Eight dead, paramedics killed as Israel intensifies assault on Lebanon

WorldPolitics
3 Jun 2026 • 11:50 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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Image from: Eight dead, paramedics killed as Israel intensifies assault on Lebanon
FILE PHOTO - A view of a southern suburb of Beirut, a stronghold of pro-Iranian Hezbollah, engulfed in fog and under heavy showers of rain. (is associated with: «Eight dead, paramedics killed as Israel intensifies assault on Lebanon») Marwan Naamani/dpa

At least eight people were killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, including six in an attack near the coastal city of Tyre, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two paramedics were also killed on Wednesday in an Israeli strike on the country's south, the Lebanese ministry said.

The ministry condemned the attack as "barbaric." The Israeli military said it was looking into the case.

The ministry said at least 130 emergency and health workers have been killed since the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement began in March.

In the past, the Israeli army has accused the Hezbollah militia of misusing health-care facilities for cover. Lebanese authorities reject this.

Lebanese security sources reported dozens of strikes in the area around the coastal city of Tyre and around Nabatiyeh.

Drone attack on highway leading to Beirut

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone strike near Beirut hit a man travelling on the Khaldeh highway south of the Lebanese capital on Wednesday, according to Lebanese security sources and witnesses.

A dpa reporter at the scene said an Israeli drone was observed tracking a vehicle before firing three rockets at its target.

The man was seen leaving his car under a bridge and then running toward nearby bushes. Moments later, the drone targeted the area where he had taken cover.

The reporter later witnessed emergency responders carrying a man on a stretcher as smoke rose from the scene. It was unclear whether he survived.

Lebanese security sources identified the target as Abdel Qassem, known as Abu Arab. The sources said he was believed to be a member of Hezbollah, although his rank and role within the group were not immediately known.

According to the same sources, Qassem had allegedly survived an earlier attempted strike in the southern port city of Sidon on Tuesday morning before being targeted again on the Khaldeh highway, which links southern Lebanese areas with the capital Beirut.

There was no initial comment from the Israeli army.

New evacuation order for residents of southern Lebanon

During the course of the day, ahead of new strikes in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army called on residents of several localities to move at least 1,000 metres away.

The Israeli military also called on residents of further villages and towns to move north of the Zahrani river, which runs approximately 40 kilometres north of the Israeli border. The army said it intends to target Hezbollah in all of the named localities.

Drone attack in northern Israel

After a lull in attacks lasting several hours in northern Israel overnight, the Israeli army said on Wednesday morning it had intercepted a "suspicious flying object" from the neighbouring country that had entered Israeli airspace.

Air-raid sirens sounded in several towns in northern Israel due to the danger of falling debris from the interception of the drone.