An Israeli strike killed 12 medical staff at a clinic in southern Lebanon, as Hezbollah’s leader vowed readiness for a long war with Israel.

BEIRUT: An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed 12 medical staff at a healthcare centre on Saturday. Lebanese health authorities confirmed the deaths in the town of Burj Qalawiya.

The attack followed another strike on Sawaneh that killed two paramedics affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal. Israel also destroyed a key bridge over the Litani River between Zrariyeh and Tayr Falsay.

The Israeli military described the bridge as a “key crossing” for Hezbollah to build up its power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned this was “just the beginning” for Lebanon’s infrastructure.

He said Lebanon would suffer “loss of territory” until it disarmed Hezbollah. The attack marked the first on Lebanese public infrastructure acknowledged by Israel since the war began.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said his group was ready for a long confrontation. “We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and God willing, they (Israelis) will be surprised on the battlefield,” Qassem said in a televised address.

He described the conflict as “an existential battle, not a limited or simple battle”. Lebanon was drawn into the war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel.

The group acted in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israeli strikes continued on Friday, killing eight people in the village of Miyeh w Miyeh.

In the nearby village of Irkey, Mohammad Taqi buried his four daughters killed in a strike on Thursday. “I’ve lost four daughters. I don’t have any others,” he told AFP at the funeral.

He also lost his parents, brother, nephew and brother-in-law in the same strike. “The Israeli enemy says every day that it is targeting infrastructure,” he said.

“Have you seen it?” he asked, gesturing to his daughters’ bodies. The Israeli military bombed several roads in southern Lebanon on Friday.

This blocked access from north of the Litani River and from the Bekaa valley. Hezbollah uses the eastern area to transport weaponry.

Israeli shells also hit a United Nations base hosting Nepali peacekeepers in Mays al-Jabal. Nepal’s army confirmed one of their houses was struck with no casualties.

A UN spokesperson said they were aware of the reports. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire during a visit to Beirut. “My strong appeal to those parties, to Hezbollah and to Israel, is for a ceasefire to stop the war,” Guterres said.

He launched a USD 325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon. The war has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Israeli planes dropped propaganda leaflets over Beirut on Friday. One leaflet addressed to the Lebanese people said, “You must disarm Hezbollah, Iran’s shield.”

It added, “Lebanon is your decision, not someone else’s.” Israel renewed evacuation warnings, including for Beirut’s southern suburbs.

On Thursday, it expanded the evacuation zone to over 40 kilometres from the border. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun offered to negotiate directly with Israel earlier this week.

He said on Friday he had not received a response. Hezbollah launched attacks against Israeli forces on Friday as part of a Quds Day operation.

Quds Day is an annual demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause in Iran.

 The Sun Malaysia