The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, arrived in Lebanon on Saturday in an effort to express solidarity and bring awareness to alleged breaches of humanitarian law that include Israel’s targeting of medical facilities and displacement of civilians.

Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, expressed serious concerns about the effects of the airstrikes on health care services, reporting that there has been a disturbing increase in assaults on medical facilities in Lebanon in recent days.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have also forced tens of thousands of families, both Lebanese and Syrian, to flee to Syria in search of safety. The UNHCR emphasized the need to protect civilians in accordance with international law.

The principle of distinction under Article 48 of Additional Protocol I stipulates that warring parties must distinguish between civilians and combatants, as well as between civilian objects and military objectives. As medical personnel and facilities are being targeted, concerns are raised on whether these principles are being upheld.

Since the start of Israeli air strikes in Lebanon, several medical facilities have been targeted, forcing at least four hospitals in Lebanon to close. Such actions may violate Article 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates that hospitals and medical units be respected and protected by all parties in a conflict. Attacks on healthcare facilities are prohibited unless they are being used for military purposes, and this must be clearly proven.

The tensions in the region continue to rise, with Iran launching ballistic missiles into Israel last week, claiming a “legitimate right to self-defense under the UN Charter”. The attack, carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was framed as retaliation for Israel’s killing of key leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian military.

In reaction, Israel barred UN Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country, citing his perceived failure to condemn the recent attacks by Iran.