Israeli airstrikes have killed 380 people in Lebanon since a ceasefire began, with the health minister condemning the ongoing attacks.
BEIRUT: 380 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war began on April 17, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine told a news conference on Tuesday.
He said the total number of deaths in Israeli attacks since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 has reached 2,882 people, including 279 women and 200 children.
Since the ceasefire, “380 people have been killed and 1,122 injured,” Nasreddin said.
A ministry official told AFP that the dead included 39 women and 22 children.
Under the terms of the cease-fire issued by Washington, Israel reserves the right to take action against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”
In addition to carrying out ongoing air strikes, Israeli troops are operating behind the so-called “yellow line” that runs about 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the border between the two countries.
Nasreddine said the total death toll included about 108 emergency and health workers, while 249 others were injured and “16 hospitals have been damaged” since the conflict began.
He said, “This is a massacre… There are no armed men or fighters in these (ambulance) vehicles, only medical equipment and wounded, which is contrary to what Israel says.”
Israel has accused Hezbollah of using ambulances and medical facilities for military purposes, a charge the group denies.
Hezbollah pulled Lebanon into the Middle East conflict on March 2 when it fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.
Israel responded with a large-scale attack and ground offensive in the south of the country.
Iran-backed Hezbollah says its fighters are among the government casualties.
Lebanese leaders on Monday urged the United States to pressure Israel to halt its attacks, which have intensified in recent days.
The appeal comes as Lebanese and Israeli representatives are set to meet in Washington this weekend for a third round of direct talks.
