Rescue agencies in Lebanon face devastating losses as air strikes claim the lives of emergency workers, raising alarms over the humanitarian impact of escalating military actions.
At least 21 emergency responders perish in Israeli air strikes across Lebanon
At least 21 emergency responders perish in Israeli air strikes across Lebanon
Israeli military operations escalate, raising concerns over civilian safety and emergency responder casualties amid ongoing conflict.
An Israeli air strike on an emergency response center in northern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 rescue workers, according to Lebanese health officials. This incident, which occurred in Douris near Baalbek, marks one of the deadliest assaults on Lebanese emergency responders amid the ongoing conflict. The attack destroyed a civil defense facility, which, while linked to the Lebanese government, does not have affiliations with Hezbollah.
Regional governor Bachir Khodr confirmed the toll, noting that among the victims was the local civil defense chief. The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement regarding this strike, which Lebanon’s health ministry condemned as "barbaric." The civil defense teams provide crucial emergency services including fire-fighting and search and rescue operations.
In a separate strike on Thursday in the southern region of Nabatieh, Israeli forces targeted a civil defense center in Arab Salim, leading to six additional fatalities, five of whom were paramedics. Since the commencement of heightened hostilities with Hezbollah in September, nearly 200 emergency and health workers have been reported killed due to Israeli air strikes across Lebanon.
Israel’s air campaign in Lebanon has intensified significantly, impacting areas around the capital, particularly the southern suburbs where Hezbollah operates. These strikes have occurred consistently over several days following evacuation orders from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which claim to be targeting infrastructure tied to Hezbollah.
As international efforts for a ceasefire gain momentum, U.S. officials have presented a preliminary proposal to Lebanese authorities, although it remains under discussion. The Lebanese government insists that any ceasefire agreement must adhere strictly to United Nations Resolution 1701, which concluded the 2006 war. This resolution calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah fighters in specific regions.
While a potential ceasefire may involve deploying more Lebanese troops in sensitive areas and establishing monitoring measures, Israel seeks the authority to act within Lebanon to prevent any breaches of the deal. However, neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese government appears willing to concede to this requirement.
Despite suffering severe losses from ongoing Israeli strikes, Hezbollah seems to be regrouping and has continued to conduct operations against northern Israel, albeit at a reduced scale. In the wake of these developments, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the government's commitment to achieving a ceasefire in line with Resolution 1701, urging for discussions to continue towards a sustainable understanding of the conflict’s resolution.
