GENEVA/BEIRUT, April 13 (Reuters) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised serious alarm over a series of recent attacks in Lebanon, warning that repeated strikes are endangering humanitarian workers and worsening an already fragile situation in the country.
The concern follows a deadly pattern of incidents in southern Lebanon, including a strike on Monday that damaged a Lebanese Red Cross center in the coastal city of Tyre. Local state media reported that one person was killed in the attack and several emergency response vehicles belonging to the Red Cross were damaged.
The ICRC confirmed that its facility was hit but did not directly attribute responsibility for the strike. However, Israel’s military said it had carried out a targeted operation in Tyre against a Hezbollah-linked individual and stated it was investigating reports that the strike also affected a Red Cross site.
The latest incident came just one day after another tragedy involving humanitarian staff. A Lebanese Red Cross volunteer, Hassan Badawi, died from injuries he sustained after a separate drone strike in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon. Friends and colleagues said Badawi had been serving with the Red Cross since 2012 and was dedicated to providing emergency medical assistance in conflict zones.
Family members strongly rejected any suggestion that he was involved in militant activity, saying he was simply carrying out humanitarian duties at the time of the attack. His burial took place under difficult circumstances, with access to his home village restricted due to ongoing fighting in the region.
The Red Cross described the situation as deeply troubling. Agnes Dhur, head of the ICRC delegation in Lebanon, said the killing and injury of humanitarian personnel raised serious concerns and highlighted the growing risks faced by aid workers in conflict zones. She stressed that medical teams must always be protected and allowed to operate freely to reach civilians in need.
The strikes come amid a wider escalation of violence in Lebanon, where cross-border clashes involving Israel and Hezbollah-linked forces have intensified in recent months. The conflict has already caused widespread destruction, mass displacement, and severe pressure on hospitals and emergency services.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 2,000 people have been killed and over one million have been displaced since the fighting escalated earlier this year. Aid agencies warn that continued attacks on civilian and humanitarian infrastructure could further deepen the crisis and limit access to life-saving support for affected communities.
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