Two successive Israeli strikes on a building in a southern Lebanese town killed five people yesterday, including three rescuers who went to help those wounded in the initial attack, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
A spokesperson for the Lebanese Civil Defence, a state-run rescue force, told Reuters the three rescuers were initially trapped under rubble by the second Israeli strike on the town of Majdal Zoun and were later confirmed dead.
The Lebanese army said earlier that two troops were also wounded in the second Israeli strike.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes as “a new and blatant war crime committed by Israel.” The United Nations Human Rights office said last month that Israeli air strikes on civilians including healthcare workers in Lebanon may amount to war crimes.
More than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon since March 2, when Iran-backed militant group Hizbollah fired on Israeli positions and triggered a widespread Israeli air and ground campaign.
The toll includes more than 100 medics, as well as over 270 women and more than 170 children. The US-mediated ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon has led to a reduction in hostilities, but Israel and Hizbollah have continued to clash in southern Lebanon, accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
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