Several medical facilities in Lebanon get closed amid rising casualties

New Delhi, Oct 5: Four hospitals in Lebanon announced their closure on Friday, citing repeated Israeli airstrikes that have disrupted healthcare services, BBC and regional media reported.

According to a Hizbollah-affiliated health organization, 11 paramedics were killed within the past 24 hours. These closures come after two weeks of Israeli strikes targeting hospitals and healthcare workers, which have left at least 37 facilities closed and dozens of medical personnel dead, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

On Friday night, the Israeli army issued a statement alleging that Hizbollah was using medical vehicles to transport fighters and weapons. The army warned that it would strike any vehicle suspected of military use, intensifying concerns about the safety of medical staff and patients.

The Lebanese Red Cross reported that four of its paramedics were wounded during an evacuation mission, despite coordinating with the Israeli military. The World Health Organization stated that 28 healthcare workers had been killed in Lebanon over the past 24 hours, with many more unable to report to work due to ongoing airstrikes.

Media quoting Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said that since fighting between Hizbollah and Israel intensified last October, 97 rescue workers had lost their lives, including more than 40 paramedics and firefighters in just the past three days. The situation continues to worsen as healthcare services are decimated, leaving civilians without critical medical care.