacks that sometimes they don't even claim responsibility for so they will be a lot of discussion about that no doubt in his role but it is important to stress that at least the official word coming out of israel is that she wasn't in any way involved in this and the devastating pictures we're seeing coming out of beirut with a number of good and injured climbing. it's something that will touch everybody.

really just from what we are seeing it is the perfect storm in lebanon right now you already have hospitals absolutely near full capacity because of the corona virus going into 'd this 'd you've got a social economic situation on the brink before this you also have the assassination of the prime minister the verdict which has divided the country on this 2 day it's a situation where you much of it couldn't get much worse for lebanon. it certainly is a situation where you imagine it couldn't get much worse i mean i've been to see receiving reports of hospital say people who are there because of cars that must be pushed to one side these are hospitals that were waiting overflowing with a number of the 19 positive patients that they had so we're talking about hospitals that were really pushed to their full capacity and now i having to deal with with

with a whole host of new patients so much so that they treat people in the car park on the pavement in the entrance to the hospital they really having to divide the absolute emergency cases from those that are less so it does come at a critical time for levanon we saw yesterday the resignation of the lebanese foreign minister there's a number of corruption charges that are being leveled at that may have been his government so you have distrust and disagreement and division within the lebanese government on a political level and then as you correctly say levanon has been hard hit economically and so the country is struggling to come to terms with its economic crisis and then on top of that you have covered 19 and now this which has been described as the largest loss in lebanon's history and this is a country that has seen its fair share of blasts unfortunately so certainly a lot for the lebanese. i contend with yeah and it's always more difficult isn't it

during the night time we're just looking at pictures as you're speaking of the. emergency reaction is going to go on for quite a while in the lebanese capital all throughout the night police paula thanks very much for bringing us all the middle east bureau chief live in tel aviv. well a recap of the situation in the lebanese couple if you are just joining us it is our breaking news story this hour on our soul story at least 70 people are dead in a devastating explosion in beirut more than $3000.00 we are also hearing are injured according to the health ministry so that fatality number is expected to rise as the hours go on the lebanese interior minister sees the exclusion appears to have been caused by a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate in the port area of must of explanation as you can see going up many hundreds of meters into the sky and water

trying to be poured onto those flames by helicopters as the emergency crews attempt to deal with this situation and we should stress that it is still unclear whether the blast was an accident or a deliberate the army has to control of all districts near the port is an automatic response or something more from the defense ministry we are waiting to get some clarification on both israel. militant group hezbollah denied any involvement after early accusations against them israel's defense ministry has offered humanitarian and medical assistance to lebanon the explosion was reportedly followed by a secondary blast when a fuel depo caught fire causing a must've blow this by the way it happened around 6 hours ago in the early evening people just leaving work from the port area is. why the respect relation of the

fatality rate is going to rise quite significantly the blast destroyed buildings over a wide area the shock waves could be felt as far away as 235 kilometers across the sea videos posted online i'm sure the must have smoke dust cloud covering central beirut cars window doors absolutely demolished many kilometers away from the epicenter of the blast by the way several hospitals were severely damaged in the explosion just adding to the issues that they have already been dealing with corona with the must as of people going into. a city with limited supplies you have to say already it all comes as well there you go just some of the pictures we were also hearing that some of the patients had to be all right side because there simply wasn't any room in doors there have been constant street rallies over the past number of weeks against the government's handling of the worst economic slump since the civil war which ended 3 decades ago we should also

point to a recent escalation on the border with israel which accused hezbollah fighters of trying to infiltrate israeli territory saying about weapons were being stored up this. area as we want to stress as we want to point out again there is no suggestion that israel is in volved or indeed has either at this stage on top of all about the upcoming verdict in the trial over the assassination of former prime minister rafik hariri who was killed in a car bombing in 2005 a u.n. tribunal is. to issue the verdict on friday. well let's bring in an expert on the changes to more. expert on the middle east. yes we university good to see you again. we are pains to stress here that we don't know if this was an attack or an accident

the government says there were explosives stored in the area of the report saying that it could have been an attack your take how does the situation look to. you know that is. negligence. as the last groups another group by. negligence. because of the lebanon and the middle east in general. used to get.

6 years. but also. a lot of explosion especially. after that in lebanon and also some clash of. the border lebanese scientists or just in general the middle east. as you know in syria iraq and. other. possible. but. somewhat. possible. normal for the middle east and lebanon. and we don't know if it's going to happen but we are hoping for some kind of direct government. response.

or something it is nighttime of course there are so. information that we will bring to our viewers. but all. so israel which which is very rare you've got to israel and lebanon technically still at war relations very strained to say the least how significant is that. acting as if you know if there was no supper tonight it's good to you know at least in the area you know message some kind of. relief maybe it will be between the countries and also turkey will help defend it you know that turkey has a lot of hostility and still in the in liberal and some electric some trolls and other. c.e.o.'s who are there. some kind of company is there but this is good or poor if that is not of sabotage but we should

but sometimes you know that in india area you knew were always somewhat as it is coming from their usual suspects israel but sometimes you can find surprising cleaved different. sides of us what are we should think of the. it just that just a brief humanitarian i'm just thinking that you know you've got lebanon which relies very heavily on imports for its food you've got a ready unbelievably strained situation in the country food prices are rising and rising the. the the blast excuse me the blast off the port is now just going to exacerbate you know the problem is that in a very direct way yes it is really important you know port for a liberal mom because the if you look at it you're of course lebanon right now to syria in a war. with

a war in israel and there's no more of the expect except for the sea but i think for them it didn't in order you know. it's they can use. trouble's tripoli airport people port because it was as important as well not as. big of the port but this or kid for who moved who made it didn't there was no other option except for here and c. because of the year of your geopolitical. surrounded by syria and his road it just difficult to send some winter and to be. roads and. maybe turkey. mediterranean because it's because i think is it. by sea to 2 books. from turkey or medicine to the troubles and the use that

it's hard to know exactly what the government is thinking because they're dealing with so many issues you know of course this is part of my but all the other issues we've been going through as well so when we heard that president michel even has convened an emergency meeting of the supreme defense council leading to lots of troops on the on the street why would that be is up because of a fear of looting could could not be because perhaps there is more to this than meets the eye that they need to get a sizable military presence on the streets because they fear something more could happen it's a it's a peculiar situation the troops are going on at the same time as an emergency crews helicopters and ambulances they're all there at the same time. it's just a peculiar picture developing. you know lebanon is the lebanon economy and it was as in a problem you know the protests in our thirty's and also you know the clashes

between the different kinds of comedy. to morrow new. needs and of the member of the civil war you know it's finished in 90 years i think this right you know in order to take some precautions against you know some protest maybe and some. other things in the city because. if you if everybody knows that one and then the security is sort of in lebanon because of some kind of get in. here this fight i think is the irony is there not that i can i speak about one of those 'd outside one of those groups hezbollah was mentioned in the initial aftermath in the initial reaction to this that the may be in some way involved but historically they have been they have been

linked are said to have been linked with the lebanese government so an attack on their soil it's very unlikely is it not that that hezbollah is involved can you give us some background into that. yes it's possible but you know that before especially in 2005 i think there's a hardy. assassination and you remember that maybe it would i want to say is that and syrians that is what was there we don't know exactly but their city is different they're all mixed up but up till a syria was different they did this i am saying that some different kind of. about us and other intelligence officers in lebanon on because really critical here this might be now were normal and also war a war in syria affect lebannon as are also some groups or some

intelligence has tried to make effect on although we dilute the middle east you should be sure it is on going you know you should move from 2011 also lebanese is some kind of you know court jeff in order to you know to use this level non-poor that in general policy of the middle east it's possible your take on what we heard or run around 30 minutes ago we saw some propaganda sites linked to islam. claiming responsibility for what happened today does that sound at all plausible. it's possible evan thinks that everything is on the table because this is really a. split right though you never know but just think it's possible because everybody is on all the intelligence. to come to these and also

israel and syria to come to this and also some groups that have laws from syria and you know that. just kind of organization jesse maybe we don't know exactly but some kind of now know 11th of. this i'm going to. help them sometimes it's possible as well well listen thanks very much for coming on the program live from istanbul middle east chancellor middle east expert on chancellor of akhmed yes we universe the changes to more like and here well if you're watching a little while ago we had a bit of a connection issue with a local resident in beirut let's try and go back to jill charm and i for his take joe good to see you hope you can hear me well and i thank so much for for coming back on the program we're asking you are where you were

speaking to us from a little bit right side the city center on what happened or what is happening right now as we approach midnight in beirut. good evening yes sorry about the connection issues your. reconnect. it's ok no. i live just outside beirut directly in the center. and i think the gremlins had us again to charm a very local resident trying to give us a sense of what's his experiences are we just can't hear you george you can hear me we apologize when the blush of correct small earthquakes go ahead joe actually go ahead you can you can speak a bit longer we can hear you know. we perfect ok i was saying that. i 1st

felt a small earthquake. when i was on my sofa home and then a small small explosions small blast and then came this big mega blast if you recall that. i saw directly i ran out to check out if i could see anything from where i am on a building joined front of me so i couldn't see directly around beirut but. at the moment at this time. beirut is pretty much since destructed at the moment and we have medical services and red cross and all those trying to work hard as well as the army to to find all the injuries and all of the casualties because. it was a huge blast even even my friends in fibrous. have heard the blast and for a moment they thought it was the blast was in cyprus. to that extent it was not allowed

. to sit in context. so you know we're working on me well the government and. the people are working to try and stabilize the situation and they have like many hotels in many. areas trying to open their doors for the. for the those on lost or homes because of the blast. and you can just give us a sense of how your friends have been reacting how did people that you know react in beirut to this tragic situation which i'm sure you were calling them and wanting to know they were safe. i have a friend professor he has been in the area but luckily usually he goes in the summer too in the mountains up in the mountains so he's basically safe but. home is a big city down at the moment and i have few friends who are there at the moment

some of them got lucky they had a few jump on the jump but then they managed to they will. have a cousin who was there and he he was injured a bit but now he's ok. you know just so many issues and a room around the capital if you and just as i'm not yet a really tragic tragic glad to hear that your friends your family apart from those few you're mentioning are safe and we can only express our condolences to those who were dealing with the it's allergies and lots more in the aftermath all of this joe thanks for coming on the program the time isn't enough sure thing thank you joe chum a local resident in maine really giving it a very much applauded her thank you. well just before we go to break

a very quick recap we're hearing over 70 people dead as a huge explosion rocked be written a number of hours ago we don't know what caused it whether it was a deliberate attack or an accident we've been getting all the latest information to you here on r t international our breaking news on continuing coverage of this event stay with us this is our 2 international. 54 jets and more than 1300 military personnel are headed to air

force base in alaska where is that to say come on i'll show you what's the reason for any type of enhanced u.s. military presence in this area russia. what is it suddenly about the south china sea that makes it so that it 11000000000 barrels of oil. take a look at this map who really owns what kind of says no it belongs to us india says no we claim that that belongs to us both of these countries have nuclear weapons capabilities there is reason for concern so that's why we're going to drill down on this story for you today right here on the news with rick sanchez where you know as we always like to say we do believe by golly it's time to do news again. all across the board trying to stem the flow. and not just by a pointer to traditionally incumbency alone is enough to win the election but this

time around it is a race trump need lose and let's be clear this has little to do with joe biden how did we get to. you cannot be both with yeah you know what. that's geysers but it's a survival guide station just like all the stores simply have to travel all the services. be sure it's not there are you going to get them back. oh heck no good is a repatriation team when we get arrested 7 years. billeted separate that's kaiser

for. a short time ago an american airplane. on hiroshima. got. someone to go. on. i like most americans growing up the bombs were a great thing they ended the war they say hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides and that's what my grandfather always said was his reason for the decision. truman was hoping for a dual strategy one was to drop the bombs and hope that japan would surrender and number 2 the americans were trying to send a message to the soviet union there was an american war plenty in october 145 had chosen 20 targets in russia.

breaking news on our t.v. a devastating explosion hits the lebanese capital beirut leaving buildings in rubble on causing a huge fire the court says so far. on social media a lot of lebanese are very. fortunately there for. at least 70 people are killed in the blast according to the lebanese health ministry 3700 more are injured. turkey and israel offer emergency humanitarian medical aid to lebanon or hospitals are reportedly struggling to cope.