\\‘Israel Is Trying to Terrorise People’: Lebanon’s Civil Defence Reels After Deadly Strike\\

The remnants of the Douris Civil Defence centre are a haunting sight. Twisted metal and crumbled concrete scatter the area where an Israeli airstrike claimed 20 lives on Thursday night, including 15 first responders.

Rescuers carry the body of a civil defence officer from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Douris on Friday. 

Paramedics combed through the wreckage on Friday, collecting charred remains of their colleagues in a grim task of recovery.

Among the dead was 'Bilal Raad', head of the state civil defence in Baalbek-Hermel. Known for his relentless advocacy to improve rescue capabilities, Raad had lamented the lack of tools, such as bio radars, which detect life beneath rubble. Tragically, the device he had sought might have saved him and his team.

“This is a state service. Why would they target it?” asked Atta Mansour, head of the local rescue group Shifaa, as he sifted through the devastation. The Douris Civil Defence was a government-run entity, unaligned with Hezbollah or other political groups, leaving rescuers baffled about the strike’s rationale. 

The attack on Douris is part of a broader campaign of destruction as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate. Since the conflict intensified last year, 'over 3,400 people have died in Lebanon', with most of the casualties occurring after Israel’s ground and air campaign ramped up in September. More than '200 emergency responders' have been killed in strikes targeting healthcare facilities and rescue operations.

Israel claims Hezbollah uses ambulances and civilian facilities to conceal weapons and fighters, but no evidence has been presented to substantiate these accusations. Meanwhile, humanitarian workers accuse Israel of deliberately targeting healthcare and emergency infrastructure to degrade living conditions and force displacement. 

The toll on Lebanon’s healthcare system has been catastrophic, with 'more than 60 healthcare facilities struck' over the past year. Hospitals in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs have closed, leading officials to draw parallels with the dismantling of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. 

In Tyre, Moussa Nasrallah, the new head of the civil defence district, spoke about the targeted destruction. His predecessor, Abdallah Moussawi, was killed in an airstrike on 9 October. Nasrallah expressed concern over Israel’s strategy of hitting ambulances and delaying rescue efforts. 

“They want to break the system and terrorise the people,” Nasrallah said, describing the challenges of operating under constant fear.

The strike on Douris left 14 injured, mostly bystanders. Despite Israeli evacuation orders, many residents remain, unable or unwilling to leave. Mansour, standing by the ruins of the civil defence centre, pointed to the indiscriminate nature of the campaign.  

“Israel is not discriminating between civilians, ambulances, or rescue services,” he said, his voice echoing the anguish of a nation under siege.

As the conflict deepens, Lebanon is left grappling with a humanitarian crisis, devastated infrastructure, and the looming spectre of more violence. The international community watches, with growing calls for accountability, while families in Baalbek and beyond mourn the loss of loved ones and the fraying fabric of their communities. 

The Middle East conflict continues to claim lives and destabilize the region. Accurate, timely reporting is essential to understanding the events shaping this crisis. For those affected, this is not just a story but a stark reality that demands attention and action.