Lebanese health authorities said on Saturday that an Israeli raid on southern Lebanon resulted in the killing of 12 medical workers in a health care center.According to officials, the strike hit a clinic in the town of Burj Qalawiya, killing doctors, paramedics and nurses working at the facility.
Another strike in the town of Al-Sawwanah led to the killing of two paramedics affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement.On the other hand, Israeli raids on southern Lebanon continued on Friday. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that an attack in the village of Mieh Mieh, near the coastal city of Sidon, killed eight people.Hezbollah also launched attacks against Israeli forces on Friday, as part of what it said was the Jerusalem Day operation. Jerusalem Day is an annual demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause in Iran, held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Lebanon was drawn deeper into the regional conflict last week after Hezbollah attacked Israel following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Israel has warned Lebanon that the country will face increasing consequences if Hezbollah continues its actions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes on infrastructure were just the beginning. “This is just the beginning, and the Lebanese government and state will pay an increasing price for the damage to Lebanese national infrastructure used by Hezbollah terrorists,” Katz said.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group is prepared for a long conflict with Israel. Qassem said in a televised speech: “We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and God willing, they (the Israelis) will be surprised on the battlefield.”Lebanese President Joseph Aoun offered earlier this week to negotiate directly with Israel. But he said on Friday that he had not received any response.
