Beirut, Lebanon – The Lebanese Civil Defense announced that two of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted them while they were carrying out a rescue mission in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon.
The Civil Defense explained that the two men were performing a humanitarian duty,
rescuing and transporting the injured from an affected area. Their vehicle was then directly targeted.
Targeting ambulance teams
The incident sparked outrage in Lebanon, with calls for the protection of medical personnel and rescue teams operating in conflict zones.
They also demanded that these teams not be targeted while carrying out their humanitarian duties.
Southern Lebanon has been witnessing a continuous escalation of violence, with repeated Israeli airstrikes and cross-border shelling.
This has resulted in deaths, injuries, and widespread damage to infrastructure and residential areas.
The airstrike comes amid ongoing military tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
International warnings have also been issued about the potential for the conflict to escalate further in the region.
Calls for calm
The past few days have witnessed a rapid escalation on the ground,
with intensified airstrikes and military operations on both sides of the Lebanon-Israeli border.
International and UN bodies have called for restraint and urged all parties to avoid targeting civilians
and humanitarian personnel, warning of a worsening humanitarian situation in the border areas.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have also reiterated their demands for respect
for international humanitarian law and for guarantees of protection for medical and relief workers during armed conflicts.
