24 stories for 2026-03-20 · Armed conflict, civilian harm & humanitarian access
Dozens of healthcare workers and first responders in Lebanon have been killed or injured since March 2, 2026, amid escalating Israeli military attacks. Israel has alleged without evidence that ambulances and healthcare sites are being used for military activities and may be targeted. Lebanese offices and publishing houses are also under attack, with civil society initiatives launched to protect them.
The Israeli military has renewed calls for residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes as strikes intensify across towns and villages in the region. Israel stated it has begun bombing bridges on the Litani River to prevent Hezbollah fighters from transporting weapons. A major power plant in southern Lebanon has been taken offline following Israeli strikes.
An analysis examines how conflict has transformed discussions about weapons in Lebanon, deepening divisions and intensifying rhetoric. The piece argues that digital spaces have become additional arenas for conflict where language is weaponized, delegitimizing opponents, and sometimes serving as symbolic prelude to violence.
Israel carried out airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon, resulting in injuries according to Lebanon's official news agency.
An Israeli attack on southern Lebanon on Thursday resulted in the shutdown of a main electricity transmission station, according to Lebanon's electricity authority. The strike damaged critical infrastructure in the Sultaniyeh area, taking a primary power facility offline.
A Lebanese initiative titled "For Lebanon" aims to address feelings of helplessness among Lebanese citizens through art. The initiative transforms art into a humanitarian support mechanism for those harmed by conflict.
Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanon have killed over 1,000 people since the conflict with Hezbollah began in early March, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel has escalated operations in recent days, including targeting fuel stations associated with the group.
Officials have called for equitable distribution of food aid without discrimination. The statement emphasizes the importance of fair and non-discriminatory practices in humanitarian assistance delivery.
Israeli forces have taken control of most of the outskirts of the towns of Khiam and Taybeh in Lebanon, including eastern, northern, and southern edges, in an effort to control strategically important hilltop positions. Hezbollah has mounted resistance to these advances in the area.
Three Palestinian women were killed in a beauty salon in the southern West Bank during an Iranian missile attack. Others were injured in the strike, and a Thai worker was also killed by falling shrapnel in Israel.
Children orphaned by the war in Gaza face Eid celebrations without families. Many have lost parents and relatives, with thousands now without family members to mark the holiday with them.
The Israeli military continues to violate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, resulting in four additional deaths. The Rafah crossing has been partially reopened to allow a limited number of patients through. Since the ceasefire agreement began, the death toll has reached 681 people.
Gaza is preparing to observe Eid al-Fitr amid severe humanitarian challenges. The territory faces soaring prices, food shortages, a blockade, and daily casualties. Most central and historic markets in Gaza have been destroyed during the conflict, though informal markets operating from temporary stalls have emerged to meet basic needs.
Four Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting Gaza City, according to reports from the Civil Defense Authority and hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced that it attacked refineries in Haifa and Ashdod using missiles. The second source references this as the 65th wave of attacks.
After 19 days of closure, the Rafah crossing has reopened from the Palestinian side. The reopening has prompted renewed discussion about humanitarian corridors, with preparations underway for the return of Palestinians who had been treated outside the Gaza Strip.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been reopened today, marking the first time the border has reopened since the start of the Israeli-American conflict.
The Israeli military conducted airstrikes against targets belonging to the Syrian government in southern Syria, according to reports. The strikes followed attacks on Druze civilians.
Years after separation from Hula due to a massacre, the town is establishing a collective memory initiative to document the events. However, Hula now faces potential disappearance, raising difficult questions for descendants of the massacre's victims regarding the fate of their ancestors' remains.
Yemen is experiencing its worst food security crisis in 11 years, with widespread hunger affecting the population amid continued armed conflict.
The United Nations has warned of escalating humanitarian needs in Yemen, with 22.3 million people requiring assistance. The crisis is being exacerbated by funding shortfalls, access challenges, and difficulties reaching millions facing hunger and disease.
Israel announced on Wednesday the killing of Iran's national security council secretary and a Basij commander in Larijan through what it described as one of its most significant assassination operations.
Security sources reported on Wednesday that a U.S. diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport was targeted by Katyusha rockets, with alarm systems activated at the facility.
Health experts caution that dust from destroyed buildings poses serious public health risks, as it can release toxic substances including asbestos, heavy metals, and crystalline silica, according to a health and occupational safety expert.