TL/DR –
In southern Lebanon, multiple ambulances and their crew members were reportedly targeted and attacked, resulting in deaths and injuries. The attacks have been linked to Israel’s efforts to disrupt Lebanon’s health sector amid its ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, with contention surrounding allegations that Hezbollah is using hospitals as cover for militant activities. The United Nations has condemned these attacks, stating that intentionally targeting medics constitutes a war crime.
Ambulance Attacks in Southern Lebanon
In southern Lebanon’s Mayfadoun village, two ambulances were struck by Israeli forces, resulting in a horrific scene. The vehicles were destroyed, and six of the eight crew members were covered in blood, with one driver trying desperately to keep his colleague conscious.
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Mohammed Jaber, a 43-year-old emergency team member from Nabatiyeh, described the scene as sickening. Despite the danger, Jaber and his team rushed to help the injured. Tragically, their ambulance was also attacked, resulting in four paramedic deaths and six injuries.
Israel’s Assault on Lebanon’s Health Sector
This is another instance of Israel’s willingness to target Lebanon’s health sector, a contentious issue during the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war. Israel accuses Hezbollah of using hospitals as cover for military activities, a claim denied by Hezbollah and the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The Israeli army, responding to questions about the Mayfadoun strikes, announced that the incident is under review. The third attack took place as the third team of medics was assessing the injuries of the first two crews, less than six minutes after their arrival.
Condemnation and Effects on Lebanon’s Health System
These attacks on ambulances have drawn global condemnation, including from the United Nations’ human rights office, which stated that intentionally targeting medics constitutes a war crime. The Lebanese Health Ministry has recorded at least 100 medical workers killed since the start of the war, further straining Lebanon’s health system.
The Israeli strikes have also led to the destruction of primary health care centers and hospitals, severely impacting the region’s ability to provide medical services. The U.N. health agency denounced the Israeli strikes on Tebnine Government Hospital, a busy trauma center, that injured 11 medical workers and damaged crucial facilities and equipment.
The ambulances involved in the Mayfadoun attack were left as a reminder of the horrific cost of the ongoing conflict. “We want this vehicle to bear witness,” said Mahdi Sadeq, a coordinator for the service. “To bear witness for what happened, to what this war has done to our profession.”
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