Is this the launch of a wider War In the Middle East . Iran fired some 180 ballistic Cruise Missiles at israel last night. Revenge, it says, the strikes on lebanon. For strikes on Lebanon And Israels killing of leaders of Armed Groups it supports. Translation if they remove their evil from this region, without a doubt these conflicts, these wars, these clashes will disappear completely. While most missiles were brought down by israels sophisticated air defence system, the entire population was told to stay in bomb shelters. Afterwards, inspecting the damage, many agreed with the prime minister that iran must pay the price. My feeling is that it was an attack, but we are very strong, we trust our army, that it will do and complete itsjob, and it will do whatever it takes to finish whatever it needs to finish what they started. Today, instead of getting ready for the upcoming jewish new year holiday, many israelis are cleaning up. Emergency restrictions have been eased, life looks largely back to normal here. But, the expectation is that israel is planning a significant retaliation against iran, even as War Rages on in gaza and is continuing to attack lebanon. Smoke rising up again over the Beirut Skyline after israel renewed its strikes in the south of the city. The hezbollah stronghold. As israel expands operations against the lebanese armed group, at the airport there is a rush for the few remaining flights out of the country. Translation i managed to book a flight for today. We made it, but the last three days were very stressful. While israel insists it is carrying out a very limited Ground Offensive against hezbollah in the south of lebanon, it is now sending another whole Military Division Northwards to join the fight. It says the aim is to make its Border Towns are safe. Its Border Towns safe. Right now, the wider region feels an edge. Region feels on edge. Yolande knell, bbc news. We will be live in beirut in a moment or two. Lets speak to now to emily harding, a former Cia Analyst whos now Deputy Director with the international Security Program at the Center For Strategic And International Studies in washington. Welcome to the programme. The White House talked about serious consequences for iran. What you think that actually means . means . Time will tell. It seems israel is definitely means . Time will tell. It seems israel is definitely serious israel is definitely serious about strong retaliation against iran. Back in april they did a very precise and very targeted strike, it really was meant as a warning to iran not to engage directly with israel. I think they must assume iran didnt receive that message or it would not have engaged in this most recent strike, so i would enter the rate anticipate they will Strike Back hard. Rate anticipate they will Strike Back hard. Rate anticipate they will Strike Back hard. And to see this as a Strike Back hard. And to see this as a defensive Strike Back hard. And to see this as a defensive capacity | Strike Back hard. And to see i this as a defensive capacity or potentially an offensive capacity . Potentially an offensive caaci . capacity . Assumes the biden Administration Capacity . Assumes the biden administration is capacity . Assumes the biden administration is signalling i administration is signalling that they wanted the escalation of this conflict, so i wouldnt really anticipate a lot by way of offensive help, but defensive help can be hugely important in this kind of situation. The usa has forces around the region, they can attempt to deflect any iranian attacks like we did on october first. In attacks like we did on october first... first. In terms of us assets, in whatever first. In terms of us assets, in whatever way first. In terms of us assets, in whatever way they first. In terms of us assets, in whatever way they are. In whatever way they are helping, there is considerable nervousness about them potentially being soft targets. How much will there be concern in the administration about that and how nervous do think countries currently hosting those us forces will be . It is an ongoing those us forces will be . It is an ongoing concern. Those us forces will be . It 3 an ongoing concern. When i served in the government this was one thing we talked about a lot how to harden the us bases in the region against exactly this eventuality. It is a very open area, it is very soft target in a lot of ways. However, the might of the us military is a strong deterrent, and in terms of the allies in the region, yes, they know that they are a target, but honestly they are a target, but honestly they would have been anyway. The rivalry between arab nations and iran is long standing, and they say that the usa forces there are a security blanket. That may not be something there is a lot to their people but it is absolutely true. Their people but it is absolutel true.. Absolutely true. Your earlier answer about absolutely true. Your earlier answer about the absolutely true. Your earlier answer about the american | answer about the american stance was mentioned, lets talk about potentially, we wait to see exactly, but where do you think Benjamin Netanyahu and israel could strike . And israel could strike . Right. Netanyahu and israel could strike . Right. Netanyahu is and israel could strike . Right. Netanyahu is clearly and israel could strike . Right. Netanyahu is clearly in and israel could strike . Right. Netanyahu is clearly in an netanyahu is clearly in an aggressive mood. They are in a place now where they are unwilling to put up with risk from any area. They telegraphed four months they wouldnt put up four months they wouldnt put up with has attacks across the border and that they wanted to send israeli citizens that came to the north. They are now telegraphing the intent to Strike Back on iran hard. You could see them try to strike some of the Military Bases iran used to fire these ballistic missiles, you could be as be as aggressive as an attack on the nuclear programme. Israel has had a long time that they see any Iranian Nuclear Programme as an existential threat to israel and it would be. Now iran has proven it would fire ballistic missiles at israel twice, if it were able to catch those ballistic missiles with a nuclear warhead then you are looking at an existential crisis for israel. They are not going to put up with that. Benjamin netanyahu has talked about that new glitter for decades and wanted to neutralise it. In terms of your previous job at the cia and advising government, there must have been so much Calculation And Scenario is played out about any sort of Potential Hit by israel about exactly that. What you think other risks . Did they know where the nuclear facilities are . What are the risks if you actually hit them . What are the fissile material that might be released . Right. I dont that might be released . Right. I dont think that might be released . Right. | dont think that that might be released . Right. I dont think that is that might be released . Right. I dont think that is actually i dont think that is actually that tremendous a concern. What iran has done is bury a lot of its sites so there wouldnt necessarily be a huge release of radioactive material. What you would want to be concerned about is how much good a strike like that would do. You can blow up facility, centrifuges, weapons facilities, but what you cannot blow up is knowledge, and now iran actually knows what it is doing as far as creating or making tremendous progress towards a nuclear weapon, tremendous progress towards a nuclearweapon, it tremendous progress towards a nuclear weapon, it is hard to set that programme. But if it can be set back by a couple of years, israel may decide it is Worth It. ~ , years, israel may decide it is Worth It years, israel may decide it is Worth It. ~ ,. Worth It. Well, emily, we have to leave it Worth It. Well, emily, we have to leave it there. Worth it. Well, emily, we have to leave it there. Thank Worth It. Well, emily, we have to leave it there. Thank you i to leave it there. Thank you forjoining us on the programme. Iam forjoining us on the programme. I am ending that interview because we are going straight to the un. Theyre in New York the Secretary General is just addressing a isjust addressing a microphone. He has been banned from Setting Foot in israel. Lets listen in. From Setting Foot in israel. Lets listen in. Since october, the exchanges lets listen in. Since october, the exchanges of lets listen in. Since october, the exchanges of fire lets listen in. Since october, the exchanges of Fire Have. The exchanges of Fire Have expanded in scope, depth, and iniensiix expanded in scope, depth, and Iniensiix I expanded in scope, depth, and intensity. I stated that daily exchanges of fire by hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon And Israel and other groups in Lebanon And Israel defense forces are in repeated violation of Security Council repeated violation of Security Council resolution 1701. I emphasise that the daily use of weapons emphasise that the daily use of weapons by non state Armed Groups weapons by non state Armed Groups is weapons by non state Armed Groups is in violation of resolution 59 and 1701. I stress resolution 59 and 1701. I Stress Lebanese Serenity And Integrity Stress Lebanese Serenity And Integrity must be respected and that the integrity must be respected and that the lebanese state must have that the lebanese state must have full that the lebanese state must have full control of weapons throughout lebanon. Madam president. In the few short days president. In the few short days since then, we have seen a dramatic days since then, we have seen a dramatic escalation. So dramatic escalation. So dramatic that i wonder what remains dramatic that i wonder what remains of the framework this Council Remains of the framework this council established with resolution 17 01. Israeli Forces Resolution 17 01. Israeli forces have conducted relentless Air Strikes across lebanon. Relentless Air Strikes across lebanon, including beirut. The united lebanon, including beirut. The United States and france, with the support of several other countries, have proposed a temporary ceasefire, allowing for the temporary ceasefire, allowing for the restarting of negotiations. Israel refused those negotiations. Israel refused those proposals and stepped up its strikes, including Bombing Hezbollah Headquarters where the leader was killed. Hezbollah has continued to fire and missile on israel. Yesterday, the Israeli Defense Forces yesterday, the Israeli Defense Forces conducted what it stated were forces conducted what it stated were limited incursions into southern were limited incursions into southern lebanon. The peacekeepers remain in position, and the un flag continues to fly despite Israels Request to relocate. I write Israels Request to relocate. I write to Israels Request to relocate. I write to express our appreciation for the civilian members of our un Peacekeeping Force and members of our un Peacekeeping Force and to Troop Contributing Countries Force and to Troop Contributing countries. The Safety And Security countries. The Safety And Security of all un personnel must security of all un personnel must he security of all un personnel must be insured. Madam president , civilians paying a terrible president , civilians paying a terrible price, which i utterly condemn terrible price, which i utterly condemn. Since october, in 1700 condemn. Since october, in1700 people condemn. Since october, in 1700 people have been killed in lebanon, including over100 lebanon, including over 100 children lebanon, including over100 children and 194 women. Over 346,000 children and 194 women. Over 346,000 people are confirmed to have been 346,000 people are confirmed to have been displaced from their homes, have been displaced from their homes, and government estimates put the homes, and government estimates put the numbers as high as 1 Million put the numbers as high as 1 Million. Another 128,000 people both syrian and lebanese have crossed both syrian and lebanese have crossed into syria. The un has mobilised crossed into syria. The un has mobilised all of its capacity is to mobilised all of its capacity is to provide urgent humanitarian aid in lebanon, and humanitarian aid in lebanon, and i humanitarian aid in lebanon, and i asked the international community to fully fund other appeat community to fully fund other appeal. Since october the 8th, has attacks on israel have killed has attacks on israel have killed 49 people, with over 60,000 people displaced from their 60,000 people displaced from their homes. It is absolutely essential to avoid an all out War Essential to avoid an all out War In essential to avoid an all out War In lebanon which would have profound War In lebanon which would have profound and devastating consequences. Madam president , yesterday, iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles towards israel. It stated missiles towards israel. It stated it was in response to the killings of Hassan Nasrallah and the killing of the commander last week as well as the the commander last week as well as the death of Ismail Haniyeh injuty. As the death of Ismail Haniyeh injuly. Millions of people across injuly. Millions of people across israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory were forced Palestinian Territory were forced to seek shelter. One person forced to seek shelter. One person was killed from irradiance strikes. A palestinian in the occupied west palestinian in the occupied West Bank in response to the iranian West Bank in response to the iranian attacks in april and this iranian attacks in april and this should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation i expressed, i again condemnation i expressed, i again strongly condemned yesterdays attacks by iran on israet yesterdays attacks by iran on israel. These attacks, paradoxically, will not support the cause of the palestinian people the cause of the palestinian people or reduce their suffering. Almost 20 years have passed suffering. Almost 20 years have passed since the atrocious 7th Of October at Acts Of Terror and of october at acts of Terror And Taking of hostages. Almost and taking of hostages. Almost one year. In gaza are the most almost one year. In gaza are the most deadly and destructive military the most deadly and destructive Military Campaign has been conducted in my year as Secretary General. The suffering of the people in gaza is beyond imagination. At the same is beyond imagination. At the same time, the situation in the occupied same time, the situation in the occupied West Bank, including east occupied West Bank, including eastjerusalem, continues to east jerusalem, continues to deteriorate, eastjerusalem, continues to deteriorate, with israeli military operations, construction of settlements, evictions, land traps, and intensification of settler attacks aggressively and demanding any possibility of a two state solution. Undermining any facility of a two state solution. Armed palestinians have used violence. Hamas has launched rockets violence. Hamas has launched rockets and yesterday seven israetis rockets and yesterday seven israelis were killed in a Terror Israelis were killed in a Terror Attack injaffa. Israelis were killed in a Terror Attack in jaffa. But president , the events of the past president , the events of the past week the past month, and indeed past week the past month, and indeed the past year make it clear indeed the past year make it clear it indeed the past year make it clear it is indeed the past year make it clear it is high time for an immediate ceasefire in gaza with immediate ceasefire in gaza with the immediate ceasefire in gaza with the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, effective humanitarian aid to be delivered in gaza and irreversible progress to a two state irreversible progress to a two state solution. It is high time for the state solution. It is high time for the cessation of hostilities in lebanon, Re Election and full implementation of resolutions 1559 and 1701, paving the way for diplomatic efforts for sustainable peace. It is high time sustainable peace. It is high time to sustainable peace. It is high time to stop the sickening cycle time to stop the sickening cycle of time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the People Escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff. Each escalation has served as a Pretext Escalation has served as a pretext for the next. We must never pretext for the next. We must never lose pretext for the next. We must never lose sight of the tremendous toll this growing conftict tremendous toll this growing conflict is taking on civilians. We cannot look away from civilians. We cannot look away from systematic violations of international humanitarian law. These international humanitarian law. These deadly cycles of tit for Tat Violence must stop. Time tit for Tat Violence must stop. Time is tit for Tat Violence must stop. Time is running out, and i thank time is running out, and i Thank You the Secretary General absolutely blunt in the words he used, telling the Security Council but the raging bias in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno. He said that it becoming an inferno. He said thatitis becoming an inferno. He said that it is absolutely essential to avoid an all out Wa