A BBC Breakfast star left viewers worried after confessing that his film crew received stark warnings in Beirut: "Put your cameras down". The Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega reported live from Lebanon, on the ground amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. He described the recent events as being part of the most "deadliest day" witnessed in Lebanese history, a day marred by violence with civilians, including children, tragically caught in the crossfire.
Speaking with Charlie Stayt via a live broadcast, he conveyed the intensity of the situation: "So yesterday there was more chaos and confusion. It was the deadliest day here in Lebanon since the start of this current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah." Hugo recounted the terror unfolding: "I was in southern Beirut when one of those explosions happened.
There was panic because many believed that no electronic device was safe. Several Hezbollah members stopped us, telling us to put down our phones, to not use our cameras. So this gives you a sense of the feeling here.
" Bachega also highlighted the mood among locals: "There's also a lot of anger across the country because of the extent of the attacks. These explosions happened as people were shopping, were at home with their families. For Hezbollah this is a massive humiliation, this is perhaps the worst security breach in the group's history.
" The conversation took a serious turn when he posited, "What happens next? Is it the beginning of a wider Israeli offensive against Hezbollah? I think this is one of the key questions here. Last night the Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said his country was at the start of a new phase in the war. Here in Lebanon, Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate," reports the Express .
Social media users expressed concern over Hugo's well-being, with comments such as: "Keep yourself safe Hugo! It's honestly terrifying." Meanwhile, someone else tweeted: "Can't believe Charlie didn't even tell Hugo to stay safe in Lebanon on #BBCBreakfast." Yesterday's (September 18) devastating walkie-talkie blasts resulted in 20 fatalities and at least 450 injuries.
Additionally, pager explosions claimed 12 lives and injured over 2,000 individuals. BBC Newsday received insights from journalist Sally Abou Al Joud, who reported that a considerable number of injuries included facial and ocular trauma. In a harrowing account, she explained: "We're talking about hands injured, severely injured fingers torn, I've heard some doctors say we need to perform amputation surgeries to remove hands, [and].
.. they need to perform surgeries for eyes to remove them.
".
