BBC joins paramedics on duty in Lebanon after Israeli strikes

The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega was stationed with medical teams in Nabatieh, a city that once bustled with life but now stands in eerie silence. Since hostilities resumed in March, over 20% of Lebanon’s population has been forced to flee their homes. At a damaged emergency facility, a paramedic recounted the moment a fellow worker was killed by an Israeli missile while on a phone call with his wife.

“He was just talking to his wife when the strike hit. It was like a bomb dropped from the sky,” said the paramedic.

Israel claims some ambulances and health centers in Lebanon are being used by Hezbollah, but paramedics insist there’s no proof to support this. In Bint Jbeil, the IDF reported eliminating more than 20 Hezbollah fighters from a hospital complex, a site of intense clashes during the 2006 war. Lebanon’s health ministry rejected the accusation, asserting Israel is targeting civilians and medical infrastructure.

War’s toll on displaced communities

Hugo Bachega also interviewed families in Beirut, where over a million people have been uprooted. Meanwhile, Paul Adams analyzed the peril of navigating the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. The conflict escalated after a young Israeli settler was reportedly killed by a Palestinian driver, prompting Israeli forces to focus on dismantling Hezbollah’s supply lines across the Litani River.

Iranian perspective and regional impact

In southern Israel, correspondent Sebastian Usher documented the aftermath of an Iranian missile strike on Dimona. Footage from Russian RT showed Steve Sweeney ducking as the missile hit. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported 10 deaths and 27 injuries from the attack. Iranians at a border crossing shared their experiences of living under relentless bombing and political pressure.

Ben Chu of BBC Verify explored the potential role of the Royal Navy in securing the Strait of Hormuz. As storms battered the Palestinian enclave, displaced residents scrambled to secure their tents against the wind. Dan Johnson gathered accounts from locals in northwest Iran, highlighting their views on the ongoing war.

Verifying war footage

BBC Verify confirmed a video of an oil depot fire in Iran, capturing the chaos as ships moved through the strait. The US-Israeli military operation began on 27 February, disrupting trade at the region’s largest port. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the UK’s stance against Trump’s critique of the response.

Footage from the early hours of Sunday depicted flames consuming a building, with smoke billowing over the city skyline. A verified clip from a witness showed a drone striking near the airport, while explosions shook the capital as airstrikes targeted key infrastructure. In Dahieh, a Beirut neighborhood, some residents evacuated their homes amid relentless Israeli air raids.