Israel issues new warnings for Beirut as Iran says attacks breach ceasefire — BBC News

[0:00] Israel has issued evacuation orders now for southern districts of the Lebanese capital Beirut, [0:06] a day after these massive airstrikes killed about 200 people and left more than a thousand others [0:12] injured. We've been hearing from Iran's President Masoud Pazeshkian, who has called these attacks [0:17] a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and says his country will not abandon the Lebanese [0:23] people. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also been speaking, describing the attacks [0:29] as the greatest blow to Hezbollah since the start of the war. He said the temporary ceasefire with [0:35] Iran does not include Hezbollah and we continue to strike them forcefully. Let's bring the very [0:42] latest with our security correspondent Frank Gardner. Lebanon has suffered some of the worst [0:49] airstrikes in its recent history as Israel pursues its war on Hezbollah. There is no ceasefire in that [0:56] country, only destruction. Israel is showing no let up in its assault on Hezbollah, which fired [1:02] rockets into northern Israel overnight. Lebanese officials say more than 250 people were killed [1:09] in the Israeli airstrikes. The Foreign Secretary has described Israel's airstrikes as completely wrong. [1:16] She's repeated calls for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire. [1:20] We want to see an end to hostilities in Lebanon. I think that is actually the right thing to do for [1:25] Israel's security, as well as for the wider security of the region and of the Middle East as a whole. [1:32] We urgently want to see that end to hostilities. [1:35] In Tehran today, a march to mark 40 days since Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was [1:44] assassinated. Iran's deputy foreign minister insists the ceasefire includes Lebanon and that Israel's [1:50] assault on Hezbollah must cease. [1:52] It was a grave violation, intentional grave violation of the ceasefire. You cannot have a cake and eat it [1:59] at the same time. That was the message that Iran sent quite clearly, crystal clearly, to Washington and [2:06] to the Oval Office last night. And our foreign minister also said that you cannot ask for a ceasefire [2:11] and then accept terms and conditions, accept, you know, the areas that, you know, ceasefire is applied [2:17] to and name Lebanon, exactly Lebanon in that. And then your ally just start a massacre. [2:25] But the U.S. Vice President says, no, the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran does not include Lebanon. [2:31] If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over [2:38] Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part [2:44] of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice. We think that would be dumb, but that's their choice. [2:49] The prime minister is in the Gulf today, visiting Britain's allies in the UAE and Bahrain. [2:56] He's keen to emphasize Britain's help with air defense, like this Royal Artillery Unit based in [3:02] Saudi Arabia on the troubled Strait of Hormuz. The U.K. is also leading a working group on how to keep [3:09] it open. Iran holds the cards here. It has geography on its side. But President Trump has posted on Truth [3:16] Social a warning he wants the ceasefire fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, he said, [3:23] which is highly unlikely, then the shooting starts bigger and better and stronger than anyone has ever [3:30] seen before. So U.S. air and naval power remain on standby. If the ceasefire collapses completely, [3:39] then this war could well resume. Frank Gardner, BBC News. Let's take you to Washington and join our [3:47] North America correspondent, Ioni Wells. Ioni, there are so many contradictory messages around this [3:53] ceasefire, but certainly here in the Gulf it feels very, very fragile, particularly when you look at what [3:58] is being said about whether Lebanon is included or not. What is the narrative in Washington at the [4:03] moment about how strong the ceasefire is? I think it does feel very fragile, as you say, because [4:11] fundamentally the two sides disagree on what were really key parts of this ceasefire agreement. The [4:19] first is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. says it's open. Iran says it's not open and it's [4:26] not really clear at the moment how many ships are actually getting through, what conditions they [4:31] might be being put under as well. Then there is this question that you touch on of Lebanon as well. [4:38] On the one hand, the U.S. and Israel are saying that Lebanon was never part of this ceasefire [4:43] agreement. Israel has intensified its bombardment on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and there has been a [4:51] huge debt on the last 24 hours as a result of that. Iran are saying that they have been categorically [4:57] clear that Lebanon was meant to be part of that ceasefire agreement. Now, given these are two [5:02] fundamental pillars of the ceasefire, it does seem incredibly shaky at the moment. You have Iran [5:08] essentially saying that the U.S. needs to choose between a ceasefire or war. You have Donald Trump as [5:15] well posting today that essentially if this ceasefire doesn't hold or if the agreement that they [5:23] reached isn't met, then there will be more intense shooting continuing. So I think we are in a place [5:30] where ultimately, despite about 24 hours ago this ceasefire having been agreed, it's not really very [5:36] clear what they've actually agreed on. Oni, thanks so much for that. Let's try and bring some clarity to [5:44] some of those questions that Ioni raises because an Iranian delegation is expected to be sent to [5:48] Pakistan today to begin negotiations with the U.S. They're set to meet the Vice President J.D. Vance [5:55] in Islamabad on Saturday with talks to be based on 10 points proposed by Iran, although there is some [6:02] confusion, as we've been saying, about exactly what those points are. So let's discuss the deal with Dr. [6:09] Mohamed Faisal, who is High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK and Northern Ireland. Very good to have [6:14] you with us, sir. Firstly, can you tell us whether Lebanon is included in this ceasefire deal? [6:23] Yes, please. Thank you very much. Lebanon definitely is included in the in the ceasefire deal. And this [6:31] has been stated by my prime minister in his social media post on X, which was done at the time of [6:40] the ceasefire announcement. And but you have to understand that the ceasefire is a bigger thing. [6:48] We can't really put it into one or two points. The intent of the two countries in conflict, that is [6:56] USA and Iran, to come to a dialogue and the trust that they have reposed upon Pakistan, that they are [7:05] ready to come to Pakistan and try to find a solution and have a ceasefire and then work towards a solution. [7:10] I think that is the most important thing. And we hope that Saturday would be an opportunity to reach a [7:17] compromise or Sunday or and find a lasting lasting solution. Does it not show, though, a lack of trust [7:27] between the two sides? They can't even agree to something as fundamental as whether Lebanon is part of [7:33] this agreement, because we're hearing from the U.S. and also from the Israelis that it is not. The issue of lack of trust goes without saying. They are at war. They are at war because they are at war. [7:42] They are at war because there is lack of trust. But there is trust in one country in the entire world. [7:50] That is Iran's trust in Pakistan and the American trust in Pakistan. So at least that trust is there. [7:57] So now we have to work towards creating a trust between these two warring countries to create a solution. [8:04] So, of course, there was there is a lack of trust. And that is why they were at war. But they have come to a ceasefire that signals that a desire on the part of both the countries to find a solution. Of course, there are challenges. There are disagreements. They don't agree. If they would have agreed, there wouldn't be a war. [8:18] So I am very hopeful that the facilitation being done by Pakistan, which is being honored by both the countries would be very useful. And let's see how things turn up in a couple of days. [8:31] Except it's incredibly problematic, isn't it, that there isn't any kind of agreed text, that we're seeing so much of the negotiating being done via social media and through statements as well. [8:44] If we can come back to one of the other key points that we're hearing contradictory statements on, Iran's 10-point plan, what is going to happen with the Strait of Hormuz? [8:54] What has been agreed on who controls the Strait of Hormuz at the moment in terms of the ceasefire? [9:00] I was in one of another interview and there are so many people interested in, you know, media organizations. [9:08] All are traveling to Pakistan to be part of the process that is ongoing. [9:14] We have faced these problems of negotiations. [9:17] You know, we have had problems in India. [9:19] Jammu and Kashmir dispute is still outstanding despite 70, 80 years. [9:23] And the resolution is still far away. [9:26] The UN Security Council resolution. [9:28] So, text-based negotiations come later. [9:32] First is you have to end the hostilities. [9:35] So, I think we have reasonably ended, you know, day before yesterday night, we were at a very, very precarious situation if you just go back 36 hours. [9:45] And now we are not there. [9:46] We are now not at the brink. [9:48] And I'm very happy that Pakistan helped achieve that, my Army Chief Field Marshal. [9:53] Hi, Commissioner. [9:54] Sorry. [9:57] Hi, Commissioner. [9:57] Can I just ask you, this is obviously a diplomatic win for Pakistan that you're hosting these talks. [10:03] But what does the country stand to lose if these talks fail? [10:08] Include, for instance, the huge energy needs that Pakistan has at the moment. [10:12] It is not just a diplomatic win. [10:17] We are not here for diplomatic and short-time wins. [10:20] Pakistan genuinely needs peace. [10:23] Iran is a neighbor. [10:24] We have a special relationship with the Americans. [10:27] We want a solution and peace in the region. [10:30] The Gulf countries are so brotherly and very close to us. [10:33] Our people work there. [10:35] We have bonds with them which transcend centuries. [10:37] So, it is this diplomatic win or a short-time win is not the aim of Pakistan. [10:43] We are looking at finding a solution. [10:46] Hence, take a step back and think about it. [10:50] And then we move towards this. [10:52] And I think, of course, Pakistan, a failure is a failure if it fails. [10:57] But at least we tried. [10:59] We were successful. [11:00] And there is a pause. [11:03] As we are talking, there is a pause. [11:04] I agree there are problems happening in Lebanon. [11:06] But elsewhere, things are improving. [11:09] And if we can continue with this, there is a lot of hope, I think, for the region. [11:13] Because as you very rightly say, cost of living is being affected. [11:17] Fuel prices are… [11:18] Even in the UK, this is such a big issue. [11:20] Fuel prices, everything, the cost of living would rise. [11:23] So, these are the problems that the entire world would face. [11:26] So, I think Pakistan at least is successful in facing this very, very difficult situation in which bombs were, you know, and rockets were being fired. [11:37] And they are not anymore. [11:38] I hope next time I talk to you, we would have a complete peace. [11:42] I really hope. [11:43] I look forward to that interview. [11:47] Dr. Mohamed Faisal, thank you very much for joining us. [11:50] Well, let's take you to Lebanon because officials there are now saying that 1,700 people have been killed since Israel launched its latest campaign last month. [11:59] The IDF says its operations are aimed at weakening Hezbollah and achieving what it calls its remaining military objectives. [12:08] Our Middle East correspondent, Hugo Bechega, is in Beirut for us. [12:11] All-day emergency teams have been searching the rubble of collapsed buildings, many of them residential buildings across the country, for those who are still missing a day after those horrific Israeli airstrikes. [12:23] Now, here in central Beirut, this is the scene in one of the many locations here. [12:27] This building collapsed, and the teams here have told us that they are searching for four people, including two children. [12:34] But 24 hours later, there's very little hope that anyone can be found alive. [12:41] Now, there is a national holiday here today to mourn those people who have been killed. [12:48] But given how aggressive and widespread these attacks were, it was inevitable that there would be a high number of casualties. [12:57] And the Israeli authorities knew it, and they decided to go ahead with these attacks. [13:01] Now, there have been more Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon today, and also more Hezbollah attacks against Israel. [13:10] But in Israel, the authorities are saying that there's no ceasefire in Lebanon, and that the war against Hezbollah continues.