Caretaker Minister of Health Firas Abiad. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad said during a press conference on Wednesday that at least 4,047 people have been killed and 16,593 wounded in Lebanon as a result of Israeli attacks since Oct. 8, 2023.
Abiad added that 3,402 of those killed and 14,655 of those wounded were casualties after Sept. 15, 2024. Among the victims, 790 women and 316 children were reported.
On Sept. 17 and 18, following months of cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the war in Gaza, explosions from pager and radio devices rocked Lebanon, killing dozens and injuring thousands. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Israel’s role in these attacks around two months later, after President Isaac Herzog initially denied Israel's involvement. On Sept. 23, the Israeli army launched a full-scale war against Hezbollah, which involved extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, followed by a ground offensive three days later.
Abiad noted that the actual death toll may be higher, as some of those killed have yet to be reported to the ministry.
The minister also reported 67 attacks on hospitals and said that, currently, seven hospitals remain closed as a result of the war. These include the Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital, Bahman, Salah Ghandour, Mais al-Jabal, Burj, Marjayoun, and Murtada.
Abiad added that medical associations have faced numerous Israeli attacks, bearing "a heavy burden during the Israeli aggression against Lebanon." He said these associations were subjected to 280 attacks, which resulted in 206 deaths and 257 injuries.