Israel Kills 23 in Lebanon, Including 12 Medics

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 23 civilians since early Saturday, including 12 medical personnel, as part of the ongoing conflict that began on March 2.

“An Israeli strike on a health centre in southern Lebanon has killed 12 medical workers, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said, as the Israeli devastating assault continued amid a wider regional war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran 15 days ago”

Al Jazeera

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, the strikes targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructure, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue.

Al Jazeera

The attacks represent a significant escalation in the regional conflict that reignited following a US-Israeli assault on Iran on February 28.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple strikes across southern Lebanon, including on residential apartments in the south, as the Israeli military campaign continues to devastate civilian areas.

The most devastating attack targeted a primary healthcare center in the town of Borj Qalaouiyeh in the Bint Jbeil district, where 12 medical personnel including doctors, paramedics, and nurses were killed in Israeli drone strikes.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that the medical professionals were on duty when the attack occurred, marking the second assault on the health sector within hours.

bernama

Earlier strikes had killed two paramedics and wounded five when a paramedic center in the southern village of Souaneh was hit.

The ministry strongly condemned the attacks on healthcare workers, denoting what it called "continued violence against health workers" that violates international humanitarian law and medical neutrality.

The recent Israeli strikes occur within the broader context of a devastating regional war that began with a US-Israeli assault on Iran on February 28, now entering its third week of intensified fighting.

“Current section The strikes in southern Lebanon killed 23 people, including 12 medical workers at a primary health center, as air raids also hit residential areas”

Haaretz

According to Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett reporting from Beirut, the death toll so far includes 773 people killed in Lebanon since fighting between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2, with the conflict rapidly expanding to engulf much of the region.

The attacks follow what sources describe as Israel's "constant targeting of medics and hospitals that decimated Gaza's healthcare system during its genocidal war on the Palestinian enclave," with Al Jazeera noting that this pattern "contravenes international humanitarian law" and represents a continuation of Israeli tactics that have proven devastating across multiple fronts.

The Israeli military campaign has created a devastating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, with over one million people displaced since the conflict began, according to Haaretz.

The displacement crisis is exacerbated by the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities that are critical for displaced populations.

Zamin.uz

The Lebanese Ministry of Health has indicated that rescue operations are still ongoing as teams search for people missing under the rubble of targeted buildings, suggesting that the current casualty figures may significantly increase.

The widespread displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure represent what sources describe as a "devastating new phase" in Israel's military campaign against Lebanon.

In response to the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah has launched multiple military operations against Israeli targets, with the group claiming 24 military operations on Friday alone.

“A devastating Israeli airstrike on a health center in southern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of 12 medical workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics”

Zamin.uz

The Lebanese armed group announced it fired suicide drones against Israeli troops in the northern town of Ya'ara inside Israel, marking a significant escalation in cross-border attacks.

Al Jazeera

Hezbollah also reported launching rocket attacks against Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, targeting the towns of Kfar Kila and the city of Khiam.

The group's leader, Naim Qassem, issued a statement declaring that Hezbollah is prepared for a "long confrontation" with Israel, characterizing the conflict as an "existential battle, not a limited or simple battle."

This rhetoric indicates Hezbollah's commitment to sustained resistance against what it perceives as ongoing Israeli aggression.

French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to mediate a ceasefire between the conflicting parties, posting on X that "the Lebanese leadership was open to direct discussions with Israel" and calling on Israel to "seize this opportunity to launch ceasefire discussions."

Macron urged both sides to stop their offensive actions, stating that "everything must be done to stop Lebanon from descending into chaos."

The international mediation effort comes as the humanitarian situation deteriorates rapidly, with medical facilities being systematically targeted and civilian casualties mounting.

The French initiative represents one of the few diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict, though the willingness of both sides to engage in meaningful ceasefire negotiations remains uncertain amid the ongoing violence.