Guaranteed report. It is a significant and pivotal moment not just for the conflict but for the wider Middle East, the repercussions of what has happened here will have an impact notjust on the continued fighting between israel and lebanon, but also on the wider part of the region as well. Now, strikes have continued today here in beirut. I want to show you the strikes that have been going on in lebanon. Officials here say that nearly 800 people have now been killed since monday, and that particular attacker and that particular attack i was describing to you that killed Hassan Nasrallah took place here in beirut. You can see the proximity of this to the southern suburbs of the city, i Hezbollah Strongholds. A Hezbollah Strongholds. This is a blow to that group but also to its main backer and finance, iran. Already, we are waiting to see how iranians proxies, and there are various of them across the region, we are talking about iranians backed Militia Groups in iraq and syria, and the houthis in yemen, and of course, hamas in gaza, who are waiting to see what the response may be. At a Grassroots Response on the streets of beirut, people who have seen Hassan Nasrallah leading the hezbollah organisation. He was there at the inception, he was a figureHead of the group, and you have seen emotion on the street here as well for People Today who have only ever known him as this important figure in their lives. They are hezbollah supporters or living in one of those areas. It has been a fast moving day, and our senior international Correspondent Orla Guerin has been following the developments. This is what beirut endured overnight massive israeli strikes that could ignite the whole region. By day, confirmation from hezbollah that its long time leader, sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, had been killed. For his followers, its a devastating loss. Israel gave this account of killing its old enemy Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the terrorist army hezbollah, was killed by Israel Defense forces in a precise strike in beirut Last Night while he was in hezbollah� s central Headquarters commanding more imminent attacks against the people of israel. Its people here who are fleeing today, some Heading to the north or the east, clinging to the hope that theyll find safety, even as Ambulances Rush in for new wounded. We travelled through dahieh, the Hezbollah Stronghold now looking anything but. Looking anything but. Its been bombed its been bombed time after time. Time after time. This is just one of the this is just one of the locations that has been hit. Locations that has been hit. Theres smoke still rising theres smoke still rising here, theres ash in here, theres ash in the air, and you can smell the air, and you can smell the explosives, and i can hear the explosives, and i can hear a drone now overHead. A drone now overHead. The strike here happened the strike here happened overnight, and since then, overnight, and since then, there has been no let up. There has been no let up. In beirut� s martyrs� square, in beirut� s martyrs� square, many slept in the open, many slept in the open, and remained there today, new homeless from the and remained there today, new homeless from the Middle Easts newest war. Middle easts newest war. The governor of beirut the governor of beirut fears for his city. Fears for his city. What do you think is what do you think is the israeli plan here . The israeli plan here . What are they trying to do . What are they trying to do . I dont know, but israel i dont know, but israel want to kill and to want to kill and to kill and to kill. Kill and to kill. You cannot predict what israel can do. But you fear the worst . May god protect this country. It seems a very sad moment for you. Its the saddest moment in my life. Thank you. And a moment of Grave Danger for more than hezbollah. No one can be sure what will come next. Orla guerin, bbc news, beirut. Hassan nasrallah was a key target for israel and had been for many years, notjust in the last year since the Cross Border attacks began on the 8th of october, the day of course after those with residential buildings where families and children were living, israel has talked today about what a significant success that was for them. Our Security CorrespondentFrank Gardner looks now at a man who is one of the most well known and influential in the Middle East. Hassan nasrallah, a towering figure in the violent world of Middle East militias, a hero to many lebanese shia, to israel and other some western countries, a leading terrorist. His assassination by israel is hugely significant. It removes at a stroke a key figure in irans so called Axis Of Resistance against israel. Hassan nasrallah had been Secretary General of hezbollah for 32 years, overseeing its growth into the worlds most heavily armed non State Army and a political party. He was born in lebanon in 1960 in beirut� s eastern district. He took over the leadership in 1992 when his predecessor was assassinated by israel. Armed with up to the minute intelligence, the israeli Air Force targeted the underground bunker where hezbollah� s leadership was meeting. This is both a major escalation and a challenge to iran. Hezbollah� s power has been seriously weakened by the recent assassinations, the sabotage miscommunications, the sabotage of communications, and Air Strikes on its weapons dumps. It still possesses powerful long range missiles hidden underground. Will they now aim these are Tel Aviv and other cities in revenge . Will israel send troops into lebanon to find and destroy them . And can hezbollah recover from all of these blows . Hezbollah� s strategic ally is iran, key to what happens next in the Middle East is what Ayatollah Khamenei decides. Iran has been humiliated, but it can ill afford a war with israel. Frank gardner, bbc news. Our international editor, jeremy bowen, is injerusalem with this assessment of what is next for hezbollah. Hezbollah has to decide what it does. They have to reconstitute their command structure. Theyve lost all their top leaders, pretty much, as well as nasrallah. They have to try and find how they communicate with each other, and they have to decide what they do with the rest of their arsenal. And it seems pretty clear that they still have some very potent weapons, some of which are hidden away in mountains and in tunnels. So what do they do . The way that wars might spread or war might spread in the region depends on the responses of the parties involved in it. And if, for example, for example, hezbollah decided that they needed to use their weapons because they might lose them, then a fiercer onslaught on israel, killing civilians perhaps, israel might respond with a much even stronger response. Now, the israelis themselves have been talking about perhaps a Ground Invasion of southern lebanon. That, too, would be yet another escalatory steps. And theres also the issue about what iran, hezbollah� s backer, would do. They have shown they dont want a wider war in the Middle East, but perhaps theyre looking at the pressure now that they, indirectly, and hezbollah, directly, are under and thinking that if they dont respond more fiercely, then not only will they lose some of the allegiance of their allies and clients, but also it might amount to a strategic defeat of sorts for them. Jeremy bowen reflecting on the responses and reactions that might be over the next few hours and days. We had in the last hour or so ourfirst we had in the last hour or so our first response out of the usa from the us president Joe Biden who made comments about the israeli Air Strike that happened Last Night and the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Lets Speak Tojenny Kumah in washington. Tell us first of all what President Biden has had to say. Yes, in the last hour or so, we have had a statement from Joe Biden saying that the death of Hassan Nasrallah is a measure of justice theres many victims. Ofjustice for his many victims. He points to the Hundreds Of American Victims and victims of other nationalities that he says have died as a result of the regime. And he reiterates that the usa is really supportive of israels right to defend itself. He also says that he has ordered a bolstering of defensive posture of Us Military Forces in the middle East Region to act as a deterrent against further escalation from iran, and he has reiterated the need for a diplomatic solution. And what wider significance can we attach to those remarks from President Biden . Well, these remarks are pretty much consistent with the message we have had from President Biden� s administration for months now, for the last year, where the us has reiterated its support, often called for israel to be mindful and to avoid civilian deaths. And also, called for a Ceasefire And Hostage deal. There is a sense of growing tension in the white house, and frustration with this latest strike. President biden said yesterday that the usa didnt know that it was going to happen. And it has happened in a week when the un appealed for a 21 day ceasefire, and in his remarks today, President Biden did not make any reference to that. It also. We learned that prime Minister Netanyahu ordered this strike moments before he appeared before the Un General Assembly in new york. So, a number of issues there that has perhaps led to a sense of the us feeling that their request for israel to act in a certain way, not necessarily being adhered to or listened to. Thank you, that is our correspondent in washington. There will be an election in the usa in the next few weeks, and byjanuary there will of course be a new president in place, be it, Kamala Harris or donald trump. Nobody knows just yet. What will be interesting is what us policy to israel will be in the future. It is an issue as well in the election campaign. The us reaction will be interesting to track over the next few months as well as the regional response. We have been talking about that here in the Middle East. It is a huge development. We have been talking over the last week or so about this continuing escalation began with those escalation that that began with those exploding Pager And Walkie talkie Attacks On Hezbollah members in lebanon. We then had israeli Air Strikes in the South And East of the country, we had strikes in the southern suburbs of the capital, beirut, what israel called Precise Strikes where they killed various commanders in hezbollah, strikes that targeted one or two apartments within a building. We again saw Last Night another significant escalation, when keep using, a further Escalation Yesterday Evening when we saw and heard that huge strike here in beirut a which we now know killed the leader of hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of that group over 30 years and involved since its creation. He was very much a figureHead for it. It leaves questions about what happens am in lebanon and in the wider Middle East. It is a hugely pivotal moment. There is a lot of concern about what happens next, but i think one thing that is fair to say is that, as the last week and the duration of this conflict going back decades, it is enormously difficult to accurately predict what will happen next in this region. But, there is Fear And Concern among ordinary people here who have seen wars here before and who are hoping that this can be de escalated and that those tensions can perhaps be brought back down. Bit more reaction coming out of the usa in the form of a statement from, harris. Also significantly, the democratic Candidate Form Daley for the us election. She said Hassan Nasrallah was a terrorist with american blood on his hands. Over decades his leadership of hezbollah destabilised the Middle East and led to the killing of countless mental Deer Mack innocent people in lebanon, syria, israel, and Around The World. She talks about having unwavering commitment to the security of israel and supporting israels right to defend itself. Significantly, she talks about how President Biden and hurt do not want to see conflict in the Middle East. They have been working on a diplomatic solution along the Israel Lebanon Border so that people can safely return along both sides of that border. To claim the best path forward. That is from Kamala Harris, the us vice president. Lets return to the lebanese capital, beirut, and speak Middle East correspondent, hugo bachega. Given the events around you and in the last few hours, dim Lighting Solution must seem a long way away . Long way away . Exactly. The si. Ns long way away . Exactly. The signs we long way away . Exactly. The signs we are long way away . Exactly. The signs we are seeing long way away . Exactly. The signs we are seeing from long way away . Exactly. The i signs we are seeing from israel indicate the israelis are going aHead with the offensive against hezbollah and the indications are that it is likely that we are going to see a Ground Incursion into South Lebanon to destroy the infrastructure that has been used by hezbollah in the south of the country and to push fighters away from the border. We have seen that the israeli Air Strikes have continued across the country, especially here in beirut following this killing of Hassan Nasser a Hassan Nasrallah. More needs to be done to week and and remove this threat from. It is difficult to see how we are going to see De Escalation happen, how we are going to see diplomacy achieving any kind of deal here for a ceasefire in this violence. Deal here for a ceasefire in this violence. Gives a sense of what things this violence. Gives a sense of what things are this violence. Gives a sense of what things are like this violence. Gives a sense of what things are like there, this violence. Gives a sense of| what things are like there, how much are you sensing the Air Strikes continue . Much are you sensing the Air Strikes continue . Exactly, so, there have strikes continue . Exactly, so, there have been strikes continue . Exactly, so, there have been similar strikes continue . Exactly, so, i there have been similar strokes in beirut. This afternoon. And again, the israeli authorities are saying that this offensive, this campaign against hezbollah is going to continue, and obviously, the fear here, in lebanon, is were going to see violence in a wider campaign by the israeli military. We dont know how hezbollah is going to respond to the killing of its leader, we note that the group has a vast arsenal of weapons, it hasnt yet deployed its most sophisticated weapons, missiles that can strike deep inside israeli territory. And obviously, the relationship that happens here with the lebanese and the lebanese Government And Hezbollah as its should become placated, western countries consider hezbollah to be a terrorist organisation, but has been a mad mac is much more than a militia here in lebanon. It is a political Party But Hezbollah is much more than a militia here in lebanon. It is a political party, a social movement across lebanon. There was shock across the country, with the killing of Hassan Nasrallah. But, there is a lot of tension here and uncertainty about what is going to happen next. � ~. , about what is going to happen next. � ~. ,. ,. , next. And i know that there are so many fears next. And i know that there are so many fears about next. And i know that there are so many fears about the next. And i know that there are j so many fears about the impact this is having on lebanese society, which was already under great strain and economic crises the Health Service under great stress. Indie crises the Health Service under great stress great stress. We have seen 100,000 great stress. We have seen 100,000 people great stress. We have seen 100,000 people have great stress. We have seen 100,000 people have been great stress. We have seen 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, in particular, in the south of the country, where many of these Air Strikes have happened over the last ten days or so. And this is putting a lot of pressure on the government, on the authorities. Shelters here have received a large number of displaced residents. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the sheer number of casualties from the israeli Air Strike. The authorities warned if there is no ceasefire, there is no De Escalation here, and that they are to cope with these displaced residents and the casualties of the attacks. As he said, lebanon has been struggling to recover from years of severe economic crises. Again, it is a difficult situation for the lebanese authorities here. Thank you very much, hugo. Have a correspondent in beirut. In northern israel, gatherings have been limited. Work and educational activities are only allowed with Shelter Facilities at hand. Earlier today, Israels Defence Minister issued a short statement about the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, he said it is one of the most significant targeted operations in the history of the state of israel. The state of israel has the state of israel. The state of israel has eliminated the state of israel. The state i of israel has eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of hezbollah. He was the murder of thousands of israelis and foreign citizens. He was an immediate threat to the life of thousands of israelis and other citizens. To our enemies, i say we are strong and determined. To our partners, i say our i want to come back to them just moment, sorry to interrupt, what we know israel is continuing to carry out strikes on lebanon at the moment. Strikes on lebanon at the moment strikes on lebanon at the moment. , moment. There are three core issues that moment. There are three core issues that we moment. There are three core issues that we are moment. There are three core issues that we are conducting | issues that we are conducting currently, we are continuing to conduct Precision Strikes against perpetrators of terrorism. Earlier today we took out one of hezbollahs senior intelligence officials, Thatis Senior intelligence officials, that is one rule that we are continuing to do. The second is indeed taking out the strategic assets that hezbollah has, they still have over 100,000, probably more, rockets, missiles, drones, some of those with Precision Guided Missile capabilities, Last Night took out three different locations of coast to see Precision Guided Missiles, and second element which is important, those tools of Death And Terrorism still remain in the hands, and a quick interception when there are terrorists that are planning to conduct strikes. On the matter of all the weaponry that you say hezbollah still has pointing at israel, hezbollah is still firing rockets into israel. What ouve rockets into israel. What Youve Done Rockets into israel. What youve done so rockets into israel. What youve done so far rockets into israel. What| youve done so far hasnt eliminated the threat that you wanted to eliminate. Wanted to eliminate. Well, nasrallah wanted to eliminate. Well, nasrallah for wanted to eliminate. Well, nasrallah for the wanted to eliminate. Well, nasrallah for the last wanted to eliminate. Well, nasrallah for the last 20 i wanted to eliminate. Well,. Nasrallah for the last 20 years has been building a vast armoury of rockets, missiles and drones, more than most european countries, something like 200,000 rockets and missiles and drones. Thatjust goes to show that it wont be over anytime soon without either a surrender on their behalf or a diplomatic agreement from our perspective the military has instructions to restore the safe and security to the north of israel, that can be done through taking out lives through taking out lives through leaders that are instructing. These attacks against israel, as you said and you reported, the leadership of hezbollah has been effectively decapitated, that organisation want to think very seriously if they want to do more attacks against israel, with Response Ability of maintaining security, securing the safety of the people of israel, of israelis that just want to get back to their homes, they want to go back to cultivating their land, these have all been disrupted in the last year of hezbollah come under the instruction of nasrallah since the 8th of october, precisely because thats what he built this capability for so that has to change. When we conducted this operation, operation new order, is precisely because we needed new order in the situation. I needed new order in the situation. Needed new order in the situation. ,. ,. ,. , situation. I want to ask you about the situation. I want to ask you about the lebanese situation. I want to ask you | about the lebanese people, nearly 800 people have been killed in the last week and a half, hezbollah may have hidden its rockets, its long range missiles, its leaders among residential buildings but its israel making the calculation to fire those targets. Israel knows what will happen to the people, the civilians, the men, the women and the children who still find themselves there in the line of fire. Does israel accept any responsibility for those civilian deaths . When you sa the those civilian deaths . When you say they may those civilian deaths . When you say they may have those civilian deaths . When you say they may have positioned i say they may have positioned these capabilities, i think there is absolutely no doubt that hezbollah intentionally in an insidious way, positioned intentionally and as a strategy their nerve centre, their Headquarters, their rocket launchers, there missiles, all of their tools, in and around and beneath these civilian arena. Of course, when we went after the nerve centre, the Headquarters of Hassan NasrallahLast Night, the understanding was that if we dont deal with it there will be much more Death And Destruction dealt out by him and his, effectively, Jihad Counsel that he gathered in that bunker Last Night. So if youre suggesting that we shouldnt defend ourselves and the civilians of israel because Hezbollah And Nasrallah had put intentionally positioned his capabilities at his tools of terrorism behind the people of lebanon, thats an absurd request. I would say yes, we need to demand that tool of terrorism be removed, we need to make sure that they can be removed for the better and for the improvement and Safety And Security of israelis and lebanese together. Peter lerner from the idf, thank you forjoining us from Tel Aviv. Lets now speak to behnam ben taleblu, a senior fellow at the foundation for defence of democracies. Behnam is a middle East Security Expert who Briefs Policymakers in america, uk, and Around The World on security issues involving iran, hezbollah, and other iranian proxies in the region. I know you have to catch a flight so hopefully we can speak before then. What is your view of the situation as it stands right now . Its view of the situation as it stands right now . Stands right now . Its a pleasure stands right now . Its a pleasure to stands right now . Its a pleasure to be stands right now . Its a pleasure to be with stands right now . Its a | pleasure to be with you. Stands right now . Its a I Pleasure to be with you. In essence, israel has indeed embraced the Military Option to try, Military Solution against the iran backed military group hezbollah. In the past two weeks by the israeli the covert and overt Space Kinetically against hezbollah has benched nothing short of bold, designed to put hezbollah consistently to put hezbollah consistently to the choice, and the choices unless they turn off their rocket fire, the drum fire, the Mortar Fire against israels north, that israel will be levelling deeper and deeper cuts, iranian strategy of a War Of Attrition against hezbollah and should hezbollah respond in and should hezbollah respond in a more overt and conventional sense for Set Group to risk losing its Head and we sawjust Last Night at the secretary of general of the group didnt she lose his Head. Im general of the group didnt she lose his Head. Lose his Head. Im ust going to say goodbye lose his Head. Im ust going to say goodbye to h lose his Head. Imjust going to say goodbye to our lose his Head. Im just going. To say goodbye to our viewers who are in the uk, leaving us for a short while, we will be back with them in a while. Hello and welcome to sportsday im marc edwards. Liverpool Sit Top of the Premier League Tonight victory over wolves sees arne Slots Side leapfrog Manchester City and go a point clear. Rugby Wxv Tournament gets under way with an Opening Day Victory for scotland. And warrington are the final team through to the Super League play off Semi Finals after victory in a thriller in a thriller against st helens. Also coming up on sportsday. Sarah storey adds to her haul of global titles on a great day for great Britains Para riders at the world championships in switzerland. And Yorkshire Return to crickets top flight theyre promoted up from Division Two of the county championship, lancashire though Heading the other way. Welcome along. A busy programme to get through and a new leader at the top of the premier league. More on that in a moment, but well start at St James Park where the reigning champions Manchester City