Benjamin netanyahu is cutting short his visit to New York and returning to israel following the attack. Earlier Mr Netanyahu told the Un The Offensive against hezbollah would continue, rejecting calls for a ceasefire. The award winning british Actress Dame Maggie smith has died. She was 89. We start in the Middle East, where multiple blasts have reverberated in the southern suburbs of beirut, sending clouds of smoke into the sky. These are the latest pictures from the scene of the explosions, in a densely populated area. The israeli Defence Forces claim to have targeted hezbollahs central headquarters. In the last half hour, the Reuters News Agency reported comments from the israeli military saying its continuing to Degrade And Dismantle hezbollahs capabilities. A source close to hezbollah told reuters the Groups Leader Hassan Nasrallah is alive. With irans tasnim News Agency also reporting that hes safe. These are pictures of children being pulled out of the rubble of the buildings hit by the israeli Air Strikes. Lebanons Health Ministry says at least two people have been killed and 76 injured those numbers are expected to rise. It comesjust hours Prime Minister we canjust we can just hear from the us Secretary Of State. Secretary of state. Continuing Secretary Of State. Continuing to Secretary Of State. Continuing to stand Secretary Of State. Continuing to stand up i Secretary Of State. L continuing to stand up for their sovereignty and the right to stand for their future. At the Security Council the overwhelming number of countries called for a just and lasting peace on the basis of the United Nations charter. Crucial to that, is pressing around North Korea and china. Permanent members of the council to stop providing weapons and machinery that russia is using to devastate ukrainian homes. As we saw this Week Support for ukraine is tangible. Dozens of countries came together to help ukraine rebuild. Sending more equipment like turbines that are crucial to keeping the lights on and keeping ukrainians warm, Heating Homes and factories as russia tries to weaponised the weather as we head into winter. President biden and i met with President Biden and i met with President Zelensky to to discuss ways forward to win this war. A discussion that will. Continued. We announced a surge of support, including long range and more training. Throughout this Week Weve also advanced our vision for free and open pacific. To deepen their partnership through our countries. Antony bnken through our countries. Antony blinken there. Through our countries. Antony blinken there. Just through our countries. Antony blinken there. Just talking L Blinken there. Just talking about Ukraine Butjust before we went to him he was talking about the Middle East and i can tell you he was saying we have made it clear the way forward is diplomacy not conflict. And he also added that this was a precarious moment for the Middle East and indeed for the world. And it echoes from what we were hearing from the White House saying that they had no involvement in the Israel Strike in beirut. Israel saying that they were targeting the headquarters of hezbollah. Alarm from the us but also from the United Nations expressing alarm with 11 on we are watching what is happening in beirut as soon as we have any information from our end and of course the reaction i will of course the reaction i will of course share it with you. What we are seeing here is that netanyahu is doing all that because he can. A year ago we stood because he can. A year ago we stood before you when we warned of this stood before you when we warned of this moment. It is going to. Et of this moment. It is going to get worse of this moment. It is going to get worse unless the Security Council get worse unless the Security Council and behind us performs its Duty Council and behind us performs its duty and does what it has to do its duty and does what it has to do and its duty and does what it has to do and prevents this most is radical to do and prevents this most is radical of to do and prevents this most is radical of israeli governments. Unless radical of israeli governments. Unless they stop them, unless this government faces consequence, this whole region is falling consequence, this whole region is falling into the base and the future of the region including the future of israel and we including the future of israel and we will be talking about wan and we will be talking about wet it and we will be talking about wet it is and we will be talking about war. It is time to face the truth war. It is time to face the truth and war. It is time to face the truth and that is unless netanyahu is stopped war will encompass all of us. It is dark now but they are digging through the rubble trying to find survivors, trying to find survivors, trying to find survivors, trying to get a picture of what exactly has gOne on. At the Moment Hezbollah is not allowing journalist into the area to see what is going on. But a lot of people who live there, it is a densely populated area, tall apartment buildings, people living in flats, a lot of people are trying to get out of those Suburbs Tonight as well. Weve seen people fleeing from the south of lebanon since those Air Strikes started. Weve seen several strikes in the last few days. They have been what israel called precision strikes. They have tended to target One or two apartments. In those circumstances we have seen civilians killed as well, but really nothing on the scale that we saw here. Atjust about 20 per six in the evening local time. That series of very loud explosions that absolutely reverberated through the city, very loud and you could feel them where we were. And then to watch that large cloud of smoke go watch that large cloud of smoke 9 up watch that large cloud of smoke go up and in the next few hours no doubt, a lot will come clearer. But what we knew pretty quickly was that this was a significant escalation coming as it did, about 90 minutes after Benjamin Netanyahu finished his speech at the un. Netanyahu finished his speech at the un at the un. When it comes to those strikes, at the un. When it comes to those strikes, antony at the un. When it comes to l those strikes, Antony Blinken just being asked about that now. I will let israel speak to their operations and their objectives. Thats not my place. We and many others have been clear about what we see to be the best path forward. The objective that israel has in the first instance in lebanon is an important and legitimate One. Its creating an environment thatis its creating an environment that is secure enough to enable people to return home, because remember what happened on october the 8th. Hezbollah started Lobbing Rockets and missiles into israel trying to create another front in a war. Israel had to respond. In the process Tens Of Thousands of people had to evacuate their homes in northern israel. Homes were destroyed in Southern Lebanon is. So you have large populations who have been forced from their homes in both lebanon and israel. And it is an important objective for israel to create an environment where people can get back to their homes. The question is, what is the best way to do that . What is the most effective and sustainable way to do that . We believe and many other countries have joined us in putting out a call for a ceasefire for 21 days, believe, that the best way to do that is through a Ceasefire Policy and then reaching an agreement. That pulls back forces from the border and gives people the confidence that they can go back to their houses. That their kids and go Back To School. So, we believe that the best way forward. And the israelis put back a statement that they share those aims. So, the question is not does israel have a right to defend itself against terrorism, of course it does. The question is not does israel have a right to deal with existential threats to its security, and enemies across its borders with the avowed intent to destroy israel. Of course it does. But the question is, what is the best way to achieve its objectives. To reach enduring security. And in this instance with regard to lebanon what is the best way to achieve the stated objective in northern israel that gives people the confidence of a return to their homes and we believe diplomatic course is the best One. I believe diplomatic course is the best One. Believe diplomatic course is the best One. I want to ask the auestion the best One. I want to ask the question again, the best One. I want to ask the question again, since the best One. I want to ask the question again, since octoberl question again, since October The 7th question again, since October The 7th you have been saying that the 7th you have been saying that israel has to. Has the right that israel has to. Has the right to that israel has to. Has the right to defend itself and you have right to defend itself and you have been stating all the time that they have the right to defend that they have the right to defend themselves against hezbollah and iranians proxies in the hezbollah and iranians proxies in the Middle East. So, my question. Now you repeated. How question. Now you repeated. How does question. Now you repeated. How does that matter. Can you clarify how does that matter. Can you clarify whether this israeli approach to targeting Hezbollahs Leadership falls under Hezbollahs Leadership falls under the Self Defence and what is the under the Self Defence and what is the administration is clear view is the administration is clear view on is the administration is clear view on the policy of targeted assassination. And the second question assassination. And the second question you have. You have been question you have. You have been working towards this goal for the been working towards this goal for the past 11 months. As we edge for the past 11 months. As we edge closer to a broader Conflict Edge closer to a broader conflict could you specify what you mean. Are you preferring a return you mean. Are you preferring a return to you mean. Are you preferring a return to the pre october seven a return to the pre october seven Status Quo or the. Un resolution seven Status Quo or the. Un resolution 1701. One final question we are two weeks away from question we are two weeks away from October The 7th. What could from October The 7th. What could you have dOne differently that might have changed the current that might have changed the current situation . I appreciate that ou current situation . I appreciate that you managed current situation . I appreciate that you managed to current situation . I appreciate that you managed to get current situation . I appreciate that you managed to get in. That you managed to get in several questions. First, on the events of the last hours, we are still gathering information. Making sure that we fully understand what happened, what the intent was and until we have that Information I Cant address in detail our response to it. So well continue to work on that in the hours ahead. With regard to the broader Conflict Weve said very clearly, ever since October The 7th at One of our objectives besides making sure that israel does what it needs to do to make sure that 0ctober to do to make sure that October The 7th ever happens again, besides doing everything we can do to make sure that people who are caught in this horrible crossfire of hamas making, women men children in gaza. That they get the protection and the assistance that they need. Besides that our objective has been to stop the war from spreading. Objective has been to stop the warfrom spreading. As objective has been to stop the war from spreading. As well as escalating. And on multiple occasions we have seem to be on the Verge Ofjust that happening. Including, in the days following 0ctober seven and then again on several other occasions most notably in april. An even more recently than that. And each and every time a combination of american deterrence and american diplomacy managed to prevent a wider war. We are intensely focused on doing exactly that now. Along with many other countries, because in our judgment, and thejudgment of so many others it is in no is interest to have a wider conflict. So we are working in every possible way to prevent that from happening. In terms of where we think they should 90, of where we think they should go, no, going back simply to october the six in terms of the border between lebanon and israel, is not sufficient. Because its not simply a matter of having a ceasefire, Thatis Matter of having a ceasefire, that is hezbollah firing into Israel And Israel responding in a tit for tat. What is necessary is to create the conditions, including moving forces back, such that people in both northern israel and Southern Lebanon have the confidence to return home. It would be important finally, to make 1701 reel. Not simply a piece of paper. Thats never been effectively implemented. I remind as well, that is part of israel leaving lebanon in 2000 after it had been bogged down there for 15 years. As part of that, and 21701, the understanding was that any of the armed militia would put down their weapons. In the state should have a monopoly on the use of Force And Hezbollah never did that. And its presenting an ongoing threat to israel ever since. With the avowed goal of eradicating it. In this instance the most important thing to do, again, if the objective is to just get people go home and Back To School in israel and in lebanon, whats important thing to do is to stop firing, and then to use the time that we would have in such a ceasefire to see if we can reach a broader diplomatic agreement on this. I think broader diplomatic agreement on this. Ithink it broader diplomatic agreement on this. I think it would have to agree. Proceed in phases. We have to have conditions on the ground such that people know with confidence, that they can be safe in their own homes. And finally, as we come to october seven and the anniversary of that horror. 0urfocus is not inking about the past. 0ur Inking about the past. Our focus is intently on the Here And Now and the efforts that we continue to make to get a ceasefire that brings those Hostages Home and that results in a humanitarian help for people in gaza and opens the way for enduring peace and stability. I way for enduring peace and stabili.. stability. I also have a multipart. Stability. I also have a multipart. So stability. I also have a multipart. So with i stability. I also have a i multipart. So with your multipart. So with your indulgence. Mediators were in the thick indulgence. Mediators were in the thick of negotiations in july. The thick of negotiations in july. Now there is the unconfirmed possibility that her son unconfirmed possibility that her son nasrallah has Hassan Nasrallah her son nasrallah has Hassan Nasrallah has been killed. Can the us nasrallah has been killed. Can the us afford to put its weight behind the us afford to put its weight behind these proposals when it behind these proposals when it are behind these proposals when it. Are the Ceasefire Proposals that you have been proposing now dead . Tehran seems proposing now dead . Tehran seems to proposing now dead . Tehran seems to have been deterred through seems to have been deterred through us efforts from directly retaliating against israel directly retaliating against israel and other interests, including after the assassination. Is the us willing assassination. Is the us willing to assassination. Is the us willing to continue its efforts to deter willing to continue its efforts to deter iran. On ukraine, earlier to deter iran. On ukraine, Earlierthis to deter iran. On ukraine, earlier this month you and foreign earlier this month you and foreign Secretary Lani said you would foreign Secretary Lani said you would continue deliberations about would continue deliberations about long Range Capability about long Range Capability weapons about long Range Capability weapons in russia over the course weapons in russia over the course of weapons in russia over the course of the Un General Assembly engaging with western Allies Assembly engaging with western allies. The germans came out this week allies. The germans came out this week to voice their opposition to this. Is there a clear opposition to this. Is there a clear answer from the us to this clear answer from the us to this request from the ukrainians and if not how much longer ukrainians and if not how much longer do ukrainians and if not how much longer do you expect them to wait longer do you expect them to wait for longer do you expect them to wait for an answer . Longer do you expect them to wait for an answer . With regard to the ceasefires wait for an answer . With regard to the ceasefires both wait for an answer . With regard to the ceasefires both in wait for an answer . With regard to the ceasefires both in gaza. To the ceasefires both in gaza and in lebanon, i dont think the question is One of individuals the question is One of interests. And what is in the interest of the respective parties. Getting them to act on those interests. I mentiOned, a moment ago in the case of gaza, the interest of all concerned really should go to bringing this Ceasefire Agreement across the finish line. Which we have been working to do for the last several weeks. Been working to do for the last severalweeks. Its been working to do for the last several weeks. Its manifestly in the interests of israel. It has achieved its objectives at horrifically high cost. Getting the Hostages Home, putting gaza on a better path i believe, is in their interests. Its manifestly in the interests of the people in gaza who would get Immediate Relief from the war. Immediate relief in terms of a surge in humanitarian assistance and a commitment from the international community to help them rebuild their lives. Wherejust coming away them rebuild their lives. Where just coming away from the international Secretary Of State Antony Blinken. He is talking about how the importance of getting a resolution through diplomacy. Weaver in reporting on that strike from hezbollah into northern israel. Diplomacy is not seemingly, the way this is going. Lets pick up on all of this lets bring in our first guest. We heard their Antony Blinken, say it is about diplomacy not conflict