191 attacks on healthcare, 128 dead: What WHO’s latest Lebanon warning reveals
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over continued attacks on healthcare facilities in Lebanon, warning that the violence is costing lives and further restricting access to essential medical services.In its latest update, WHO reported that recent hostilities in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre have affected two of the city’s three hospitals.In an X post, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote, “Attacks on health in #Lebanon continue to take lives and deprive people of access to health care.”“Jabal Amel Hospital where according to initial reports 39 health workers were injured yesterday; and the hospital’s emergency department and intensive care unit sustained severe physical damage.”WHO said it is currently verifying the reported casualty figures and assessing the full extent of the impact.Hiram Hospital, another major medical facility in Tyre, was reportedly damaged in separate attacks on May 22 and May 31. The incidents resulted in injuries to 37 health workers, according to WHO.Despite the damage, both hospitals continue to operate and are treating an increased number of patients following multiple mass-casualty incidents in the region.WHO said that since the latest escalation of hostilities began on March 2, 2026, it has verified 191 attacks on healthcare facilities and services. These attacks have resulted in 128 deaths and 371 injuries among health workers and patients.The UN health agency reiterated its call for all parties to respect and protect healthcare workers, patients, hospitals, and medical facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law, stressing that attacks on healthcare systems have devastating consequences for civilian populations.Lebanon remains under attackIsrael continued carrying out strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, maintaining pressure on Hezbollah despite a public appeal from US President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.He urged Netanyahu not to target Beirut in order to prevent further escalation of the three-month-old conflict.Following Trump’s intervention, the Lebanese government said Israel would refrain from threatened attacks on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, while Hezbollah would suspend attacks on Israel.According to Reuters, Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire hit south Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least four people in two towns, Lebanese state media said.‘If Israel continued strike..’ Iran warned of direct confrontationIranian state media reported Tehran had stopped indirect talks with Washington due to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Iran’s military warned residents of northern Israel they should flee if Israel attacked Beirut.In a post on X on Monday, Iran’s top negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said he told Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that if Israel continued strikes on Lebanon, “we won’t just stop the negotiation track, but we will be in a direct confrontation with the enemy”.
