Downtown abbey who has died at the age of 89 years old. He welcome to the World Today an hour of international news from the bbc . The lebanese Capital Beirut has been rocked by a series of powerful explosions after another series of israeli Air Strikes on the city this time reportedly aimed at the leader of his brother, Hasan Nasrallah. Israel said it was attacking hezbollah s central headquarters In Beirut s southern suburb of dahhiyeh there are reports of half a dozen buildings being destroyed, with many casualties. Israeli media are reporting Hasan Nasrallah was the target but a source close to his brother said the leader is alive. Heres the latest on the situation with the bbc s Orla Guerlin explosions. Israel has struck beirut with a series of massive explosions. Its hard to imagine a bigger escalation or a starker picture of war. And here was the aftermath. The Hezbollah Stronghold of dahieh in the Southern Suburbs, now looking like gaza. Many lebanese fear thats where things are headed. The Israeli Military says it targeted hezbollah s hq. Moments ago, the Israel Defense forces carried out a precise strike on the central headquarters of the Hezbollah Terror Organisation that served as the epicentre of hezbollah s terror. Hezbollah s central headquarters was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the dahieh In Beirut, as part of hezbollah s strategy of using lebanese people as human shields. Some israeli media are reporting that the target of the strike was the hezbollah leader, sheikh hassan nasrallah, but thats unconfirmed. Pro regime media in iran are saying hes in a safe place and was not affected. Several buildings have been brought down In Beirut and hospitals are now appealing for blood donors. Orla guerin, Bbc News, southern lebanon. Najat saliba is a member of the Lebanese Parliament i asked her what she makes of the blast. I think you heard the explosion. I i think you heard the explosion. I think you heard the explosion. I think you heard the exlosion. explosion. I was right here. Its interesting explosion. I was right here. Its interesting you explosion. I was right here. Its interesting you say explosion. I was right here. Its interesting you say that j its interesting you say that because yesterday afternoon, there was an a similar Air Strike, but actually wasnt similar at all, as it turned out, but that is that is what israel called a precision strike. And i went down to the scene yesterday afternoon. Hit by an israeli plane, and you can see just how that one apartment had been targeted. There was rubble hanging, the windows have been broken. Today it was a completely different picture. I was here in The Sound, the repeated sound they are in the report of those bangs really, really loud bangs that sort of reverberated through the year that you could feel at about seven or eight of them and very quick Succession Sort of made Everybody Stop and jump sort of made Everybody Stop and jump and actually in the first instance, people thought that once again it was The Sound of Sonic Booms because thats happened quite a lot recently with theres really pleased who in the Sound Breaker Sound barrier. It was only then when a very large cloud of smoke became visible on the skyline just over here. A i2 storey building, it huge very dense, very thick and Dark Cloud of smoke. It became apparent that actually what had happened was really significant. And what we are seeing now it appears to be a whole block. Eight separate buildings, completely destroyed seemingly in this strike. Obviously the civilian population will have been very badly hit. The point was made that they are still digging through the rubble at the moment, and when you look at those pictures come as you can see, just the level of destruction, we are talking about fully collapsed buildings, what looks like a sort of Crater Underneath that Rescue And Recovery work is onlyjust beginning. No doubt that that Death Toll will climb in the next few hours. Civilians so often are the victims here. Benjamin netanyahu and his speech at the un just before these Air Strikes was saying our war is not with lebanon, but i guess for the people they are in the Southern Suburbs of beirut, living in those residential blocks, doesnt feel like that. Exactly. The last few days where the israeli strikes have happened, sailor similarly in the valley We Saw those queues of people, people taking hours to drive up the coast and actually come further north to places like beirut which were seen as places of safety. The Southern Suburbs is a Hezbollah Stronghold. Very close to the airport, as you say quite rightly. An area where children live where families live. It is a very densely packed area, very heavily populated area. And even over the last few days where there was that messaging. You remember that israeli Messaging And Benjamin then the outcome of the israeli Prime Ministers set himself to people living in those areas, dont you protect hezbollah. Move away, keep yourself safe. And a similar message telling people to leave the Southern Suburbs and im not sure many people did. But you are absolutely right to say the civilian population will have been badly hit. Now, israel say that they were targeting what they call the, and centre, essentially, said that it was deliberately placed underneath residential buildings. Take a moment to consider that this is the heart of the Capital City be. This is the centre of beirut, and to see a strike of this Size And Magnitude is really quite extraordinary. At this current phase in the conflict, dont forget this country has seen war before. They saw a Long Civil War here. And certainly this phase, this is a really significant escalation. When ou talk significant escalation. When you talk to significant escalation. When you talk to people, significant escalation. When you talk to people, what significant escalation. When you talk to people, what do| you talk to people, what do they think of hezbollah was meant to they feel they have taken hostage in a sense and brought war upon them . Or is there anger all directed at israel . , there anger all directed at israel . V. israel . Thats an interesting Question Israel . Thats an interesting question. Its israel . Thats an interesting question. Its very israel . Thats an interesting question. Its very sort israel . Thats an interesting question. Its very sort of. Question. Its very sort of complex and part of it actually goes back to the civil war that i was talking aboutjust a moment ago because this is really secretary and sectarian society and it runs through the politics it runs through the politics it runs through the politics it runs through the whole makeup of the country. So obviously hezbollah and a mall, another one of the political parties that we are looking at here, very much representative of the shieh population, you know, those people see hezbollah as representing them, looking after them. Representing them, looking afterthem. Politically representing them, looking after them. Politically the most powerful political and Military Organisation in lebanon. Often described as a state within a State And Benjamin that yahoo said, this is not, he said, fight with the lebanese state but a fight with hezbollah. People here, they look at the problems that are being caused and of course, it causes them fear and concern. It lebanon is being unfortunate in recent years that across the political spectrum, at least, there isnt a president at the moment because of the different factions, different sides could agree on one. Lebanon struggles at the best of times it was already struggling before this and i think that has created in many ways this sort of vacuum that has allowed hezbollah to become increasingly powerful in lebanese society. Lebanese society. Thank you so much. Lebanese society. Thank you so much anna lebanese society. Thank you so much. Anna foster lebanese society. Thank you so much. Anna foster come lebanese society. Thank you so much. Anna foster come alive l much. Anna foster come alive for us In Beirut. Lets speak to fawaz gerges, professor of International Relations at London School of economics. Well, where do you see this going next . There was initially a lot of pressure on israel to accept a Cease Fire. That seems to have been blown out of the water both by benjamin that yahoo and his speech at the un but also by these Air Strikes. Israel its not, it seems, going to cancel a 21 day Cease Fire, how do you see this conflict going . Ceasefire, how do you see this conflict going . Conflict going . Arent going to commit conflict going . Arent going to commit to conflict going . Arent going to commit to a conflict going . Arent going to commit to a 27 conflict going . Arent going to commit to a 27 day to commit to a 27 day Cease Fire. You will make it is like what the us has said. Its watching the israeli attacks on beirut with great alarm, that means the americans have said that israel had not coordinated, had not really told them about the attacks in advance, even though israels Prime Minister telegraphed his intention that the united Nations Today just a few intention that the united Nations Todayjust a few hours ago by saying he didnt mention the Hostage Dl in gaza and he said he wants Hamas To Surrender Total War and he promised to trash hezbollah. Regardless of what the leader has done or not, we do not know so far. The dust has to settle. My so far. The dust has to settle. My fear, and i hope i am wrong, this is really a tipping point. This is the spark that will trigger all out war. I dont think theres any return at this particular stage because, and im not, you know, hezbollah has really been holding back, has really been acting with restraint, and they have avoided targeting israeli civilians in the past few weeks, even though israel has not distinguished between civilians and combatants, even though the Israeli Military tells it differently. Regardless, i think im on my fear is the all out war. In lebanon will most likely, infrastructure will be destroyed, but israel will be bogged down in The Killing Fields of Lebanon And Gaza for years to come, as they were in 1982 and 2006. D0 years to come, as they were in 1982 and 2006. 1982 and 2006. Do you think the will 1982 and 2006. Do you think they will go 1982 and 2006. Do you think they will go in 1982 and 2006. Do you think they will go in with 1982 and 2006. Do you think they will go in with a 1982 and 2006. Do you think they will go in with a ground| they will go in with a Ground Invasion as well as all these Air Strikes . Invasion as well as all these Air Strikes . Israel cannot win this warjust Air Strikes . Israel cannot win this warjust by Air Strikes . Israel cannot win this warjust by air Air Strikes . Israel cannot win this warjust by air raids. This warjust by air raids. Even the americans and the british, they tell you that an Air Strike is by itself, its not effective. You have to send boots on the ground to flush out hezbollah combatants, and thats exactly what hezbollah has been saying. If you decide to really launch a Ground War, you will be bogged down. Lebanon is not gaza, and hezbollah is not hamas. Hezbollah is not hamas. Hezbollah is not hamas. Hezbollah is ten times, if not hundreds times more powerful than hamas. In lebanon has open fronts. Youre going to have Tens Of Thousands of fighters coming to lebanon from Syria And Iraq and probably iran, Evenif And Iraq and probably iran, even if it is not directly joining the fray. Think about historical examples, how the american army was bogged down in afghanistan and iran because this is asymmetrical warfare, and sadly and tragically it seems that israel leaders have not really learned the lessons of history, what happened to their forces both in 1982 of history, what happened to theirforces both in 1982 and 2006. So Benjamin Netanyahu is really going for a forever war both in Gaza And Lebanon and sadly and tragically civilians, palestinians, lebanese and israelis will pay the cost of this particular Great Adventure and misadventure. You this particular Great Adventure and misadventure. And misadventure. You talk about the and misadventure. You talk about the strengths and misadventure. You talk about the strengths of about the strengths of hezbollah. But at the same time, israel might think hezbollah has been very weekend in the last few days, the pager attacks, exploding walkie talkies, then where we have had a series of Air Strikes that have killed quite a lot of senior hezbollah commanders, we gather. So israel might think, actually, this is a good time to launch a Ground Invasion. Ground invasion. Absolutely. And this will Ground Invasion. Absolutely. And this will be Ground Invasion. Absolutely. And this will be a Ground Invasion. Absolutely. And this will be a monstrousj and this will be a monstrous miscalculation. Hezbollah has suffered a heavy blow, psychological operational blows. Commanders have been killed, the Communication Explosions Thousands were injured has infiltrated and able to assassinate top leaders, but again, a Ground Invasion is entirely different because israel has one of the most powerful armies, as you know, in the middle east. Israel has a superior motility technology. Top Air Force in the world thanks to the united states funding. But a ground were dramatically changed. Hezbollah fighters have been waiting for this for decades. You have between 30 50,000 hezbollah, hardened fighters. Not to mention reservists, and im not saying that israel will not destroy a huge part, will let a Road Hezbollah Plasma capabilities, but israel may not win asymmetrical war neither in gaza nor in lebanon. Think of what israel has done in gaza. Hundreds of thousands injured. The strip has been destroyed. Yet thomas continues to resist. It has more from a Military Organisation into guerrilla warfare. And think of what the americans and the brits and nato have basically gone through in Afghanistan And Evenin gone through in afghanistan and even in iraq. Asymmetrical warfare, israel will face an entirely different war and it cannot win. So if the overarching goal of israel is to return the 16,000 israeli citizens to their homes on the lebanese israel front, a Ground War will not achieve this particular goal. In fact, Tens Of Thousands if not hundreds of thousands of israelis becoming displaced and millions of lebanese as well, of course. Its always good to get urinalysis. Thank you so much from the London School of economics, professor of International Relations. Thank you very much indeed for your time. Earlier i spoke to the a member of the Lebanese Parliament. I asked member of the Lebanese Parliament. Iasked Herfor Member of the Lebanese Parliament. I asked herfor her reaction to these devastating Air Strikes in the Southern Suburbs of beirut today. Definitely we have six buildings brought down to the ground. They are turned into rubble. In those buildings are probably full of people, especially that we have already half A Million people displaced from the south, and most of them have families in this region where the bombing happened. I think what is happening and what we are witnessing tonight continuing in the same way, using the same rhetoric and using the same excuses. There is no excuse to kill people and to really bomb the city the way it happened tonight. I am living In Beirut and have heard every single bomb it, ive learned The Sound of the aeroplanes and we are all fearfulfor of the aeroplanes and we are all fearful for our lives, and god helps all the families that are now either under the rubble or have Loved Ones over there. I mean, its really a catastrophe. Its a disaster. What the israeli Prime Minister is saying today is that Israels War was not with lebanon itself, its with hezbollah. Hezbollah is sending rockets into northern israel and Tens Of Thousands of people have had to leave their homes in northern israel because of that Hezbollah Barrage of attacks on northern israel. Its true that people usually tend to forget what politicians say come about, you know, it hasnt been long since the genocide in gaza has started and i think that using the same exact rhetoric to give excuses to their killings and to their massive bombing two buildings that are occupied by lebanese people. Its not really justified, those excuses cannot justify the atrocity in the killing that is happening to the lebanese people. Its one thing to watch it on tv about its another thing to see the suffering of the killing and also the humanitarian crisis that we are living with half A Million displaced. Thats already a quarter of what was displaced in gaza. So we see the same scenario repeated over and over again. But the same scenario repeated over and over again and over again. But do you not. And over again. But do you not do and over again. But do you not. Do you and over again. But do you not. Do you not and over again. But do you not. Do you not think and over again. But do you | not. Do you not think that hezbollah have brought this catastrophe, as you call it, after the people of lebanon by using lebanon as a base to Attack Israel . I using lebanon as a base to Attack Israel . Attack israel . I think they can. Attack israel . I think they can you Attack Israel . I think they can. You know, Attack Israel . I think they can. You know, i Attack Israel . I think they can. You know, i ran. Attack israel . I think they can. You know, i ran in| can. You know, i ran in the us are talking to each other. They are using diplomatic ways and diplomatic venues to actually solve their problems. So if there is any intention to solve the problem diplomatically, i dont think they would have used all of these massive killings. I think in the 21st century, we need to completely not allow those atrocities to be happening and we need to resort to diplomatic ways to solve all the differences and the challenges that we are facing. And again, a lot of countries are facing similar challenges perhaps and they are able to solve their problems by using some discussions and continue with negotiations. Let me say also that this rhetoric is easily said but the palestinian cause has not been going on since october seven. Has not been going on since octoberseven. It has not been going on since october seven. It has been going on for 75 years. And that is why we see a lot of, you know, hatred sometimes from the part of the two people. But all of this could be solved by diplomatic efforts and should be solved by diplomatic efforts without causing all the harm and although suffering and killing that we are seeing, whether its in gaza or in lebanon. x, whether its in gaza or in lebanon whether its in gaza or in lebanon. ,. lebanon. A member of the lebanese lebanon. A member of the Lebanese Parliament lebanon. A member of the l Lebanese Parliament talking lebanon. A member of the Lebanese Parliament talking to me a short time ago. Ijust want to show you some pictures now. These were filmed from a window of the Air Strikes in the Southern Suburbs of beirut that we now know have killed two people, injured at least 76 according to the lebanese health ministry. Letsjust show you those pictures. So there you can just get a of the moment there was Air Strikes happened in the area of southern beirut, a Hezbollah Stronghold, israel says it was targeting hezbollah, and centre, some suggestions in the israeli media targeting the leader of hezbollah himself, although hezbollah sources have said that he is still alive. We have heard from the iranian embassy In Beirut. I ran backs and sponsors hezbollah. Saying these israeli Air Strikes in these israeli Air Strikes in the Southern Suburbs were a crime that deserve appropriate punishment. The reigning embassy saying that these Air Strikes change the rules of the game. Well, the israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is cutting short his visit to New York where he has been at the un and returning to israel following those Air Strikes. Shortly before them, he was telling the Un General Assembly in New York that the offensive against hezbollah would go on until its objectives have been met. He made no mention of the us led proposal for an immediate ceasefire between israel and his brother, instead promising that israel will not rest in striking lebanon until israeli citizens whove been evacuated from the north of the country because of the Security Risk could return home. From New York, here s tom bateman. The israeli leader walked straight into the question all the diplomats here at the un are asking. Prime minister netanyahu, are you agreeing to a Cease Fire deal or not . And he wasnt answering it in the hall, either. Instead, this was defiant and a vow for hezbollahs backers. I have a message for the tyrants of tehran, if you strike us, we will strike you. There is no place in iran that the long arm of Israel Cannot reach, and that is true of the entire middle east. Watching were some relatives of israeli hostages held in gaza. Mr netanyahu didnt mention diplomacy, saying only, surrender by hamas would be enough to stop israels offensive. And he made no mention of the us call for a truce with lebanon, instead saying Hezbollah Rocket Fire had to stop. Yet israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, ive come here today to say enough is enough chanting palestine will be free and where Mr Netanyahu goes, so does dissent against israels military offensives. Now lebanese flags join the palestinian ones. They accuse the us of keeping the weapons flowing to israel, despite Mr Netanyahu ignoring much of what america has wanted. First over gaza, now they believe hes Making A Mockery of the us s calls for a truce in lebanon. That sentiment was being shared inside the un, too. Lebanons Foreign Minister said the current crisis threatened his countrys existence. It will be impossible to extinguish the flames of this crisis which will engulf the region, he said. After Mr Netanyahu vowed to continue israels strikes in lebanon, multiple explosions were heard In Beirut. And despite the diplomacy in the us, neither side is backing down. Tom bateman, Bbc News, at the united nations in New York. This was the scene In Beirut. We saw smoke rising on the city after that series of Air Strikes that left at least two people dead and 76 injured, according to the lebanese authorities. Much more coverage to calm here on Bbc News. Do stay tuned. Hello there. It looks like things will be turning dry as we head into the weekend. Thanks to a ridge of high pressure, it will help a lot of the floodwater to ease down, but it will be quite short lived because as we move into sunday, weve got the next area of low pressure pushing in from the southwest. Now this is this Mornings Rain clearing away on this active Weather Front into the near continent. But thats open the floodgates. Yes, some brighter sunny weather, but also a cold arctic northerly air flow. So it really will be quite chilly as we head through this evening. And certainly overnight temperatures will drop like a stone under clear skies. A few showers peppering coastal areas, still quite breezy down North Sea Coast and a bit of cloud pushing into northwest scotland. So temperatures recovering here, but it will be chilly elsewhere. Under clear skies. Northern england central Eastern Scotland could see A Touch Of Frost to greet you on saturday morning, but thanks to this area of high pressure, it should be largely settled on saturday for england and wales. Very much needed drier, brighter weather here so it will be a chilly start. Lots of sunshine in the south, some cloud across scotland which will tend to filter a little bit further southwards through the afternoon, but it should stay mostly dry in the midlands. Southwards should see the best of the Sunshine Temperatures responding a little bit higher. I think generally 13 to 15 degrees for england and wales. Low teens. Further north, its going to be another chilly night Saturday Night under clear skies. Sunday starts fine, but then heres this new area of low pressure, which will start to bring wet and windy weather to southern and western areas. So it starts chilly, bright again, northern and eastern areas. The sunshine will fade as the cloud builds ahead of this area of low pressure, and it turns wet and windy for northern ireland, western england, wales and into the midlands. Temperatures again into the mid teens in the south. Something a Bit Cooler further north. Now this area of low pressure will move across areas which really dont need any more rainfall during the course of Sunday Night into monday, but it will be a weakening feature. Still a blustery day to come on monday, gales close to the coast and outbreaks of Heavy Rain in places like i mentioned, we really dont need it further north. A few showers i think for scotland. Some sunny spells, probably the best of it across Western Scotland and temperatures range from 13 to 16 degrees. A bit closer to where we should be for the time of year. For the upcoming week, it looks like the middle part of the week will be fine and settled again before it turns more unsettled towards the end of the week. Hello again, youre watching Bbc News with the latest headlines. Israel says it is targeting the Command Centre of hezbollah in the Southern Suburbs of beirut. Clouds of smoke rising over the city. This is the moment that the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Air Strikes Neta Nyahu approved Air Strikes on netanyahu approved Air Strikes on beirut from New York, according to his office. The attacks came just a few minutes after mr Benjamin Netanyahu told the Un General Assembly that the fight against hezbollah would go on until israel meets its objectives. In other news, Donald Trump is met ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and said it is time to end the war with russia. In the oscar winning actress has died at the age of 89 dame maggie smith. Powerful explosions after another series of israeli Air Strikes on the city. Israel says it was attacking Hezbollah Central Headquarters In Beirut in the Southern Suburbs. There are half a dozen buildings that were destroyed in