The
Israeli defense force
on Saturday said that it conducted targeted
airstrikes
overnight on
Hezbollah
forces operating from a headquarters located inside a mosque near the "Salah Ahandor" hospital in southern
Lebanon
.
"Overnight, with the direction of
IDF
(army) intelligence, the IAF (air force) struck Hezbollah terrorists who were operating within a command centre that was located inside a mosque adjacent to the Salah Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement.
"The command centre was used by the Hezbollah terrorists to plan and execute terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the state of
Israel
,” it added.
The targeted headquarters served as a base for the terrorists to orchestrate and execute terrorist activities against Israeli Defense Forces and the State of Israel.
The Salah Ghandour Hospital, operated by the
Islamic Health Committee
, which has ties to Hezbollah, reported that nine of its medical and nursing personnel were injured, mostly severe, following the heavy bombardment. The hospital had received a prior warning from Israel to evacuate the premises.
According to the National News Agency, a state-run media outlet in Lebanon, the hospital grounds located in
Bint Jbeil
, a town in the southern region, were "subjected to Israeli shelling".
Prior to the attack, the IDF issued warnings to local residents and engaged in discussions with key officials in the villages housing the hospitals.
“Before the attack, notices were sent to the residents and talks were held with key officials in the villages where the hospitals are located, where the IDF identified that the
terrorist organization
Hezbollah was making prohibited use in accordance with the laws of war, demanding that all acts of terrorism carried out in the hospital be stopped immediately,” They added.