The United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, at a press conference at the UN headquarters. (Screenshot)
The United Nations on Thursday said it was "deeply disturbed" by attacks on health care facilities, a day after several Israeli strikes killed 10 emergency rescue workers in southern Lebanon.
"The tragic events of the past 36 hours have resulted in a significant loss of life and injuries in south Lebanon. Up to 11 civilians were killed in a single day, including 10 paramedics," said Imran Riza, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon.
There has been near-daily cross-border fire between Lebanon's Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Israel since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
Three separate Israeli strikes on Wednesday, including on a health center in the border village of Hebbarieh, killed 11 civilians.
"I am deeply disturbed by the repeated attacks on health facilities and health workers who risk their lives to provide urgent assistance to their local communities," Riza added.
"Attacks on healthcare violate international humanitarian law and are unacceptable," the UN official said in a statement.
Several militant groups in Lebanon operate health centers and emergency response operations.
Hezbollah said four of its fighters and two rescuers were killed in Wednesday's strikes, while its ally the Amal Movement said it had lost two members, including a rescuer.
An official from al-Jamaa al-Islamiya earlier told AFP that seven rescuers were killed in Israeli strikes on the emergency center in Hebbarieh.
The Israeli military said the target of one of the strikes was "a military compound" and those killed were Jamaa Islamiya militants.