Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon cripple health services in Lebanon, the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Lebanon Emergency Situation Report said, according to an Anadolu report. Since Israeli attacks on the country expanded since March 2, access to healthcare worsened, the report stated earlier this week. Sixty-four attacks on the healthcare were identified, killing at least 53 healthcare workers and injuring 91 others, it said.
Nine hospitals were damaged, 50 primary healthcare centres were closed, and four primary healthcare centres were damaged. Five hospitals, including Bahman Hospital, Al-Sahel Hospital, Bint Jbeil Public Hospital, Mays al-Jabal Public Hospital, and Al-Burj Hospital, were closed, the report added.
On March 27, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced that the death toll from the Israeli attacks rose to 1,142, with 3,315 others wounded. The Israeli army has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.
The ongoing Israeli offensive on Lebanon comes amid a heightened regional tension since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that had been hosting US military assets, inflicting casualties and infrastructure damage.