BEIRUT: An Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese town of Faroun has resulted in the deaths of three Lebanese paramedics and injured two others, one critically, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The paramedics were responding to fires ignited by recent Israeli airstrikes when their fire truck was hit.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has condemned the attack as a violation of international law and announced an emergency meeting with Western ambassadors and international organizations for Monday to address the escalating conflict.
The health ministry reported that this attack is part of a broader pattern of violence, noting that 25 paramedics and two health workers have been killed, with 94 others injured since the onset of recent hostilities. This is the second attack on an emergency response team in less than 12 hours.
The Israeli military stated it is investigating the incident, but earlier confirmed strikes against Hezbollah rocket launchers and infrastructure in southern Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah’s rockets fired into northern Israel.
In response to the attack, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a “squadron of missiles” targeting an Israeli military headquarters, resulting in casualties.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified, displacing tens of thousands on both sides of the Lebanese-Israeli border.
