Hour, huge clouds of smoke has been seen rising from beirut after a series of explosions. Huge plumes of smoke 2530 minutes ago. The israeli defense forces have claimed to attack hezbollah s central headquarters in beirut saying the headquarters is under residential buildings in the suburb of the cities south. It would not stop until its objectives were met. Air strikes have continued throughout the course of the day with thousands of people being killed in lebanon. Hezbollah has been Firing Rockets into israeli cities including. Just in the last Half Hour, as i was saying, these huge blasts in beirut with the israelis giving details about their operations. More about that in a moment. Anna foster is there for us. Shes been describing what it actually felt like when those blasts went off, notjust seeing those plumes of smoke, but physically what that felt like that so many different people describing these as the since the beginning of this conflict. I will speak to anna in a moment, but ijust want to start this Half Hour by the Idf Saying. Start this Half Hour by the Idf Sa in . ~. start this Half Hour by the Idf Saying saying. Moments ago, the Israel Defense saying. Moments ago, the Israel Defense forces saying. Moments ago, the | Israel Defense forces carried out a precise strike on the central headquarter of the Hezbollah Terror Organisation that served as an epicentre of hezbollah. Hezbollah headquarter was intentionally built under residential buildings in the Heart Of Beirut as part of hezbollah s strategy of using lebanese people as Human Shields. From october eight, hezbollah started attacking israel. After almost a year of Hezbollah Firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones, at israeli civilians come after almost a warning telling them that hezbollah must be stopped. Israel is doing what every sovereign state in the world would do if they had a Terror Organisation that seeks their destruction on their border. Taking the necessary action to protect our people so that israeli families can leave their homes safely and securely. Their homes safely and securely their homes safely and securel. securely. That was the idf in the last few securely. That was the idf in the last few minutes. Securely. That was the idf in the last few minutes. Lets l the last few minutes. Lets speak live to Anna Foster. There she isnt beirut. So too is our correspondent, daniel day simone. I will come to daniel in a moment, anna, for anyone who may not have been with us 20 minutes ago when you were describing it, you were just to describe to viewers what it actually felt like when those blasts went off. Just describe again what that actually felt like. Actually felt like. Thats ri. Ht. Actually felt like. Thats right we actually felt like. Thats right. We were actually felt like. Thats right. We were just actually felt like. Thats i right. We were just sitting very quietly. This is quite a higher position in the central of beirut. Normally see the Sky Line behind me thats very reminiscent of the city. Everything was pretty quiet, The Sun was setting what we actually thought might have been Sonic Booms in the first instance in the sky above the capital which they have done several times the last few days. We heard repeated maybe seven or eight repeated very, very large booms, but what was notable was notjust The Sound, but the feeling, where it reverberates through your whole body and where you can feel it in your chest, such as The Sound of it. Our Bbc Team here tried to work out what was going on, and as i say, we thought in the first instance that it was a set of Sonic Booms, but then just around the building that i talk to you from, the Southern Suburbs are down here just a from, the Southern Suburbs are down herejust a couple from, the Southern Suburbs are down here just a couple of kilometres away, very close to the airport. This is really quite close to beirut s airport onto the runway. And we saw just around this corner the huge plume of smoke there that you have been showing rising into the sky. Now, since these strikes began four or five days ago, we have seen a lot of pictures of strikes, of smoke rising. This was clearly and immediately very different. Not just because of the number of booms that we heard, but also the size and the composition of what was a very dense, Thick Cloud Of Dust rising very high into the sky. If you think about it, we are a couple of kilometres away and it was really going up into the Sky Line. You can see it from here. Anna, i know it is relatively early, but sources close to hezbollah that the Afp News Agency are talking to say that this strike has flattened six buildings in south beirut. Are you hearing anything when it comes to numbers of casualties . Well, we are here and possibly even more than six, some suggestions, some reports say there might be as many as ten buildings that have been raised to the ground. Obviously at this stage the immediate aftermath, this very difficult to tell, but we are seeing and hearing reports of large craters in the ground. You can possibly hear as well The Sound of some going through beirut, because of course, there are various hospitals in the city and i expect that some of the casualties will start to be brought to hospitals around here. That area, matthew is a very densely populated area. I was down there Yesterday Afternoon because there was a another israeli Air Strike on a building that targeted and killed one of hezbollah s top commanders. It is a place where there are lots of shops, lots of restaurants, caf s, people smoke she shot, they drink coffee. You are looking at sort of Apartment Buildings often that may be 5 10 stories high with whole families living in these apartments. Lots and lots of those buildings, they crammed very closely together. This is a densely and heavily populated area, and i think thatis populated area, and i think that is why when people look at those pictures that you are showing, look at the size and the scale of what has happened here, there are real concerns and fears that the impact on civilians may be significant. Certainly israel is saying that a central, and Area And Building they are of hezbollah, and that of course fits with Everything Weve seen over the last two weeks that they are trying to take out, to decapitate the leadership of hezbollah. But its still an open question whether these strikes from the air are going to be enough to secure the objectives that Benjamin Netanyahu talked about to try and get israeli citizens back into their homes in northern israel. Can that be done from these sorts of strikes . Or does it need some sort of Ground Incursion . Incursion . Thats an interesting incursion . Thats an | interesting question. Incursion . Thats an i interesting question. I incursion . Thats an interesting question. I think what will certainly come out of the strike that we have seen here, matthew, is increased international pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, because if we are looking at we may well become obvious as we say early days, if we are looking at a large civilian Death Toll Right in the centre of the lebanese capital, right in the middle of beirut, then that would be, again, a significant escalation over and above what we have already seen in the last week or so. The attack on pagers and Walkie Talkies held by members of hezbollah, then the Air Strikes which have started and continued. This is another step up continued. This is another step up from that. Now, remember, just in the last couple of days of the Un General Assembly in New York, this proposalfor a 21 Days Cease Fire was put forward. This is absolutely the opposite of that. This is a further escalation when World Leaders are trying to push the idea of a pause in the Siding Pause in the fighting. They also asked about the Ground Incursion. This came again a couple of days ago, head of the israeli army was addressing his troops and he told them to prepare for a possible Ground Incursion into lebanon. Let me just remind you what they are trying to do there as well. If you think of the border between israel and lebanon, there is an area that is marked out by un resolutions 1701, now, this is supposed to be a buffer zone. Its a geographical Area South of the latonya river, which is a major landmark which stretches across lebanon. In the idea after the last war between the two sides in 2006 was that there would be this buffer zone, that Un Peacekeepers would be there, that hezbollah would be on the North Side and that israel would be on the south. It hezbollah moved closer and closer all the way up to the border. And that is why you saw Benjamin Netanyahu talking Benjamin Neta Nyahu talking about Benjamin Netanyahu talking about actually returning israelis to their homes in the north because in the days after the October The 7th attacks, Tens Of Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the north of israel. I was there. I watch them leave for my watch them pack up their belongings and go. What he has said is a new aim of this war to return those people home. Now, strikes like this send a very strong message. The Air Strikes that they have been carrying out was to pave the ground for possible Ground Incursion, bear in mind, of course, that israel is still fighting a war currently in gaza. So this would open up a new front on that. But it is really very difficult i think to tell what will happen as a result of this. And itjust feels like over the last week or so, time and time again, even as Cease Fires are being talked about, we are seeing just this ratchet up in the tension, the escalation getting higher and higher. Tension, the escalation getting higherand higher. Huge tension, the escalation getting higher and higher. Huge concern to World Leaders, huge concern to World Leaders, huge concern to people here in the middle east, but especiallyjust those ordinary civilians who are caught up on this living in lebanon and in northern israel. I will come back to that point in a minute. Do stay there. Want to bring in daniel who is injerusalem, waiting to talk to us and join the conversation. Daniel, finishing their talking about the push there had been over recent days for a Cease Fire listening to Benjamin Netanyahu today Benjamin Neta Nyahu today absolutely Benjamin Netanyahu today absolutely no hints, no reference to that at all, and when you see events on the ground, again, we appearto be moving in the opposite direction. Moving in the opposite direction. ,. , direction. Thats absolutely ri. Ht. Direction. Thats absolutely right this direction. Thats absolutely right. This air direction. Thats absolutely right. This Air Strike direction. Thats absolutely right. This Air Strike or right. This Air Strike or series right. This Air Strike or series of right. This Air Strike or series of Air Strikes came really series of Air Strikes came really quite soon after Benjamin Netanyahu finished speaking at the united nations in new speaking at the united nations in New York this afternoon. During in New York this afternoon. During that speech, there was absolutely no reference to the possibility of a Cease Fire, which possibility of a Cease Fire, which i possibility of a Cease Fire, which i think many people thought he would may be addressed. There was talk of absolute addressed. There was talk of absolute victory over hamas in gaza absolute victory over hamas in gaza unless hamas surrenders, which gaza unless hamas surrenders, which suggests theres no prospect to a Cease Fire related prospect to a Cease Fire related To Gaza as far as Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned. Theres talk of military concerned. Theres talk of military actions carrying on in relation military actions carrying on in relation to military actions carrying on in relation to hezbollah they achieve their objectives. And he set achieve their objectives. And he set out his Governments Position he set out his Governments Position quite clearly as you are about to hear. Just this week, the idf destroyed large percentages of hezbollahs rockets, which had built with irans funding for three decades. We took up senior Military Commanders who not only shared israeli blood but american and french blood as well, and then we took up their replacements and then the replacements of their replacements. And will continue degrading hezbollah until all of our objectives are made. Daniel, he kept repeating that phrase about achieving the objectives, and we have been discussing over the last few days, but again today, as we watch these strikes in beirut, whether that can be done by this sort of pressure and strikes from the air. What is being said where you are about any sort of preparations, any sort of talk about a Ground Incursion . Incursion . The talk of the round incursion . The talk of the Ground Incursion incursion . The talk of the Ground Incursion has incursion . The talk of the | Ground Incursion has been incursion . The talk of the Ground Incursion has been there for some Ground Incursion has been there for some time because there is a widespread view that Air Strikes a widespread view that Air Strikes cannot defeat hezbollah, no matter how expensive they are. And that has led expensive they are. And that has led to speculation about possible Ground Invasion. That doesnt possible Ground Invasion. That doesnt mean a Ground Invasion will defeat hezbollah either, because obviously israel has been because obviously israel has been into lebanon in the past, its been been into lebanon in the past, its been there for many years. It its been there for many years. It came its been there for many years. It came out its been there for many years. It came out and it fought a War With it came out and it fought a War With hezbollah in 2006. Neither occasion with hezbollah in 2006. Neither occasion where hezbollah obliterated, it is still there now, obliterated, it is still there now. And obliterated, it is still there now, and the objective that the israeii now, and the objective that the israeli Government Set for itself israeli Government Set for itselfjust at the beginning of last week, as was referred to is the last week, as was referred to is the Return Home for 60,000 israeiis is the Return Home for 60,000 israelis who have been displaced in the north of the country displaced in the north of the country by Hezbollah Rocket Fire of country by Hezbollah Rocket Fire of the past year. And of course, fire of the past year. And of course, despite all of the activity course, despite all of the Activity Weve seen over the past Activity Weve seen over the past two Activity Weve seen over the past two weeks, the Walkie Talkie explosions and all of Walkie Talkie explosions and all of these Air Strikes, that goal all of these Air Strikes, that goal has all of these Air Strikes, that goal has not been achieved because goal has not been achieved because hezbollah is continuing to fire because hezbollah is continuing to Fire Rockets and missiles into to Fire Rockets and missiles into israel. This week, they have into israel. This week, they have reached ever deeper into Israei Have reached ever deeper into israei and have reached ever deeper into Israel And Hezbollah has fired for the Israel And Hezbollah has fired for the first time ever a missile for the first time ever a missile at tel aviv, i think signalling that it can still do that signalling that it can still do that. And hezbollah has set for its part. That. And hezbollah has set for its part, whether one believes its part, whether one believes it or its part, whether one believes it or not its part, whether one believes it or not that it would have a ceasefire it or not that it would have a Cease Fire but only if there is a Cease Fire In Gaza Linking the a Cease Fire In Gaza Linking the two a Cease Fire In Gaza Linking the two conflicts, which, to be blunt. The two conflicts, which, to be blunt, israel had spoken of as one war blunt, israel had spoken of as one War With the kind of centre of gravity one War With the kind of centre of gravity of this one War Moving of gravity of this one War Moving north to hezbollah with the conflict with hezbollah. At the conflict with hezbollah. At the moment there is talk of a ground the moment there is talk of a ground offensive. The military, the head ground offensive. The military, the head of the military speak and quite frankly about it this week and quite frankly about it this week saying, talking about a possible week saying, talking about a possible Ground Incursion but then possible Ground Incursion but then being a lot blunter and saying then being a lot blunter and saying to troops that they will enter saying to troops that they will enter Enemy Territory and they will defeat the enemy there, and effectively saying that this goal that they have set for themselves can really only be achieved in his opinion through be achieved in his opinion through this Ground Incursion. That through this Ground Incursion. That strongly suggest that a ground that strongly suggest that a Ground Incursion may well happen Ground Incursion may well happen because the head of the military happen because the head of the military is saying that thats the only military is saying that thats the only way to achieve the objective. It suggests it will happen objective. It suggests it will happen. Of course, it hasnt happened yet. It may still not happen, happened yet. It may still not happen, but i think with these Air Strikes happen, but i think with these Air Strikes on hezbollahs central Air Strikes on hezbollahs central Head Quarters this afternoon, which really came very afternoon, which really came very soon afternoon, which really came very soon after Mr Netanyahu stopped very soon after Mr Netanyahu stopped speaking, its clearly a significant escalation. I think a significant escalation. I think its a significant escalation. I think its a sign of where israei think its a sign of where israei is think its a sign of where israel is going with this conflict. Israel is going with this Conflict Israel is going with this conflict.. conflict. Daniel, thanks for now. Iwill conflict. Daniel, thanks for now. I will be conflict. Daniel, thanks for now. I will be back conflict. Daniel, thanks for now. I will be back to conflict. Daniel, thanks for now. I will be back to you | conflict. Daniel, thanks for| now. I will