BBC News Briefing

2 September, 2026

Alex has short blonde hair and blue eyes. She is smiling and wearing a black turtleneck.

Alex Binley

Hello. Iranian authorities have said 18 people have been killed in the latest round of US strikes - my colleagues at BBC Verify take a closer look at one reported incident. We hear from our correspondent in an area of Lebanon that's tightly controlled by Israel, and taste-test Japan's viral new snack.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

What video of aftermath of reported US strike on Iran wedding celebration shows

Iranian media said that amongst the dead were a 16-year-old and a four-year-old.

Iran has accused the US of a war crime after officials said shrapnel from a missile strike hit a wedding celebration at a home in the south of the country, killing four people including two children. Some 67 others were reportedly injured. A US Central Command spokesperson said it was aware of the reports and that it "never targets civilians". They said the military was striking Iranian targets in response to "recent attempted attacks" on American forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. My colleagues have verified footage which shows the aftermath of the strike and spoken to weapons experts who have identified remnants of munitions shown on Iranian state media as those used by the US. Here's what else they were able to ascertain.

Watch the video

GET UP TO SPEED

Putin's head and shoulders are seen. He is balding and has thin, grey hair. He is looking downwards slightly, and wears a navy suit and tie

How Putin's veiled threat is part of move against West

Our Russia editor evaluates President Vladimir Putin's response when asked if Moscow might strike UK military facilities.

Read the analysis >

The head and shoulders of Tiger Woods are seen. He is wearing a red shirt and white cap and is looking to the side. He is stood in front of a black background and lights can be seen.

Tiger Woods banned from driving for five years

The golfer didn't contest a reckless driving charge as part of a prosecution deal, reducing the charge of driving under the influence.

Watch the arrest >

Pete Hegseth has short grey hair that is gelled backwards. He is wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and red tie. He is frowning slightly and holding his hand up to the camera.

Canadian officials condemn Pete Hegseth cadet post

The US defence secretary appeared to mock members of the country's cadet youth programme on social media.

See what he said >

A young woman with long brown hair is wearing a black shirt and smiling. She is standing behind a bar and has a hand on a beer pump.

Pub's 'beloved' manager stabbed to death in Germany

A man who was arrested at the scene has been detained in a psychiatric hospital on suspicion of Rebecca Bullock's murder.

Read more >

A woman with ong, greying blond hair has a pair of glasses pushed up into her hair and is wearing a grey shirt. She is surrounded by reporters holding up phones, cameras and microphones to her.

Woman charged with juror intimidation in Clancy trial

Dawn Light is accused of photographing jurors outside Lindsay Clancy's murder trial. Her lawyer called it a misunderstanding.

What happened >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Lucy Letby: The doctor described as the nurse's "boyfriend" during her murder trial has been identified after a court order was lifted in the wake of his death.

Sadiq Khan: London's mayor has had a conviction over an untaxed car withdrawn. His office said it was a "scam" and he did not own the vehicle.

Bayeux Tapestry: The King, Queen, prime minister and French president have all viewed the medieval tapestry ahead of its public display. Take a look.

AT THE SCENE

Southern Lebanon

Inside occupied Lebanon as officials say Israel expanding positions

Entire villages along the border have been destroyed by Israel. Credit: Neha Sharma/BBC

In the wake of conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli military controls a strip of land in southern Lebanon which amounts to 5% of the country's territory. Israel says this "security zone" is to protect communities in its north from rockets and drones fired by Hezbollah, as well as a possible ground invasion. But human rights groups say Israel has deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure, a possible war crime. The Israeli military says the buildings it has destroyed were used by Hezbollah for military purposes, and that it operates in accordance with international law.

Hugo Bachega's head and shoulders are seen. He has short brown hair and appears to be talking. He is wearing a black coat.

Hugo Bachega, Middle East correspondent

We joined a humanitarian mission of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon - one of the only ways to visit the area under Israeli control. There, as it did in Gaza, Israel has flattened entire villages, and air strikes and demolitions have continued even after a ceasefire was announced in June. The drive is scenic but desolate. Crops lie abandoned and buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes, too many to count, are in ruins.

Near the town of Naqoura, a Lebanese military checkpoint, painted in the white-and-red colours of the national flag, is the last visible sign of the state's presence. Soldiers are positioned behind concrete walls, but the road is empty. A few minutes further south, around a dozen Israeli flags indicate the start of occupied territory.

Keep reading

Watch: This is what Hugo saw as he travelled with the UN convoy through the area.

Verify: Since October's ceasefire, 1,300 Gazans have been killed in Israeli attacks, the Hamas-run health ministry reports. We analyse the figures.