Lebanese Hospitals Shut Down Amid Israeli Airstrikes Targeting Health Facilities
At least four hospitals in Lebanon announced closures on Friday following intense Israeli airstrikes, as a Hezbollah-affiliated health group reported that 11 paramedics had been killed in just 24 hours. The shutdowns mark the culmination of two weeks of Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical personnel across Lebanon, which have forced at least 37 medical centers to close and resulted in the deaths of dozens of healthcare workers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Late on Friday, the Israeli military released a statement accusing Hezbollah of using ambulances to transport fighters and weapons, warning that any vehicle suspected of military use would be targeted.
In southern Lebanon, hospital staff informed the BBC that health centers treating wounded civilians had come under direct Israeli fire. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not yet responded to requests for comment from the BBC.
Beirut Under Fire as Israeli Strikes Hit Hezbollah Strongholds
Dr. Mounes Kalakish, the director of the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital in southern Lebanon, explained that his facility was forced to close on Friday after an airstrike hit two ambulances at the hospital entrance, killing seven paramedics.
“Our nurses and doctors were scared for their lives,” Kalakish told the BBC. “We tried to reassure them, but continuing to work became impossible.”
Dr. Shoshana Mazraani, the hospital’s emergency director, was sitting near the entrance when the strike occurred. She recalled hearing the screams of the paramedics and rushing towards the damaged ambulances, only to be stopped by colleagues fearing a second attack.
Marjayoun Hospital was already struggling to operate with a skeleton crew—just 20 doctors out of the usual 120 remained. The closure on Friday was a devastating blow for the region, Dr. Mazraani explained, noting that the hospital served numerous villages and was the only facility offering dialysis services. “We’ve had to turn away emergency patients and ask others to leave.”
Multiple Hospitals Hit Across Lebanon
Meanwhile, Rita Suleiman, nursing director at Saint Therese Hospital on the outskirts of Beirut, told the BBC that her facility had also sustained severe damage from strikes on Friday. Though they initially tried to continue operations, the hospital ultimately had to suspend all services.
Other hospitals, though still functioning, were operating under extreme conditions. Dr. Mohammed Hamadeh, director of Tebnine Hospital, reported that a nearby airstrike had caused a powerful explosion that shook the building. “We’re doing our best to keep the hospital running, but it’s too dangerous to step outside,” he said.
On Friday evening, Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil announced its closure after intense shelling. The Israeli military had issued an evacuation order, citing a Hezbollah-occupied mosque nearby as its target.
Widespread Strikes Extend Beyond Southern Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes have not been limited to southern Lebanon. On Thursday, a healthcare facility in central Beirut belonging to the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Organization was hit, resulting in nine deaths and 14 injuries. The IDF claimed the attack targeted “terrorist infrastructure.”
Earlier that same day, the Lebanese Red Cross reported that four paramedics were injured while evacuating patients despite coordinating with the Israeli military. Gabriel Karlsson, country manager for the British Red Cross in Beirut, emphasized the need for humanitarian workers to operate without fear for their lives. “Health workers are a lifeline in times of conflict—they must be safeguarded,” he said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that 28 healthcare workers had been killed in Lebanon over the previous 24 hours, and many others were too frightened to report to work due to the escalating violence.
Dr. Kalakish revealed that even before Friday’s strike, Marjayoun Hospital had been struggling with severe staff shortages, lacking essential specialists like anesthesiologists. Some staff had fled due to the bombardments, while others couldn’t reach the hospital because of airstrikes on nearby roads.
Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad stated on Thursday that since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in October, 97 rescue workers have been killed. Over 40 of these casualties—paramedics and firefighters—occurred in just the past three days.
