In northern israel. The us Defense Secretary Lloyd austin has given his support to israels objectives after speaking with with his counterpart, yoav gallant. Mr austin also warned iran it faced Grave Consequences if it carried out a direct attack against israel in support of hezbollah. This is the scene in beirut where explosions have continued overnight in the capitals southern suburbs. Israel had ordered the evacuation of 3 areas. These pictures show explosions and smoke rising near beirut international airport. There have also been reports of an Air Strike hitting a crowded palestinian Refugee Camp near the southern lebanese city of sidon. Syrian State Media says that 3 people have been killed by israeli strikes on the capital damascus. Israel is yet to comment on the reports. Meanwhile, the Uk Government has charted a flight to help british nationals leave lebanon scheduled to leave beirut on wednesday. In a moment, we will hear from my colleague anna foster, who is in beirut but first our Middle East correspondent, Lucy Williamson sent this update from northern israel. Weve been Hearing Helicopters overhead for a while now and also the sound of artillery, some distance away, earlier, a series of loud explosions that we heard here close to the border as israel confirmed that it had launched what its calling limited and targeted Ground Raids into lebanon on what it called Terrorist Targets in the area. Its not clear at this stage what sort of Scale Form those raids are taking but we have witnessed a buildup of troops and tanks here at the border over the last few days, we saw a couple of dozen tanks by the main road, just earlier today, israel has been inflicting blow after blow on hezbollah for the past couple of weeks but any kind of Ground Invasion represents a new phase in this war, new risks for the israeli military and new risks for the region as well. The momentum are gathered here over the The Momentum are gathered here over the few hours leading up to the over the few hours leading up to the announcement that israeli to the announcement that israeli troops had entered lebanon for the first time since lebanon for the first time since the war in 2006 between these since the war in 2006 between these size and it is the culmination of what has been a fast moving israeli Operation Over fast moving israeli Operation Over the fast moving israeli Operation Over the last week or so, we have over the last week or so, we have seeri over the last week or so, we have seen Air Strikes here in southern have seen Air Strikes here in Southern Lebanon in the east of the country as well where israet the country as well where israel is the country as well where israel is that it targeted hezbollah military infrastructure, the weaponry, trying infrastructure, the weaponry, trying to infrastructure, the weaponry, trying to degrade the group and in beirut. Trying to degrade the group and in beirut, successfully removing and killing many of its senter removing and killing many of its senior members including the leader hassan nasrallah. We have the leader hassan nasrallah. We have from the leader hassan nasrallah. We have from the idf that was going have from the idf that was going to have from the idf that was going to be a precursor to an operation going to be a precursor to an operation that has happened quickly operation that has happened quickly in a matter of days since quickly in a matter of days since it quickly in a matter of days since it was first suggested by the idf since it was first suggested by the idf. There are questions how the idf. There are questions how that the idf. There are questions now that we will wait and see the answers to, what is a localised the answers to, what is a localised and it targeted israeii localised and it targeted israeli Ground Operation in lebanon israeli Ground Operation in Lebanon Look like, what challenges we face, or does that challenges we face, or does that mean for lebanese civilians who were in that area, civilians who were in that area, and crucially what response could it provoke from hezbollah and also from their fellow hezbollah and also from their fellow Rhenium Backed Proxies in the fellow Rhenium Backed Proxies in the Middle East. With me is Mohamed Taha from Bbc Arabic. First off, lets talk about the reactions since those strikes overnight and it this morning. What have we heard from hezbollah . What have we heard from hezbollah . ,. , ~ hezbollah . They are striking back by attacking hezbollah . They are striking back by attacking some hezbollah . They are striking i back by attacking some israeli cities, we heard missiles were launched into several towns. Sirens were heard in cities, also sirens and maybe explosions also in tel aviv, so what hezbollah is doing is continuing Launching Missiles into israel, proving that however israel managed to enter to do this land limited incursion into lebanon, they still filed back into israeli cities which is giving the israeli is an indication they need to do more. In israeli is an indication they need to do more. Israeli is an indication they need to do more. In terms of Doinu Need to do more. In terms of doing more. Need to do more. In terms of doing more, the need to do more. In terms of doing more, the pressure doing more, the pressure continues to come from israels strongest ally, the united states, there was a meeting with the defence ministers, the gallant and austin powell, what do we know about what was discussed . It do we know about what was discussed . Do we know about what was discussed . ,. ,. , , discussed . It is an opportunity recently that discussed . It is an opportunity recently that we discussed . It is an opportunity recently that we see discussed . It is an opportunity recently that we see that recently that we see that israel and the us are agreeing on this target, on this limited incursion into lebanon. We saw lots of differences between the us and israel regarding many things that happen in gaza, including happened in rafah, the philadelphia corridor, separating egypt from gaza. We can see that kind of agreement between both sides that hezbollah should move from the villages that are on the borders between Lebanon And Israel in orderfor them borders between Lebanon And Israel in order for them to eliminate the opportunities of Launching Missiles into israel. Of course, this is impacting innocent, internally displaced people, people told to evacuate, many who have already been forced to leave their homes. What do we know about where they are going . This homes. What do we know about where they are going . Where they are going . This is the biggest where they are going . This is the biggest story where they are going . This is the biggest story at where they are going . This is the biggest story at the where they are going . This is i the biggest story at The Moment because according to the lebanese authorities, there were i lebanese authorities, there werei million displaced people at The Moment, we heard from our colleagues from the Bbc Arabic how the situation in beirut is, people are living in the streets, the open air, they do not have anywhere to go, the southern suburb of beirut which is the stronghold of hezbollah became a nearly empty because israel is targeting everywhere and they are launching continuous warnings to the residents there to move from place to place. Israel struck the area around the airport last night, which is really alarming, and returning to strike other areas in the beirut. The situation is getting really dangerous and many hospitals cannot deal with the number of injured people at the number of injured people at The Moment. I the number of inured people at The Moment. The moment. I will ask you to stay with The Moment. I will ask you to stay with me The Moment. I will ask you to stay with me in The Moment. I will ask you to stay with me in the The Moment. I will ask you to stay with me in the studio, i The Moment. I will ask you to | stay with me in the studio, we will come back to you shortly. We will turn to our next guest now. We can speak now to gina abercrombie winstanley, chair of the middle East Policy Council and senior non Resident Scholar at the atlantic council. Welcome to the programme. Could you tell me what amount of diplomacy is possibly taking place behind the scenes . Well, Diplomacy Place behind the scenes . Well, diplomacy has place behind the scenes . Well, diplomacy has been place behind the scenes . Well, diplomacy has been away place behind the scenes . Well, diplomacy has been away from| diplomacy has been away from the of this conflict, at this time we have seen publicly some of the results of that diplomacy which is that the israelis have moderated their initial aims of a more broad invasion of lebanon to what they call a limited incursion. Unfortunately, that remains to be seen. The best laid plans, as it were. If that is their decision to go in a limited fashion, it depends on what the meat when they get there. As your guest noted, hezbollah is well experienced and knowledgeable On The Ground and we will have to see what happens. We will have to see what happens we will have to see what ha ens. ,. , happens. When we talk about the diloma happens. When we talk about the diplomacy and happens. When we talk about the diplomacy and the happens. When we talk about the diplomacy and the work happens. When we talk about the diplomacy and the work that diplomacy and the work that goes on between nations, various lesions, there are so many actors at play, what do you read and what will the us read into this notion of limited . What could israel realistically achieve in its aims in lebanon . Certainly a limited incursion aims in lebanon . Certainly a limited incursion is aims in lebanon . Certainly a limited incursion is the limited incursion is the capstone of what has been going on in the last several months, and certainly in the last ten days or so. There is a possibility that this will work from the prospective of Minister Netanyahu. He has a gonna some way with some strategic aims, not necessarily the war aims they were initially laid out on 8 October or nine but the israelis have worked hard to retrieve their reputation. It took a meeting on 7 October of the intelligence and their force as invisible forces in the Middle East that they reported to be, so now having assassinated a number of leaders over time and this incredible operation of Booby Trapping The Walkie Talkies in the pages on the bombing after, plus the attacks on the houthi and in its area, let people know that their reach is indeed extraordinary for the region. There is that, and we have to keepin there is that, and we have to keep in mind in addition to the 60,000 Plus Israelis that have been barred from bringing in their homes in the north of israel, now we hear up to i million laypeople in lebanon but certainly around 100,000 are away from their homes in the southern part of the country. Hezbollah should have been on the other side, that was the un Security Council Resolution 1701, 2006, that was the agreement, hezbollah did not abide by, and that is why you find the united States App i would justjump in because yes, 2006 is when hezbollah formed. 2006 is when we last had a conflict. Had a conflict. History is not on the side had a conflict. History is not on the side of had a conflict. History is not on the side of israel, had a conflict. History is not on the side of israel, is had a conflict. History is not on the side of israel, is it, l on the side of israel, is it, in terms of successes within lebanon. Ijust wonderabout lebanon. I just wonder about this lebanon. Ijust wonderabout this mission but also the role of the Middle East, those other voices and nations. There has not been that much action done apart from muted responses. What roles they have to play . Certainly the focus has largely been on the Gaza Strip and keep in mind the fighting has not stopped in the Gaza Strip even as this continues. It is hard, it is harderfor the united states, we all understand they are not enthusiastic supportive of israel, certainly not going into lebanon On The Ground, as it were. The reality is that Security Council Resolution was not abided bye bye hezbollah, so the lebanese are taking a terrible toll on their lives and infrastructure, lebanon cannot afford it but you will have more muted responses to this battle with hezbollah than in the Gaza Strip because hezbollah did not abide by the Security Council Resolution. Everyone understands israel can get bogged down, that is why i say that is their intention to have a limited but we will see what happens when they have to engage with hezbollah directly On The Ground. On the ground. There is also a waitint On The Ground. There is also a Waiting GameOn The Ground. There is also a Waiting Game and On The Ground. There is also a Waiting Game and all On The Ground. There is also a Waiting Game and all eyes On The Ground. There is also a Waiting Game and all eyes on| Waiting Game and all eyes on iran. You can see why this is so president when we have the us Defence Secretary Warning iran of Grave Consequences if they enter or take action regarding this conflict. If they did that, would it be direct or would it be through their allies, their proxies . Can iran afford formal entry into the conflicts . I can iran afford formal entry into the conflicts . Into the conflicts . I do not believe that into the conflicts . I do not believe that iran into the conflicts . I do not believe that iran wants into the conflicts . I do not believe that iran wants to | believe that iran wants to formally enter it in the way that we talk about this evening. Iran has largely acted as one of the adults in the room these last 11 months. They have been uncommunicative with us and others about keeping it a Tit For Tat but at a level, when these have escalated and largely been from the israeli side, not the irani and or Axis Of Resistance, except for when hezbollah erroneously hit those children in the north. Iran has many reasons not to escalate this in a direct fashion, they have made clear they did not want the war to expand, they made clear that they have not been interested in a direct confrontation with israel, after the assassinations, they felt the need and they told everyone what they are going to do so that israel would be protected. It is highly unlikely they want to engage directly. Unlikely they want to engage directl. � ,. , unlikely they want to engage directl. �. , directly. Ambassador, as ever, thank you directly. Ambassador, as ever, thank you for directly. Ambassador, as ever, thank you for sharing directly. Ambassador, as ever, thank you for sharing your thank you for sharing your analysis with us here with bbc news. Joining me now is frank lowenstien, who was united states Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under president obama. Welcome to the programme. We were waiting to see what israel would do next, they told us, what do you make of the incursion . I what do you make of the incursion . What do you make of the incursion . I think they are mindful of incursion . I think they are mindful of the incursion . I think they are mindful of the Lessons Incursion . I think they are mindful of the lessons of. Incursion . I think they are mindful of the lessons of 2006 issue alluded to previously, they get to the of diminishing returns in one of the achieve militarily and the risks they take the further north they go. My take the further north they go. My sense is they have a relatively discrete objective for this incursion and they talk about taking out the infrastructure, what they are actually talking about is attacking titles, they are concerned they go underground into israel. I think they will go across and take out as many of those as they can and they may occupy a Buffer Zone there along the border for a may occupy a Buffer Zone there along the borderfor a period of time, these until hezbollah agrees to withdraw. There is a scenario here when this is a limited Incursion And One that achieves their objectives but ultimately through diplomacy and in a short order, that is the hope. And in a short order, that is the hope and in a short order, that is thehoe. , u, the hope. Your speciality was Middle East the hope. Your speciality was Middle East Peace. The hope. Your speciality was Middle East Peace. In the hope. Your speciality was Middle East Peace. In termsl the hope. Your speciality was. Middle east peace. In terms of peace within this area but also the wider region, the Research Concern about further escalation. A short Term Goal Israel says it wants to create a new balance of power, it was to destroy hezbollah, remove them, a longer term but is not really achievable . I them, a longerterm but is not really achievable . Really achievable . I do nothing the can really achievable . I do nothing they can hezbollah really achievable . I do nothing they can hezbollah entirely, i they can hezbollah entirely, they can hezbollah entirely, they will remain as a force for they will remain as a force for the a much diminished in terms of their influence. I saw the interim lebanese prisoners say they agreed hezbollah has to withdraw back to the river and have president ial elections in the next year or so, so the home there is we can empower a civilian government that will not be as beholden to hezbollah as in the past and you can see people in the region, who will be strongly supported, trying to make this a Turning Point in lebanon where they can restore some balance. I lebanon where they can restore some balance. Some balance. I would Ust Ask Ou a some balance. I would ust ask you a question i some balance. I would ust ask you a question i h some balance. I would ust ask you a question i put h some balance. I would ust ask you a question i put to h some balance. I wouldjust ask you a question i put to the you a question i put to the ambassador. The role of the Middle East, neighbouring countries. What do you make of what role they have played or have not played . Could they have not played . Could they have done more . I have not played . Could they have done more . Have not played . Could they have done more . I think they t to have done more . I think they try to do have done more . I think they try to do everything have done more . I think they try to do everything they have done more . I think they try to do everything they can | try to do everything they can to bring about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, that is something youve us has been invested in. The israelis are not listening to anybody at this point so the hope is if we get a ceasefire in lebanon that can build momentum towards a ceasefire in gaza but i see no indication from netanyahu that he will agree to anything along those lines and he has easy political problems if he does so, i sense is they will try to get the region on board with a Reconstruction Plan for the Gaza Strip if they are ready to in the fight but i do not see any mechanism they can be used to bring about any sympathies. But does not sound very hopeful. There are so many idp and internally displaced persons that are affected by this. There is possibly going to be this omission. Israel is that you will be limited, realistically what do you think will happen . It realistically what do you think will happen . Will happen . It is hard to predict will happen . It is hard to predict. Always will happen . It is hard to predict. Always possible | will happen . It is hard to predict. Always possible that hezbollah will decide to launch what they have left, and it could theoretically overwhelm the israeli Air Defence System and that will result in a clashing response so they would start to attack civilian infrastructure in beirut which they did in 2006. They have not on the sofa here. There is a of downside risk. Not sure how much Military Capability Hezbollah really has less, this wont we taking direction directly from iran, i do not think they really want to fight right now. I think if you give them the provocation the israelis might destroy the new facilities. There is a right to do at this point. Facilities. There is a right to do at this point. You brought u. Do at this point. You brought u iran. Do at this point. You brought up iran. Hamas do at this point. You brought up iran. Hamas degraded, i up iran. Hamas degraded, hezbollah degree, lets say that israel achieve those goals. What for the future for the Axis Of Resistance . The Axis Of Resistance . They will rebuild the Axis Of Resistance . They will rebuild the the Axis Of Resistance . They will rebuild the axis the Axis Of Resistance . They will rebuild the axis of will rebuild the Axis Of Resistance only have proxies in assyria, in Iraq And Yemen and they will slowly over time build those backup but at this point that strategy of intimidating israel with his Ring Of Fire has proven to be a bit of a paper tiger, so there will be a recalibration about is how big of a Threat Iran poses. I might add briefly that netanyahu gave an address to the irani and people but there is some hope that this might weaken the regime internally, and relying on intimidation in order to rule, and the veneer of invisibility is punctured by it has been now, the hope is amongst so many that i open the door. ~. , amongst so many that i open the door. ,. , door. We have run out of time thank you door. We have run out of time thank you so door. We have run out of time thank you so much, door. We have run out of time thank you so much, apologisej thank you so much, apologise for interrupting. Thank you. Around the world and across the uk. This is bbc news. Lets get more now on that breaking news, and israel has begun what it calls a limited, localised and targeted Ground Operation against hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. With me is Mohamed Taha from Bbc Arabic. I want to go by, we have for our guests describing the Lakhani River and the un resolution, it is all about the Ohtani River and theres a blue line, this border. Can you describe it was whether the structure was put in place . The Un T To Structure was put in place . The un try to make structure was put in place . Tie un try to make sure structure was put in place . Tte un try to make sure that structure was put in place . Tt9 un try to make sure that this area below the Southern Lebanon has less Military Presence or no Military Presence at all. This area is 30 kilometres of northern Israel And Israel really believes that this area should be hezbollah should be completely removed from this area. We can see on the map now that this river, and this is lebanon and there are 30 kilometres, and this is the aim that the prime Minister Netanyahu was clear that he wants to achieve. What i want to highlight is that we keep listening about the hezbollah capabilities but what i want to emphasise is that hezbollah capabilities, in 2006 is not the hassle of today. The first reason is in regards to hezbollah itself and israel. Israel is using technology we saw, the pager explosions, the walkie talkies, using Bbl Blu 109 a bomb, and the massive penetration within hezbollah. We saw the killing of leaders, and all of these people, all at once. The intelligence from israel and on the other side of hezbollah we can see that they are not responding as they were responding in 2006 in the sense of power. Some analysts say because they were involved in the recent year in the fighting in syria affected them. In syria affected them. Some anal sts in syria affected them. Some analysts say in syria affected them. Some analysts say yes, in syria affected them. Some analysts say yes, israel in syria affected them. Some j analysts say yes, israel come to our land because many people say that was israel are On The Ground in lebanon, the other hand will revert to hezbollah, and the answer abilities that they do have. My question to you is can they replenish those arms . We understand that iran maybe involved in supplying hezbollah with those. Also what is it like On The Ground in lebanon . What would ground Troops Fighting be like . This is why israel Troops Fighting be like . Tt 3 is why israel announced they have limited incursion into lebanon. Israelare have limited incursion into lebanon. Israel are not sure about what will happen because in 2006, yes, the resistance were really strong, the hard via missiles, we had anti armoured results, they managed to attack many tanks. They are really careful in their incursion. They do not know what to what Extent Hezbollah would be working in the cities in Southern Lebanon at The Moment. Really, that is why we roll this news, to see what Extent Hezbollah would fight On The Ground. Has what Extent Hezbollah would fight On The Ground. As ever, thank you fight On The Ground. As ever, thank you very fight On The Ground. As ever, thank you very much. Fight On The Ground. As ever, thank you very much. Lets. Fight On The Ground. As ever, i thank you very much. Lets show you those live pictures in beirut from where our breaking story is coming to us as israel begins its limited, as it describes, limited incursion into Southern Lebanon. Stay with us on bbc news. Hello there. Well, as we start off october, things are looking a little drier for a couple of days, but it has been a very wet september across the southern half of the uk. In fact, some spots towards the South Of England have seen three or four times the average september rainfall. And its notjust been the wettest september on record for some places, its also been the wettest month on record. Theres been more flooding in didcot in oxfordshire here on monday, more Flood Warnings in force as we head through the rest of the night, mostly for central and north western areas of england, where were seeing the heaviest of the downpours. But that low has now pulled out into the North Sea. Still strong, gusty winds for these North Sea facing coasts, some more rain gradually sinking further southwards and eastwards across central southern england. But some clear skies out towards the north and the west, so, here, a locally chilly start to the day on tuesday. Now, on tuesday, that low is still bringing some more cloud and some rainjust swirling around it. Some of that rain could push a little further westwards at times, it will be lighter than on monday, of course, and weve still got that brisk north easterly wind across coastal areas of yorkshire, lincolnshire and down through northern areas of norfolk too. The best of the sunshine out towards the west, for much of scotland, into northern ireland, Western Wales and south west england. And here, we could see temperatures rise to around 16 or 17 celsius. And then on wednesday, well, High Pressure starts to edge down from the north, so were all going to be seeing that dry, sunnier Feeling Weather as we head through wednesday and thursday. But its going to take a while, i think, still for that low to clear across south east england, east anglia. Still some showers here and a bit more in the way of cloud. Some of the showers blowing a little further westwards at times, but lots of sunshine further north and west, some areas of cloud at times. Chance of one or two isolated showers, but temperatures 15 to 17 celsius in the best of the brightness. And on thursday, its going to be a locally chilly start to the day. A touch of frost, perhaps, in the north, a bit of mist around with those lighter winds, but for the vast majority of us, a dry day with plenty of sunshine. Cloud developing here and there, and temperatures have now returned to the seasonal average, so 1a to 17 degrees north to south. On friday, we start to see more Cloud Edging from the north and the west. The best of the sunshine further south and east. And over the weekend, well, weve got rain pushing eastwards again. Bye bye for now. Ports shutdown dockworkers begin an indefinite strike in the us east coast, threatening significant trade and economic disruption ahead of the president ial election. Japans new Prime Minister prepares to be sworn in, but why arent investors convinced about his economic vision . Also on the programme, Tariffs On Chinese made evs come into force in canada we hear from the Countrys Trade Minister on the reasons behind the move. And what would you do with a spare 25 Billion euros