Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firas Abiad, stated that since the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict began in October last year, 1,974 people, including 127 children and 261 women, have been killed, with 9,384 others wounded.
He also confirmed that Israeli airstrikes have damaged numerous medical facilities, resulting in the deaths of 97 medical and emergency personnel. Many hospitals have been directly targeted, worsening Lebanon’s already strained health system amid multiple crises, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The minister rejected Israeli claims of weapons being present in hospitals, calling these accusations unfounded.
Since September 23, 2023, Israel has intensified airstrikes on Lebanon, escalating tensions with Hezbollah, who have been engaged in cross-border exchanges with the Israeli army since October 8, 2023, amid ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.