A series of Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed at least three paramedics and wounded several others, with Lebanese officials accusing Israel of deliberately targeting healthcare workers in its ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
According to Lebanon's health ministry, the incident unfolded in the town of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh region. A team from the Islamic Health Association was first attacked while attempting to rescue people from an initial strike site, resulting in one paramedic killed and another missing. When a second team from the same organization responded, it too was hit, wounding three more medics.
Subsequently, two ambulances from the Risala Scout Association and the Nabatieh Ambulance Service were attacked as they arrived at the scene, killing two paramedics and injuring three others. The ministry described the coordinated strikes as a "triple-tap" attack.
"Paramedics have become direct targets, pursued relentlessly in a blatant violation that confirms a total disregard for all norms and principles established by international humanitarian law," the Lebanese health ministry stated, calling the attacks a "flagrant crime."
Among the victims was 43-year-old Fadel Serhan, a paramedic with the Risala Scout Association and father of an eight-year-old girl. Serhan had been featured in a BBC report earlier this week documenting his team's work operating from a tent outside Nabih Berri Hospital after their original station in Mayfadoun was destroyed in an Israeli air strike at the war's outset.
Ali Nasreddine, a colleague who had known Serhan for over three decades, remembered him as "generous, ready to offer a hand to anyone" with "a very high sense of humanity and a great sense of humour."
Lebanon's health ministry reports that since the war began on March 2, more than 2,100 people have been killed and 7,000 wounded, including at least 260 women and 172 children. The ministry states that 91 health professionals have been killed and 208 wounded, with over 120 Israeli attacks recorded against ambulances and medical facilities.
Human rights organizations have emphasized the protected status of healthcare workers under international law. Kristine Beckerle, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Amnesty International, noted in a recent report: "Under international humanitarian law, civilians, including healthcare workers, do not lose their protected status simply based on an affiliation." She added that "deliberately striking medics performing their humanitarian functions is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and could constitute a war crime."
The Islamic Health Association is an emergency service linked to Hezbollah, while the Risala Scout Association is affiliated with the Amal Movement, another Shia Muslim group. Israel has frequently accused Hezbollah of using ambulances and medical facilities for military purposes, though it has not provided evidence for these claims. Lebanon's health minister has denied the allegations.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on Wednesday's specific attacks. According to Israeli authorities, Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians in Israel during the same period, while 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in Lebanon.