INA - BEIRUT

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday that Iraq was the first to provide aid to Lebanon.

"Iraq was the first to provide us with aid, and the country that delivered the most medical aid to Lebanon. Iraq extended an air bridge to Lebanon," said the Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad during his interview with Al-Iraqiya News - followed up by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

He added, "13 hospitals were put out of service due to the Zionist bombing. More than 150 martyrs were workers in the health sectors. More than 120 ambulances and fire trucks were destroyed by Zionist strikes, and Red Cross personnel were targeted. The Zionist enemy targeted relief convoys heading to Lebanon, and one of them was targeted yesterday." 

He expressed his surprise at "the international silence on the continued targeting of aid and medical personnel," noting that "41 people were martyred and more than 120 were injured as a result of the Zionist aggression in the past 24 hours." 

"The Lebanese are not alone in confronting the aggression with the support and positions of our brothers," he added, stressing "Lebanon's need for medicines and antibiotics for the wounded and to increase bed capacity."