Extensive Israeli military activity observed in UN operations area: UNIFIL

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to observe extensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military activity across its areas of operations, a UN spokesperson said Friday, reported Xinhua. Those activities include high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works, and sustained logistical traffic, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general. Dujarric told a daily briefing that intensive air activities by Israeli forces were reported on Thursday, involving fighter aircraft and various unmanned aerial systems. UNIFIL recorded 72 violations of Lebanese airspace by the IDF, and eight airstrikes were carried out by IDF fighter aircraft in UNIFIL's area of operations Thursday. The UN remains deeply concerned by the continued impact of hostilities on healthcare and people's access to essential services in Lebanon, said the spokesperson. Citing local authorities, Dujarric said a reported strike Thursday near Hiram Hospital in Tyre district, in Lebanon's South Governorate, injured 10 staff members and damaged the hospital's buildings and impacting vehicles as well. This is at least the fifth reported incident affecting Hiram Hospital since the escalation started on March 2. The World Health Organization reported that across Lebanon, 17 hospitals have been damaged during the escalation, including all three hospitals in Tyre. A total of 135 healthcare workers and first responders have been killed, and nearly 400 others injured, said the spokesperson.