Lebanon prime minister has accused Israel of committing a serious war crime after an attack in southern Lebanon killed civil defence workers who had gone to rescue victims of an earlier strike.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, two consecutive Israeli strikes hit a building in the town of Majdal Zoun on Tuesday, killing five people. Among the dead were three rescue workers who had arrived to assist those wounded in the first attack.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly condemned the killings, calling the targeting of civil defence teams a heinous crime. He said the attack on emergency personnel carrying out humanitarian work was a clear violation of international humanitarian law and described it as another example of Israel’s ongoing breaches during the ceasefire period.
Salam also said the Lebanese government would continue working through international channels to denounce the attack and push for stronger efforts to force Israel to stop violating the ceasefire agreement.
Rescue Workers Killed While Responding to Earlier Strike
A spokesperson for Lebanon’s Civil Defence said the three rescuers were caught under the rubble after the second strike hit while they were carrying out their mission. They were later confirmed dead.
The Lebanese army said the second attack also wounded two of its soldiers. According to the military, the strike targeted its personnel, the rescue team and two civilian bulldozers at the scene.
Reports from local media said the Lebanese military patrol had been escorting the civil defence workers during the rescue operation when the second strike took place. That detail has added to anger in Lebanon, where many now see the attack as a direct strike not only on emergency teams but also on state personnel involved in relief work.
Lebanese Leaders Say Emergency Workers Are Being Repeatedly Targeted
President Joseph Aoun also condemned the killings, saying they were part of a wider pattern of attacks against rescue and medical workers in Lebanon.
He said the deaths of the three civil defence personnel were the latest in a series of strikes aimed at people working in emergency response. According to Aoun, these attacks show that Israel continues to ignore international rules meant to protect civilians, medical staff, civil defence units, the Red Cross and all those involved in rescue and first aid work.
The latest deaths have deepened outrage in Lebanon, where officials say such incidents are becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as isolated events.
Violence Continues Despite Ceasefire
Although a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was reached through US mediation, Israeli air strikes have continued almost daily, especially in southern and eastern parts of the country.
In response to these repeated strikes, Hezbollah has continued firing rockets and launching drones towards Israel and occupied areas in southern Lebanon. The cycle of attacks and retaliation has kept tensions high and left civilians on both sides living under continued threat.
The attack in Majdal Zoun is one of several deadly incidents reported on Tuesday. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed across the country that day alone.
The ministry also said the overall toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 has now risen to 2,534 dead, with 7,863 others wounded.
Calls Grow for International Action
The strike has also renewed calls for stronger international action. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss said the lack of a serious response from the international community over alleged Israeli war crimes in Lebanon and Gaza had only encouraged further abuses.
He argued that Israel’s allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and other European countries, should suspend arms sales, military support and weapons transfers to Israel. He also called for targeted sanctions against officials credibly linked to grave violations.
Kaiss said civilians were paying the price for global silence and for the failure to hold those responsible to account.
With more rescue workers now among the dead, the pressure on international actors is likely to grow. For Lebanon, the latest strike is not only another deadly incident in a continuing conflict, but also a powerful symbol of how even humanitarian workers are no longer being spared.