Lebanon denies Israeli claims that ambulances are used for military purposes
Beirut — Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has rejected claims by the Israeli military that ambulances are being used for military purposes, describing the allegations as an attempt to justify “crimes against humanity.”
In a statement on Saturday, 14 March, the ministry stated that Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted their ambulance teams during rescue missions since attacks on Lebanon began. This includes an attack on a primary healthcare centre in Burj Qalaouiyeh village in southern Lebanon on Saturday morning, which the ministry described as a civilian medical facility operating under ministerial oversight.
The Lebanese government stated that the attack killed 12 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics. The incident also left one healthcare worker with serious injuries and four others missing.
Since 2 March, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 26 paramedics and wounded 51 others, according to the ministry. The ministry noted that these casualties demonstrate a continuous pattern of attacks against medical teams, which has also expanded to include the Lebanese Red Crescent for the first time since October 2023.
The statement further conveyed that Israeli claims about ambulances being used for military purposes are solely intended to justify violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which protect medical personnel and facilities.
Previously, on Saturday, 14 March, an Israeli military spokesperson stated on social media platform X that Hezbollah widely uses ambulances for “military purposes” and warned that the use of medical facilities and ambulances for military purposes must cease immediately.
Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon towards Israel on 2 March 2026 for the first time since a ceasefire came into effect on 27 November 2024. Israel subsequently launched an offensive military campaign against the group, conducting intensive airstrikes across various regions of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.