BBC joins paramedics on duty in Lebanon after Israeli strikes

BBC joins paramedics on duty in Lebanon after Israeli strikes

BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega accompanies paramedics in Nabatieh, Lebanon, a city now largely deserted. Since hostilities resumed in March, over one in five citizens have been displaced. At a damaged ambulance station, a paramedic recounts the location where a team member was fatally struck by an Israeli missile while on a phone call with his spouse.

Israel’s claims and Lebanon’s response

Israel asserts that certain ambulances and medical facilities in Lebanon are being utilized by Hezbollah, though paramedics contest this, stating no proof supports the allegation. Elsewhere, the Israel Defense Forces reported eliminating over 20 Hezbollah fighters from a hospital complex in Bint Jbeil, a site of intense combat during the 2006 war.

“Lebanon’s health ministry denied the claim, accusing Israel of targeting civilians and medical facilities.”

Displaced lives and storm warnings

While in Beirut, Bachega interviews families affected by the conflict. In the same region, displaced Palestinians were advised to secure their tents ahead of a storm sweeping through the enclave. Meanwhile, BBC Verify examines the Royal Navy’s possible role in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route.

Iranian perspectives and verified footage

Sebastian Usher of the BBC reports from Dimona, southern Israel, which was struck by an Iranian missile. A segment from RT shows Steve Sweeney diving as the missile impacts. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, at least 10 people perished and 27 were injured in the attack. Iranians describe their daily lives under persistent bombing threats and government pressure.

“BBC Verify explains how we verified a video of a fire at an oil depot in Iran.”

Footage captured by a witness and confirmed by the BBC depicts a drone crashing near the airport. Explosions shook the capital overnight, following airstrikes on its busiest airport. In the early hours of Sunday, flames engulfed a building, as seen in social media clips showing smoke rising above the city’s skyline.

Strait of Hormuz and economic fallout

The video highlights the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on 27 February. Trade at the Middle East’s largest port has suffered significantly due to Iran’s blockade of the strait.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed President Trump’s critique of the UK’s handling of the conflict, asserting the government’s actions in response to the crisis. Amid ongoing air strikes, some residents in Beirut’s Dahieh suburb have evacuated their homes, adding to the growing humanitarian toll.