Israel targeted healthcare workers and journalists in strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday, killing at least six paramedics and two media workers.
Lebanese state media said five paramedics were killed when Israeli warplanes struck an ambulance belonging to the Islamic Scout Association near Zoutar Sharqi, close to the border with Israel, early on Saturday morning.
In a separate attack, Israel targeted another ambulance near the town of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district late on Friday night, killing one paramedic and injuring several others in what Lebanon’s Health Ministry condemned as "yet another war crime".
In a statement released on Saturday morning, the ministry said the drone strike violated international law and the Geneva Conventions, urging the international community to ensure accountability and end such attacks.
In the early afternoon on Saturday, Israel also targeted a group of journalists working with Lebanese al-Manar and al-Mayadeen channels with an airstrike near Jezzine, resulting in the death of two media workers and the injury toll of two others.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes expanded across much of the south, with a dawn airstrike on the town of Haniyeh killing five Syrian nationals and injuring at least eight more, according to Civil Defense personnel.
An Israeli drone also targeted a motorcycle in Haddatha, Nabatieh, killing one person.
Further attacks were reported throughout the region, including a drone strike near the cemetery in Ain Qana, an airstrike on Kafr Sir, and intermittent artillery shelling on Arnoun overnight.
Additional airstrikes targeted towns in the Western Bekaa Valley, including Labaya, Yahmar, and Sahmar.
Israel also resumed its bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs early Saturday, hours after issuing evacuation orders for several neighbourhoods including Haret Hreik, Ghobeiri, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Hawta al-Ghadir, and Chiyah.
Residents reported hearing explosions in the south of the Lebanese capital, though authorities have yet to confirm any casualties.
According to Lebanese officials, Israel’s campaign has killed more than 1,150 people since Hezbollah joined the regional war following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February.
UNICEF official Marco Luigi Corsi said at least 121 children were among the dead, with nearly 400 others injured. Hezbollah Claims Retaliation Hezbollah said it carried out 58 operations against Israel on Friday, including rocket attacks on northern towns and strikes targeting Israeli troops and tanks.
The group claimed to have attacked the Ya’ra barracks with a drone barrage and the headquarters of Israel’s Northern Command north of Safed with a missile salvo.
Israel has acknowledged casualties in recent fighting. On Saturday, the Israeli military said two officers were injured by an anti-tank missile during clashes in southern Lebanon.
In a separate incident Friday night, an officer was seriously wounded and six others moderately hurt when a missile struck ground troops operating in the south.
The Israeli casualties come as the army attempts to advance further towards the Litani Ri ver . Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a large-scale incursion in the direction of Markaba and Rab El Thalathine.
The fighting in southern Lebanon has displaced more than one million people, with UNICEF’s Corsi reporting that over 370,000 children have been forced to flee their homes amid Israel’s military campaign.