UN: Lebanese people 'bearing the brunt' of Israel-Hezbollah fighting

More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023 as a result of the escalation of violence between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and Israel, the UN Human Rights Office said, citing the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Among them were 100 emergency paramedics and other health workers.

"There are recurring reports of essential civilian infrastructure having been struck, including hospitals, clinics, ambulances and schools – along with destruction of housing," said UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

Violence across the Israel-Lebanon border has increased massively over the past year. Hezbollah expanded its attacks on Israel after Israel declared war on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which led the massacres in Israeli communities on October 7.

Israel began launching more intense attacks on Lebanon in mid-September, seeking to eliminate Hezbollah forces but also killing many civilians.

"The Lebanese people are bearing the brunt of this latest phase of conflict. The Ministry of Public Health says almost 400 children and women are among over 2,000 people killed since October 2023," Shamdasani said.