Lebanon: Flash Update #13 - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, (as of 30 March 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The hostilities which have been ongoing for close to one-month have already claimed the lives of 1,238 people in Lebanon, including most recently rescue workers, journalists and a UN peacekeeper.
  • Over a million people remain displaced from their homes in heavily impacted areas amidst increasing military activity in south Lebanon.
  • Cash modalities are being coordinated and scaled up steadily to assist vulnerable households as part of the humanitarian response.

Situation Overview

In the past four weeks of hostilities, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has recorded 1,238 deaths across Lebanon, including 87 women and 127 children.

Ongoing strikes have continued to impact civilians, journalists, medical teams, and UN peacekeepers. On 28 March alone, three journalists were killed and several others left wounded in an attack in Jezzine, South Governorate. On the same day, in several separate incidents, nine rescue workers including two first responders were killed during a strike on an ambulance in Bint Jbeil. The Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, and the WHO Representative in Lebanon, Abdinasir Abubakar, issued a joint statement on 28 March calling for the protection of health care workers and first responders, highlighting incidents in which ambulances were being targeted.

On 29 March, a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position in Ett-Taibe, in southern Lebanon, came under attack, leading to the death of a UNIFIL peacekeeper from the Indonesian contingent and causing serious injuries to another. The next day, on 30 March, two more Indonesian peacekeepers of UNIFIL were killed and two others injured when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan, south Lebanon. On 29 March, the UN Secretary‑General issued a statement expressing grave concern, reiterating the call for an immediate de-escalation and urging all parties to comply fully with their obligations under international law.

Israeli forces continue to issue displacement orders across multiple locations. Between 27-30 March, these orders for Beirut Southern Suburbs, including Haret Hreik, Ghobeiri, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al‑Barajneh, Tahwitat al‑Ghadir, and Chiyah were followed by strikes.

The number of people crossing the border from Lebanon to Syria continues to grow. According to UNHCR, between 2 and 26 March, around 198,060 individuals have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including 171,781 Syrians and 26,279 Lebanese nationals.