Beirut, Lebanon - September 24, 2024

Lebanon's Minister of Public Health, Firass Abiad, urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel to cease its military operations in Lebanon and called for more medical supplies to help the struggling Lebanese healthcare system cope with the influx of casualties following a series of recent Israeli attacks.

Israel's large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon since Monday have resulted in 558 deaths and 1,835 injuries. Fifty children and 94 women were among those killed in the strikes, Firas Abiad said on Tuesday.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Abiad said that Lebanese hospitals are operating at maximum capacity, treating the overwhelming number of wounded civilians.

Given the critical situation, Abiad called for international donations of medical resources to address the urgent needs of the Lebanese population.

Abiad said it was the Lebanese government's hope that the United Nations Security Council will pressure Israel to stop its attacks on Lebanon.

Abiad also expressed appreciation for China's support for his country.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged the United Nations to pressure Israel to stop its "aggression" against Lebanon, warning that Israel is waging a "war of extermination" against the country's villages and towns. He also called on the Security Council and influential nations to intervene to halt the violations.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they have completed a third round of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The strikes focused on Hezbollah's rocket launchers, weapons storage facilities, and other infrastructure.

According to the IDF, Israeli Air Force jets have dropped around 2,000 bombs on Hezbollah targets, hitting around 1,500 sites, with drone strikes also striking hundreds of locations associated with the group.

Shotlist:
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024:
FILE: Beirut, Lebanon - 2024
1. National flag of Lebanon;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Firas Abiad, Lebanese Health Minister (ending with shot 3):
"Hospitals in southern Lebanon are operating at maximum capacity, treating a large number of injured civilians. We are also transferring some of the wounded from the south to other regions, but we are facing traffic congestion during these transfers, as many people are leaving their villages and towns for safer areas. We are doing our best to provide assistance and medical care for the wounded being transferred. Additionally, our Ministry of Public Health has issued a statement requesting a halt to non-emergency admissions in order to focus all efforts on treating those injured in the attacks.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 17, 2024
3. Ambulances moving through traffic;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Firas Abiad, Lebanese Health Minister:
"Our stockpile of medicines and essential supplies can only last for about four months. However, with the frequency of Israeli attacks and the large number of injuries, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling on friendly and brotherly nations to provide necessary supplies and medications. This is what we need most at the moment.";
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 18, 2024
5. Various of residents, traffic outside American University of Beirut Medical Center;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Firas Abiad, Lebanese Health Minister:
"The Lebanese government is working to address the current crisis. The minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants is attending relevant meetings at the UN General Assembly in New York, and we hope the international community can exert pressure on Israel to halt its assaults on Lebanon. These attacks are causing serious harm to civilians, the vulnerable, women and children.";
Lebanon - Sept 23, 2024
7. Various of traffic congestion;
Beirut, Lebanon - Sept 24, 2024
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Firas Abiad, Lebanese Health Minister (partially overlaid with shot 9):
"We have made a call to all brotherly and friendly nations, and China is certainly one of Lebanon's friendly countries. Even without our requests, China has been consistently providing assistance to us, including our healthcare sector. We hope the international community will fulfill its obligations and exert the necessary pressure on Israel to end the hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon, and resolve the issue through diplomatic means.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
UN Headquarters, New York City - Sept 23, 2024
9. National flags of Lebanon, China on table;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Lebanon - Aug 25, 2024
10. Various of blasts, dense smoke.

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