40 Lebanese Medical Staff And Firefighters Killed In Israeli Attack In The Last 3 Days

Impact of Israeli attacks on Beirut Lebanon/DOKmen UNICEF/Ramzi Haidar

Fourteen ambulance and firefighters have been killed in the last three days across Lebanon.

Health Minister Firass Abiad said 97 paramedics and firefighters in the country had been killed by Israeli attacks since October 8 last year.

While the death toll across the country since the same date has risen to 1,974 people, 127 of whom are children and 261 are women.

Last night, seven medics working for the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Authority were killed by Israeli attacks in downtown Beirut.

"We know that there is an international law that protects medical institutions, ambulances and health workers," said Abaid, quoted by CNN, Thursday, October 3.

Most recently from developments in Lebanon, three Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday afternoon local time. Israel confirmed it was attacking Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.

A number of major explosions were heard in western Beirut, Thursday, October 3. CNN reported seeing a puff of massive smoke rising from the southern suburbs of the city, and hearing the sound of drones in the sky.

Earlier, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an order to vacate 25 additional villages in southern Lebanon, signaling the expansion of ground attacks in the country.

A total of 76 villages in southern Lebanon have now received emptying orders from the IDF since Tuesday, October 1.