Medics claim they're being "targeting directly" by Israel in Lebanon

Nabatiyeh, confederate Lebanon — Israel's subject said Tuesday that it had killed Hashem Safieddine, nan caput of Hezbollah's Executive Council who'd been seen arsenic a imaginable adjacent leader of nan group, successful an airstrike successful Beirut's confederate suburb of Dahiya 3 weeks ago. That was conscionable days aft nan Israel Defense Forces killed nan Iran-backed, U.S. and Israeli-designated violent group's long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah successful a different airstrike successful Lebanon.

Many of nan group's leaders person been killed complete nan past period and a half, including 3 much commanders conscionable this week, but nan fighting still rages successful Lebanon. The Lebanese wellness ministry says almost 2,000 group person been killed since Israel dramatically ramped up its battle connected Hezbollah successful mid-September.

There were much airstrikes connected Beirut overnight, and pinch each one, teams of first responders jump into ambulances and caput consecutive for nan buildings reduced to rubble. CBS News met immoderate of nan aesculapian workers who consequence their ain lives to prevention group successful nan warfare zone.

While rushing into threat is 2nd quality to them, Hussein Fakih, who leads nan rescue squad successful nan confederate municipality of Nabatiyeh, little than 10 miles from nan Israeli border, claims he and his chap medics are being deliberately targeted by Israeli forces. He was earnestly wounded by an Israeli rocket that struck adjacent to their base.

Hussein Fakih, who leads nan Lebanese Civil Defense rescue squad successful nan confederate municipality of Nabatiyeh, is seen successful a record photograph astatine nan segment of an Israeli airstrike. Courtesy of Nussein Fakih/Lebanese Civil Defense

He said that for months aft Oct. 8, 2023, erstwhile Israel started bombing Hezbollah targets successful consequence to nan group's incessant rocket and drone launches against Israel — much than 13,000 complete nan past year, according to nan IDF — his squad did not consciousness straight threatened. But Fakih said that changed much recently, and nan IDF "started targeting straight nan places nan teams are working. More than once."

"Our vehicles are intelligibly marked pinch nan internationally recognized symbols for rescue workers," he said it seems to supply nary protection.

Fakih's nephew Hussein Jaber is besides a first responder. Seeing truthful overmuch decease up adjacent has been reliable for him, and harder still erstwhile it was 1 of his own.

The "worst day," he said, was conscionable past week, erstwhile an Israeli onslaught deed adjacent to their base, wounding his workfellow Naji Fahs.

"He was joined and had 2 children. Was astir 50 years old," said Jaber. "He was a fewer meters distant from me. Unfortunately, he was wounded successful an airstrike that was correct adjacent to our position and he died. May he remainder successful peace."

Fakih told CBS News that 8 members of his squad had been killed and 35 wounded complete nan past period alone, "plus 90% of our instrumentality was deed and was broken."

"Our occupation is to thief people," Jaber said. "To support them safe… Our colleagues died and our friends are wounded, and we were wounded, too, but we will proceed to thief nan group and protect their livelihoods. In fact, this gives america greater inducement to proceed our humanitarian mission."

Lebanese Civil Defense first responder Hussein Jaber and CBS News analogous Debora Patta respond to nan sound of an Israeli airstrike adjacent arsenic they speak successful Nabatiyeh, confederate Lebanon, successful precocious October 2024. CBS News

As CBS News vanished interviewing Jaber, location was a onslaught nearby. Duty called, and conscionable for illustration that, Jaber was off.

Two hours later, he raced to yet different emergency scene.

"Anyone there?" he called retired into nan heap of rubble. He and his colleagues pulled 12 bodies from nan rubble.

Shortly aft carrying retired that grim work, Jaber was wounded successful different Israeli strike. 

Lebanese Civil Defense squad personnel Hussein Jaber is treated for injuries sustained successful an Israeli airstrike adjacent Nabatiyeh, confederate Lebanon, successful precocious October 2024. CBS News

His injuries were minor, and nan squad is truthful short-staffed that he went consecutive backmost to work.

According to United Nations humanitarian agencies, astatine slightest 87 wellness attraction workers had been killed successful nan state arsenic of Oct. 10, and ambulances and alleviation centers had been "targeted aliases deed successful Lebanon, causing further casualties." According to CBS News' ain count, that decease toll has risen to astatine slightest 120.  

CBS News asked nan IDF astir nan civilian defense teams' claims that they're being straight targeted. In a statement, nan subject said it "operates successful strict accordance pinch world law. It must beryllium emphasized, however, that Hezbollah unlawfully embeds its subject assets into densely populated civilian areas, and cynically exploits civilian infrastructure for panic purposes."

The IDF said, arsenic it has galore times astir its operations successful some Lebanon and nan Gaza Strip, that it makes "all feasible efforts to mitigate harm to civilians during operational activity," including by giving "advanced warnings to civilians successful Lebanon wherever Hezbollah embedded its subject assets and weapons."

While nan IDF does often rumor removal orders up of strikes, Lebanese rescuers and civilians person told CBS News that specified warnings are not ever issued earlier missiles slam into residential areas.

Tucker Reals contributed to this report.

In:
• War
• Iran
• Hamas
• Israel
• Hezbollah
• Gaza Strip
• War Crimes
• Lebanon
• Middle East
• Benjamin Neta​nyahu