Israel strikes hospital entrance and border crossing in Lebanon
Beirut (Quds News Network)- Israeli warplanes targeted a hospital in southern Lebanon today, striking just meters from the entrance of the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital amid a two-week-long aerial offensive. While there were no immediate injuries from the strike, the hospital’s medical staff, led by Dr. Mou’nes Kalakesh, made the decision to evacuate the facility temporarily due to concerns over safety and the ongoing escalation.
This attack on healthcare infrastructure follows a broader pattern of Israeli strikes across Lebanon. Last week, the Lebanese Ministry of Health urged hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate as Israeli attacks intensified in the area.
In addition to the hospital strike, Israeli forces targeted paramedics earlier today. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, an ambulance in Marjayoun was hit, killing the paramedics inside. In another attack, paramedics were killed when a home in the village of Khirbet Selm in the Nabatieh region was bombed.
Lebanese Health Minister Firas Al-Abiad stated on Thursday that more than 40 paramedics and firefighters had been killed by Israeli fire in the past three days. This brings the total number of emergency workers killed since the escalation between Hezbollah and Israel began nearly a year ago to 97.
Adding to the escalating humanitarian crisis, Israeli airstrikes also targeted the area surrounding the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria earlier today, cutting off the main route used by thousands of Lebanese and Syrian civilians fleeing Israel’s attacks.
As the conflict intensifies, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that nearly 900 government-run shelters in Lebanon are now at full capacity, with hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians seeking refuge. Social services are struggling to keep up with the influx, particularly in southern Lebanon, where the continuous bombardment has forced thousands to flee.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has also voiced concern for the safety of 520,000 women and girls affected by Israel’s violence, including 11,000 pregnant women in urgent need of healthcare. The ongoing strikes have shut down at least 37 healthcare facilities since late September, including nine supported by the UNFPA, putting immense pressure on the remaining centers, which are struggling to cope with the displaced population.
