Israeli double-tap strike kills 3 Civil Defense rescuers in Majdal Zoun; Salam calls war crime

Wednesday, April 29, 2026Confirmed

World Desk

What we know

Two successive Israeli air strikes on a building in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon, killed three Lebanese Civil Defense rescuers — Hussein Ghadbouni, Hussein Sati and Hadi Daher — who had been sent to aid wounded from the first strike and were trapped under rubble by the second, the health ministry and Civil Defense told BBC, Al Jazeera and Reuters. Lebanese officials said additional civilians died in the same attack and two army soldiers were wounded; Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called targeting Civil Defense during a humanitarian mission a "war crime," and President Joseph Aoun said Israel keeps violating laws protecting rescue workers.

The killings came despite a U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that has reduced but not stopped daily strikes. Updated health-ministry tallies put Tuesday's southern toll higher as separate strikes hit other towns; Israel said it was hitting Hezbollah infrastructure and claimed to have killed militants who attacked its forces.

What's confirmed

BBC: Health ministry said three Civil Defense members died under rubble after a second strike in Majdal Zoun; Salam called it a war crime (BBC).
Al Jazeera: Civil Defense told Reuters the three were trapped by the second strike; Aoun condemned a series of attacks on relief workers (Al Jazeera).
Reuters/Straits Times: Army said two troops were wounded in the Majdal Zoun strike that also hit rescuers and civilian bulldozers (Reuters).
The Hindu: Aoun on Wednesday said Israel must fully implement the truce before talks, after strikes killed more than 20 over two days (The Hindu).

What's still developing

Final reconciliation of health-ministry versus local casualty counts from Majdal Zoun and nearby towns.
Whether Washington presses Israel over strikes on marked rescue teams under the April truce.
IDF response detailing what it claimed to target in the Majdal Zoun building.

Sources

BBC — Israeli ‘double-tap’ strike kills three rescue workers in Lebanon, officials say link
Al Jazeera — Lebanon’s PM slams Israel’s ‘war crimes’ as attack kills 3 rescue workers link
Reuters — Israeli strike on Lebanese troops, rescuers wounds two soldiers, Lebanon says link
Straits Times — Israeli strikes kill five in south Lebanon, including three rescuers link
The Hindu — Lebanon President says Israel must fully implement truce as strikes continue link
Egypt Independent — Lebanese Civil Defense announces death of 3 members during rescue operation link