Intro

Israel has struck the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and southern parts of the country at the weekend, as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.

It comes as the Israeli Prime Minister - Benjamin Netanyahu - has promised “many surprises” for the next phase of the conflict.

Lebanese authorities says almost 400 people have been killed so far in the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group over the past week.

• Guest: Dr Firass Abiad, former Lebanese health minister now a surgeon at the American University in Beirut
• Producers: Grace Stranger, Eleni Psaltis