1 more health worker killed in Lebanon, bringing death toll to 164 since Oct. last year: Health Ministry

BEIRUT

An Israeli airstrike on a health center in Bazouriye, southern Lebanon, killed a civil defense medic and injured five others, including three medics, on Saturday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, bringing the total number of health workers killed since October 2023 to 164, with 275 others injured.

In a statement, the Health Ministry condemned Israel’s continued targeting of medical facilities and health personnel, urging the international community "to put an end to this long series of inhumane attacks."

According to Lebanese Health Minister Firas Alabiad, Friday alone saw 55 Israeli attacks on hospitals, with 36 of those being direct strikes.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets, in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israel expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul