The World Health Organisation has raised the alarm after attacks killed nine paramedics and wounded seven more in southern Lebanon.
In a statement issued on Saturday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the incidents as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against medical staff and facilities.
“More tragedy in southern Lebanon today,” he said, noting that the deaths took the total number of health workers killed this month to 51.
March has now become the second deadliest month for Lebanese health personnel since the WHO began tracking attacks on healthcare in October 2023.
More than 120 health workers have also been wounded since the escalation began on 2 March, most of them in the south.
Teams of medics came under fire while on duty in five villages.
In Zoutar al-Sharqiya, five health workers died and two were injured, one of them critically.
Two more lost their lives and three suffered wounds in Kfar Tibnit.
One paramedic was killed at a health facility in Ghandouriyeh, another died in Jezzine, and two were wounded in an attack on Kfar Dajjal.
Tedros said the repeated strikes have crippled healthcare delivery across the region.
Four hospitals and 51 primary care centres have now closed, while several others operate at reduced capacity after sustaining damage.
“Health workers are protected under international humanitarian law and should never be targeted,” he added.
“The only way to end these tragedies is to end attacks on health care, NOW!”
The latest deaths have deepened concerns about the fragile state of medical services in southern Lebanon, where ongoing hostilities have left communities struggling for basic care.
Global health leaders continue to call for immediate protection of frontline staff and an end to the targeting of hospitals and clinics.
