Beirut — In a devastating blow to emergency response efforts amid ongoing conflict, at least 12 paramedics belonging to civil defense teams were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted their center in Duris, a village in the Baalbek region of eastern Lebanon. The incident, reported by local media, highlights the severe toll the escalating violence has taken on medical personnel working on the frontlines. According to the Lebanese news website Elnashra, Baalbek Governor Bachir Khodor confirmed on Thursday that the bodies of the 12 civil defense members were recovered from beneath the rubble of their facility. The process of debris removal is still underway as authorities continue to search for any potential survivors.
It has been reported that approximately 20 paramedics were present at the center during the airstrike, emphasizing the critical danger they face in their line of duty. Khodor also noted that contact has been lost with the head of the regional civil defense center in Baalbek, Bilal Raad, raising concerns about his safety. The airstrike comes in the context of heightened military action, as the Israeli military has intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon since September 23, following a significant escalation of conflict with the militant group Hezbollah.
In early October, Israel also initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. As of Thursday, the cumulative toll of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the onset of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 8, 2023, has reached a staggering 3,386 fatalities, with injuries reported at 14,417. The ongoing violence continues to impact civilians and emergency responders alike, drawing attention to the urgent need for de-escalation and humanitarian assistance in the region. The international community watches closely as the situation unfolds, with calls for an immediate ceasefire and protection for medical personnel on the frontlines of conflict.