Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon Friday killed 10 people, including six paramedics and a Syrian girl, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said, marking the latest in near-daily attacks from both sides that have persisted despite the fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Details of the Attacks
The first strike hit the village of Hanouiyeh, killing four paramedics working for Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Association and wounding two others, including one paramedic, the ministry reported.
Another strike on Friday morning targeted the village of Deir Qanoun al Nahr in the coastal Tyre province, killing six people, including a Syrian child and two paramedics from the Al-Rissala Scouts Association, a paramedic group affiliated with Hezbollah’s ally, the Amal movement. An additional six people were injured, including three paramedics and a Syrian woman.
International Law Violations
The Health Ministry stated that the two attacks “violated” international law. On Thursday, the U.N. World Health Organization reported 169 confirmed attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began, resulting in 116 deaths.
The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group of using ambulances as cover for militant activities, without offering evidence.
Ceasefire and Ongoing Conflict
The attacks by Israel and Hezbollah have continued despite the U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Earlier this week, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll in the latest round of fighting surpassed 3,000.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel started attacks on Iran, a main backer of the militant Lebanese group.
Sanctions and Institutional Loyalty
Also Friday, the Lebanese army and the General Security Directorate issued statements declaring that their officers are disciplined, professional, and loyal solely to their institutions and the nation. The statements came a day after the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on a group of Hezbollah-affiliated legislators, state security officials, and allies of the militant group for allegedly seeking to preserve Hezbollah’s influence over Lebanese state institutions and obstruct disarmament efforts.
It was the first time Washington has sanctioned sitting Lebanese state security officials, one from the General Security Directorate and the other from military intelligence, both accused of providing Hezbollah with “illicit support” and intelligence during the ongoing conflict.
