At approximately 6.30 pm on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, a number of paramedics were minorly injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance operating in the Haboush area of the Nabatieh district in Lebanon.

Facebook user Essa Slyteen reported that the ambulance that was hit belonged to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. Posting on Facebook, “The Syrian Social Nationalist Party – peaceful implantation” similarly reported that the ambulance that was hit belonged to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and that a number of paramedics were injured. The source reported that the paramedics were treated for their wounds and the majority of them returned to work afterwards.

The precise number of injuries is unknown and the victims have not yet been identified. No deaths were reported.

Alafdal News shared a photo of a small black ambulance sitting in tall grass with the Syrian Social Nationalist Party logo on the car door and the word ambulance on the boot. The comment reads “Ambulance targeted in Haboush.” Lebanon 24 also reported that the ambulance hit belonged to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and was “carrying out its duty” when it was hit.

Naja fm and Al Arabiya reported several injuries as a consequence of “an ambulance” that was hit in the village of Haboush. However, it did not specify who the ambulance belonged to.

Facebook user Saot Alwatta shared a photo of a different ambulance on fire; the ambulance is a white van with red script and a green logo, possibly that of the Al-Risala Association for Health Aid. The ambulance has no visible connection to the The Syrian Social Nationalist Party. The comment reads, “The enemy targets an ambulance in the Habbush area, in a dangerous escalation that threatens the safety of civilians.”  Reporting on the incident, social media users shared photos of The Syrian Social Nationalist Party logo but no other images depicting an ambulance at the scene of the incident were shared.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strikes to Israeli forces.

Regarding the Syrian Social Nationalist Party: On October 7, 2024, the SSN party website announced that it would support the “resistance parties.” However, given the sectarian political system in place in Lebanon, the presence of political posters, banners, flags, and photographs of particular religious/political leaders cannot be used to determine if an individual or community belongs to the armed wing of an organisation like Hezbollah, or that there was a militant presence in the area. As such, the presence of the ambulance, in addition to the fact that those injured were described as medical workers, has used to support civilian status.

The incident occured at approximately 6:30 pm local time.