Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240929

Mr netanyahu said the elimination of the hezbollah leader was a necessary condition for achieving Israels War goals. The israeli leader was speaking on his return home from the Un General Assembly in New York. Hassan nasrallah was killed by an Israeli Airstike by an israeli airstrike in beirut on friday. Hezbollah confirmed his death earlier today. It described him as a martyr and vowed to continue its fight against israel. Lets take a listen to what Mr Netanyahu said. Translation he who tries to kill you, you should rise i up and kill him first. Yesterday, israel killed the mass Hassan Nasrallah. We settled the score with the man responsible for the deaths of hundreds of israelis and many other nationalities. Including hundreds of americans and dozens of french people. Nasrallah was not just a terrorist, he was the terrorist. He was the main axis. He was the main engine behind irans evil axis. He and his men were the architects of the plan to destroy israel. He was not only operated by iran, many times he operated iran. This is why earlier this week i arrived at the conclusion that the hard blow that israel had landed hezbollah not only yesterday. Citizens of israel, we have incredible achievements, but the work is not done yet. In the next few days, we will be facing serious challenges, and we will do that together. Nasrallah likened us to a cobweb, but instead of that, he found out that we are made of steel, a united and strong people determined to guarantee existence in the future, and not only nasrallah found this out, the entire Middle East found this out. All people who oppose the axis of evil, all those who are suffering under the Violence And Tyranny of iran and its proxies in lebanon, iran, syria and other places, all these people are now feeling hope. I am saying to the people in these countries, israel is standing with you, and to the regime of the ayatollahs, i say, anybody who strikes against us, we will strike you. There is no place in iran or in the Middle East that israels long arm is unable to reach, and you know now how true this is. Citizens of israel, these are great times. We are at what looks like a historic turning point. A year ago, on october 7th, our enemies attacked us and thought that israel was going to be destroyed, and one year later, one strike after another, one achievement after another, they realise how futile their hopes were. Israel is in upswing. We are victorious. We are determined to go on striking our enemies. We will bring back our residents to their homes in the north and return all of our hostages home. We are not forgetting them for a single second. My brothers and sisters, citizens of israel, today i am saying to you again and even louder, together we will fight, and with gods help, together we will win. Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has launched more airstrikes on Hezbollah Strongholds in southern beirut. Lets show you the scene live across the city. The lebanese Health Ministry says that 33 people were killed and 195 others injured in israeli strike today. In israeli strikes today. One of the attacks is reported to have targeted a warehouse near beirut airport. The head of Lebanons Government Crisis cell, nasser yassin, has said hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since friday. Our senior international Correspondent Orla Guerin has one figure from the lebanese Health Ministry put that figure at i Health Ministry put that figure ati million people on the move in lebanon. Our senior international Correspondent Orla Guerin has been to the scene of israels airstrikes and sent this report. 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. Translation 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. Its been bombed time after time. This is just one of the locations that has been hit. Theres smoke still rising here, theres ash in the air, and you can smell the explosives, and i can hear a drone now overhead. The strike here happened overnight, and since then, there has been no let up. In beirut� s martyrs square, many slept in the open, and remained there today, new homeless from the Middle Easts newest war. The governor of beirut fears for his city. What do you think is the israeli plan here . What are they trying to do . I dont know, but israel want to kill and to 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 had not been seen in public for years because of fears of being assassinated by israel. Responding to Hassan Nasrallahs death, irans supreme leader reaffirmed his support for hezbollah. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the fate of the Middle East would be determined by what he called the forces of resistance. Our diplomatic correspondent Caroline Hawley has more on one of the best known and most influential figures in the Middle East. Hassan nasrallah was the face of hezbollah, a hugely influentialfigure in the shadowy world of Middle East militias, a Hero And Resistance fighter to many lebanese shia and others. To israel, a terrorist leader. It was after the assassination of his predecessor in 1992 in another israeli Air Strike that Hassan Nasrallah became head of hezbollah. With the backing of its main supporter iran, he transformed it into one of the most powerful paramilitary groups in the Middle East, with huge political clout in lebanon as well, essentially a state within a state. Hassan nasrallah led hezbollah during the war with israel back in 2006, when the group fought the idf to a standstill. But last week, a crippling blow but last week, a crippling blow for hezbollah as thousands for hezbollah as thousands of pagers, Then Walkie Talkies of pagers, Then Walkie Talkies used by the group, used by the group, exploded simultaneously. Exploded simultaneously. Hassan nasrallah knew Hassan Nasrallah knew he was a target, lived mostly he was a target, lived mostly underground, and didnt use underground, and didnt use electronic devices himself. Electronic devices himself. His response to these his response to these extraordinary attacks long range missiles extraordinary attacks was his very last speech. Was his very last speech. Translation we were subected translation we were subected to a huge and severe blow, h to a huge and severe blow, h but this is the nature of war but this is the nature of war and of conflict. And of conflict. Hezbollah has been badly hezbollah has been badly weakened, but its arsenal weakened, but its arsenal of weapons still includes of weapons still includes long range missiles hidden underground. We dont yet know who, as Hassan Nasrallahs successor, will inherit them and what direction they will take the conflict in now. Caroline hawley, bbc news. A big question is how will countries in the Middle East there will be pressure within its ranks to use these soon before they get destroyed. But if they do, in a mass attack, then israels response could wreak havoc on lebanon or even on iran. So what will iran do . This assassination is as much of a blow to iran as it is to hezbollah. Its already announced five days of mourning, and rallies across the country have taken place. Its already taken precautions, hiding away its leader, ayatollah khamenei, in case he too is assassinated. Hardliners will also be pushing for a response to this latest humiliation by israel. Iran has a whole galaxy of allied militias around the Middle East. As well as hezbollah, they have got the houthis in yemen and armed groups in syria and iraq. Iran could ask these to step up their attacks on both israel and us bases in the region. But whatever Response Iran chooses, it will likely calibrate it to be just short of triggering a war it cannot win. And what will israel do next . Well, the one thing its not doing is pausing for a ceasefire. It reckons its Got Hezbollah on the back foot now, so itll want to press on with its Military Campaign until the threat of those missiles is removed. Short of a hezbollah surrender, and thats pretty unlikely, its almost inevitable that we could see this israeli ground troops going into lebanon. Theyve been training for it this week. Their priority will be to find and destroy those remaining missiles, many of which are underground. Going in will be easy, but getting out could, like gaza, take months. Frank gardner. President biden said Nasrallahs Death was a Measure Ofjustice for his victims, but the us would continue working to de escalate the conflict. Our Washington Correspondent Jenny Kumah has more on what Mr Biden� s said. Well, we have heard from the White House that President Biden has convened a core with his Vice President and national Security Team to get updates, and they will continue to get updates in the coming hours. Speaking at his home, the president spoke to reporters and said that the killing of mazarelo, the hezbollah leader, amounted to a measure of justice for his many victims. Nasrallah. Including many americans, he said, who were killed during a four Decade Reign of terror. Mr biden also said that he has ordered a bolstering of us forces in the Middle East to deter iran from escalation, and he has said that the us supports israels right to defend itself. How significant are those comments from President Biden . Well, this is a consistent message that weve had from President Biden and his administration. They support israel while emphasising the need for a diplomatic solution, but although there is growing tension in the White House at israels defiance, there has been no criticism. Mr biden has stopped short of criticising israel. Yesterday, Mr Biden said that the us were not told before these strikes happened. There was no mention of that 21 Day Ceasefire Proposal that was put forward by the un earlier this week. There was no comment on Mr Netanyahu, the israeli Prime Minister, rejecting that proposal, and no mention of Mr Netanyahu ordering the strike, yesterdays strike, just moments before he addressed the un in New York yesterday. Jenny kumah reporting from washington. Weve also had some reaction from the Uk Government to Hassan Nasrallahs killing. The foreign secretary, david lammy, said he had spoken with lebanons Prime Minister najib mikati. In a statement, Mr Lammy said both men had agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the bloodshed. His statement also said a diplomatic solution is the only way to restore Security And Stability for the lebanese and israeli people. A little earlier, i spoke to Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner about the operation to target nasrallah. Have a listen. Operation new order, as it has been called, was designed and implemented based on real time intelligence gathered over several years and based on the Government Instruction to bring back the 60,000 israelis who were evacuated from their houses for almost a year, precisely because of the actions, instructions and attacks that Hassan Nasrallah had given against israel. I want to come back to that in just a moment. Can you tell us more about what is happening right now . We know israel is continuing to carry out strikes on lebanon at the moment. There are three core issues that we are conducting currently. We are conducting Precision Strikes against perpetrators of terrorism. Earlier today, we took out one of hezbollah� s senior intelligence officials. That is one role 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, we took out the three different locations of coast to Sea Precision guided missiles, and this is one element that is important, because those tools of Death And Terrorism still remain in the hands. The third is a quick interception when terrorists are planning to attack against us. Those are the types of things that youve been seeing. On the matter of all the weaponry that you say hezbollah still has pointing at israel, hezbollah is still firing rockets into israel. What youve done so far hasnt eliminated the threat that you 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. That just goes to show that it wont be over any time soon without either a surrender on their behalf or a diplomatic agreement. From our perspective, the military has instructions to restore Safety And Security to the north of israel. That can be done through taking out the leaders that are instructing these attacks against israel. As you said and reported, the leadership of hezbollah has in the last week been effectively decapitated. I would say that organisation needs to think very seriously if they want to pursue more attacks against israel. The idf is charged with responding and with the responsibility of maintaining security, securing the safety of the people of israel, of Israelis Thatjust want to get back to their homes, to get back to cultivating their land. These have all been disrupted by hezbollah in the last year under the instruction of nasrallah since the 8th Of October Last year, precisely because thats what he built this capability for. That has to change. When we conducted this operation, new order, its precisely because we need a new order in this situation. I want to ask you also about the lebanese people. Nearly 800 people have been killed in the last week and a half. Hezbollah may have hidden its rockets, long range weapons and leaders among civilians, but israel knows what will happen to the civilians who still find themselves there in the line of fire. Does israel accept any responsibility for those civilian deaths . When you say they may have positioned these capabilities, i think there is absolutely no doubt that hezbollah intentionally, in an insidious way, positioned intentionally as a strategy their nerve centre, their headquarters, their rocket launchers, their missiles all of their tools, in and around this civilian arena. When we went after the headquarters of Hassan Nasrallah Last Night, we understood that if we dont deal with it, there would be much more destruction by him and his effectively jihad council. They had gathered in that bunker Last Night. Bunker if you suggest we should not defend ourselves and the civilians of israel because Hassan Nasrallah intentionally positioned his tools of terrorism behind the people of lebanon, thats an absurd request. I would say yes, we need to demand these Terrorism Tools be removed, we need to make sure they can be removed for the better and improvement of israelis and lebanese together. Lets speak to nicholas frakes, a journalist for lorient today, lebanons independent and critical English Language news service. He joins us from tripoli, a city in Northern Lebanon about 80km from beirut. Thank you for talking to us, nicholas. I know it is late at night. The reason you find yourself late at night. The reason you find yourself so late at night. The reason you find yourself so far late at night. The reason you find yourself so far away late at night. The reason you| find yourself so far away from beirut is the size of that explosion yesterday, the one that killed Hassan Nasrallah. Thats when you thought it was too dangerous to stay where you were. ,. ~ too dangerous to stay where you were. , ~ ~. , were. Correct. We were in our home, were. Correct. We were in our home. Me were. Correct. We were in our home. Me and were. Correct. We were in our home, me and my were. Correct. We were in our home, me and my wife, were. Correct. We were in our l home, me and my wife, several miles away from where the actual explosion happened, and it felt like it was just down the street. The explosion shook our doors. We felt the blast itself, and at that point, i decided that there is no way that i can keep my wife here where, clearly, the war is escalating to another level, a much higher level, where she would be at risk, so i took her up would be at risk, so i took her up north to herfamily home. Right, so you have a place to stay, albeit temporary, for however long it turns out to be. How much safer do you feel in tripoli compared to the lebanese capital . Definitely tripoli is much safer than beirut right now. However, tensions are extremely high even here, where tripoli has been relatively left alone. However, even prior to the Air Strikes the other night, i would have friends who would call me saying there were just sonic booms, israeli jets are putting out flares, it would scare them. Even here in tripoli, people are very scared. The streets are much more empty than usual, stores and shops that used to be full of people all day are now basically empty. Israel feels that it has dealt hezbollah an enormous blow. What do you think the consequences will be for lebanon and for israel from the events of the last 2a hours . Yes, it is definitely safe to say that hezbollah has been dealt a very serious blow with the death, notjust with the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, butjust this past weekend they have with the immense Air Strikes, the pager bombings. Hezbollah has definitely been knocked off its balance. That being said, it is not likely to end the war anytime soon. In fact, most likely, things are going to escalate. There is this idea in hezbollah that it cannot back down. It needs to keep fighting, it needs to launching rockets, or else what has this past year been for . They have built up this idea that we are a support front, we are there to protect our ally hamas in gaza, and that is just going to mean further Air Strikes on lebanon and more rockets launched in israel, and potentially deeper as well. We are hearing this idea of the so called Axis Of Resistance getting involved. Iwonder so called Axis Of Resistance getting involved. I wonder if you can just explain who the players are in the Axis Of Resistance that we hear of . 50. Resistance that we hear of . So, the Axis Of Resistance that we hear of . Sr, the Axis Of Resistance consists of various iran backed groups. The biggest and most famous arguably is hezbollah. After that there is hamas, islamic jihad, the houthis in yemen as well as militias in iraq. As for them getting involved more, thatis for them getting involved more, that is arguably up for debate. Iran has been signalling lately that it doesnt really seem interested in getting directly involved. That being said, we could see other members of the so called Axis Step up and escalate more. We saw the Houthis Launch a rocket at the airport in Tel Avivjust A Little Bit ago as israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arriving back to israel, and also, Just A Little Bit ago, the islamic resistance in iraq announced that they launched an attack on eilat. So were definitely seeing these groups more initiative and escalate, as things have escalated in lebanon, but whether or not we are going to see them participate in a full Scale Matter is still to be seen. And just finally, nicholas, you and your wife have had to leave your everyday, normal life, your everyday, normal life, your home in beirut, and go and stay with family. Do you feel any optimism that the situation is going to improve at any point in the short term, at least . On the contrary, i think things are probably going to worsen. I think the situation is going to get much, much darker. We are looking at a prolonged war, and thatis looking at a prolonged war, and that is only if israel continues its air campaign. If israel decides to launch a ground offensive, that is going to mean an even longer conflict unless there is significant intervention from the international community, more specifically the united states, in pressuring israel to agree to a ceasefire in lebanon at the very least. Nicholas, we have to leave it there. We wish you the best in tripoli. Thanks so much for talking to us. Nicholas frakes, a journalist in lebanon. Hello there. Saturdays Sunny Skies will gradually be eroded by cloud and then Wind And Rain for many. As we close out sunday. It will gradually turn wet and windy, particularly from the Southend West and Leigh Stop in southern england, we have already seen record breaking Rainfall Totals for the month, and werejust going to add to those totals over the few days. Some areas could see another 50 to 60mm before we close out the month. So heres that area of low pressure gradually winding its way in from the southwest. Ahead of it though, clearer skies, so it will be a chilly start to our sunday morning. Some early morning sunshine, but gradually well see that cloud pushing its way steadily north and east, perhaps North East England and eastern scotland clinging on to the best of the brightness throughout the day. So as we go through to the afternoon, we mightjust see some Sunny Skies continuing. Cloudier skies out to the west, a few isolated showers, temperatures generally between 12 and 1a degrees. Not too bad in the afternoon into Northern Ireland and North East England as well, but you can see The Cloud arriving. Therell be a few outbreaks of showers ahead of it moving through the midlands, gradually the heaviest of the rain pushing into South And West wales along with southwest england, and the winds, will strengthen to Gale Force gusts with it too. Top temperatures generally then 12 to 15 degrees as we go through sunday afternoon. So those gusty winds will strengthen further overnight as that rain continues to move its way steadily north and east, pushing into the midlands, Southeast England and to the north of england by Dawn On Monday Morning. We keep the clearer skies in scotland. Here, still single figures, but not quite as cold to start Monday Morning with The Cloud, Wind And Rain. There is still a level of uncertainty exactly where this low pressure is going to sit. Its going to be pretty slow moving. Potentially, the heaviest of the rain will always be across england and wales, with a few scattered sharper showers into Northern Ireland and a drier story for much of scotland. But well keep a close eye on that. Some of that rain really quite heavy across northwest england for a time, potentially brightening up by The End of the afternoon across central and southern england, 13 to 17 degrees. The low pressure slowly starts to ease away on tuesday and then on wednesday a quieter story with a greater chance of seeing more sunshine for early october. Good evening, its 10. 30 youre watching bbc news. Im karin giannone. A reminder of our top Story Today the israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the killing of the hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a historic turning point. He said israel had settled the score with a man responsible for the murder of countless israelis, and would continue striking its enemies. Hezbollah confirmed his death earlier today it described him as a martyr and vowed to continue its fight against israel. Our chief international correspondent, Orla Guerin reports from lebanon. Explosion. This is what beirut has been enduring, massive israeli strikes that could ignite the whole region because israel killed its target, sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. For his followers, its a devastating blow, for his iranian backers, a strategic loss. The long time leader of hezbollah was a long time in hiding. This was the moment, in a new York Hotel room on friday, when Binyamin Netanyahu approved the strike on his old enemy