An Israeli airstrike on a health centre in southern Lebanon killed 12 medical workers instantly, seriously wounded one and left four missing under the rubble for hours, according to reports. The attack on March 13 in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah is among the deadliest single strikes since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2.
The targeted facility was run by Hezbollah's health arm, the Islamic Health Society, which has lost 24 members over the past two weeks. Israel's military has been striking not only Hezbollah's military assets but also its civilian institutions, including health centres, financial branches, media headquarters, and subsidised shops, in an apparent effort to weaken the Iran-backed group and erode its support base.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of using health facilities for military purposes and claims that al-Qard al-Hasan, a charitable organisation providing interest-free loans, finances the group's military activities. Lebanon's Health Ministry denies these allegations. Hezbollah is both a political party and an armed group, and its social services have long bolstered its popularity.
Israel's army chief Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that Hezbollah is fighting 'a war for its very existence' and that military pressures will increase. Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem vowed the group would fight to the end, calling it an 'existential battle'. Unlike previous conflicts, the Lebanese government has deemed Hezbollah's military activities illegal and detained some members for carrying weapons without a licence.
The war began after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Israel retaliated with airstrikes that have killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million in Lebanon. Critics accuse Hezbollah of dragging Lebanon into a destructive conflict, with legislator Samy Gemayel calling it a 'suicidal initiative'.
