Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Kill Three Rescue Workers, Prompt condemnation from Officials
A double-strike attack by Israel on southern Lebanon has killed five people, including three emergency workers who were trying to rescue those wounded in an initial strike. The Lebanese Civil Defense team was sent to Majdal Zoun to respond to the first attack, but they were trapped under rubble caused by the second strike and confirmed dead. The Lebanese health ministry said the victims’ names were Hussein Ghadbouni, Hussein Sati, and Hadi Daher.
The Israeli military has not commented on the incident, but human rights groups have criticized the use of the “double-tap” tactic, which involves an initial attack followed by a second or more strikes often targeting civilians and rescuers. This tactic is considered a war crime by some experts. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2 after the group fired rockets into Israel, leading to widespread air strikes and ground invasion.
Since then, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 103 health professionals, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Two civilians have been killed by Hezbollah attacks in Israel, while 16 Israeli soldiers and one civilian have been killed in Lebanon. The US-brokered ceasefire has led to a reduction in hostilities but has not completely stopped the war, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack on rescue workers as a “war crime perpetrated by Israel”. He accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and called for an investigation into the incident. The Israeli military says its actions are in response to violations of the deal by Hezbollah, which was not involved in the agreement.
The conflict has displaced over one million people and is causing significant concern among humanitarian organizations. Last week, the Lebanese authorities said an Israeli attack blocked rescuers from accessing a site where a journalist was trapped under rubble, leading to her death. The incident highlights the risks faced by rescue teams during this ongoing war.
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