An Israeli strike on a clinic in south Lebanon kills doctors and nurses, and the toll is rising fast

Twelve healthcare workers died in an Israeli rocket strike on a primary medical facility in south Lebanon on Friday night, pushing the number of medical staff killed in the country to 31 over the past twelve days. As reported by The Guardian, the attack struck a clinic in the town of Burj Qalaouiyah.

The impact set the building on fire and caused it to collapse on staff members inside. Doctors, paramedics, and nurses who were on duty were among those killed, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.

The ministry said the strike “violated all international humanitarian laws,” stating the clinic had been serving civilians in the area. Human rights groups say attacks on healthcare workers constitute war crimes regardless of political affiliation. Lebanese authorities report that Israel has carried out at least 37 strikes on healthcare workers and facilities since the latest hostilities began.

Medical facilities are increasingly caught in the fighting

Those attacks have included strikes involving the state civil defense and the Lebanese Red Cross, raising concern among humanitarian organizations monitoring the conflict. The growing toll comes as wider military reporting remains under scrutiny, including a refuelling aircraft crash.

Israel Strike Kills 12 Medical Workers at Southern Lebanon Health Centre — An Israeli strike on a health centre in southern Lebanon killed 12 medical workers, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said. The attack further escalates civilian harm…https://t.co/FVLIHCA2J8

— Upstract (@upstract) March 14, 2026

The current conflict in Lebanon began on March 2, 2026, after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel. Israel responded with a large-scale bombing campaign across the country while Hezbollah continued its rocket attacks.

Israeli ground forces later moved into southern Lebanon as the fighting intensified. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health says Israeli strikes have killed at least 826 people so far.

The violence has also displaced roughly one million people across Lebanon. Aid groups say the scale of displacement is putting severe strain on the country’s already fragile infrastructure.

On Saturday morning, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused Hezbollah of using ambulances and medical facilities for military purposes. He said Israeli forces would “act in accordance with international law” if those activities continued.

Adraee did not present evidence publicly to support the claim. The Lebanese Ministry of Health rejected the accusation, calling it “nothing more than a justification for the crimes it is committing against humanity,” as debate over outdated intel also entered the broader discussion around regional military decisions.

Similar accusations have surfaced in earlier conflicts. During the 13-month Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024, Israel also claimed Hezbollah was using ambulances for military purposes without presenting public evidence.

That conflict resulted in the deaths of 408 healthcare workers. A United Nations commission of inquiry later accused Israel of war crimes related to attacks on Gaza’s healthcare facilities during a separate two-year war in the territory.

Humanitarian organizations warn that claims about militants using medical facilities could be used to justify additional strikes. Under international humanitarian law, medical workers are classified as civilians and are granted protected status during armed conflict.

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