ANKARA

At least five medics were killed on Friday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, according to the country's Health Ministry.

The ministry in a statement said an Israeli strike targeted a team belonging to the Islamic Health Association’s civil defense unit in Qotrani village, Jezzine district, killing three medics and injuring three others.

Earlier, the ministry said two paramedics were killed when an airstrike targeted their ambulance in Deir Qanoun Ras Al-Ain, Tyre district.

“Israeli forces continue to blatantly disregard international laws, customs, and humanitarian agreements,” it added.

Paramedics, hospitals, and humanitarian aid workers are off limits under the rules of war, but have all been targeted by Israel in recent offensives in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.

Israel engaged in cross-border warfare with Lebanon since the Gaza war, but launched an extensive air campaign in late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets. It launched a ground operation the next month.

Nearly 3,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 5,000 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi