Hezbollah has been using ambulances to hide weapons and transport terrorists to different locations, footage released by the IDF on Friday revealed.
The terror organization “systematically and repeatedly uses medical facilities and equipment to conceal terrorist activity," the military said in a statement.
Hezbollah uses ambulances and medical teams to transport weapons and operatives across Lebanon, which undermines protections granted to medical facilities and equipment under international law, the IDF said.
The military's efforts to alert civilian populations in southern Lebanon of upcoming strikes have made it increasingly difficult for Hezbollah terrorists to blend in with civilians, said the military, resulting in increased usage of ambulances to move between locations while disguising their identities.
Hezbollah weapons found inside of an ambulance
Golani troops conducting searches in Qantara, a municipality in southern Lebanon, found an ambulance used by terrorists to conceal weapons, including explosive devices, mortar shells, magazines, and a grenade.
In a separate incident last month, troops in the 7th Brigade encountered a Hezbollah terrorist operating near an ambulance and carrying an RPG anti-tank launcher, according to the IDF. The terrorist fired at the troops and was eliminated.
More weapons were later discovered inside the ambulance.
Additional footage released by the IDF reveals that Hezbollah terrorists fled on foot from IDF strikes and hid in a field until an ambulance collected them. They were then placed, unharmed, on stretchers inside body bags.
“This footage constitutes evidence of Hezbollah’s use of medical vehicles to exploit their protected status,” said the IDF.
“The IDF will continue to operate in accordance with international law regarding medical facilities, despite Hezbollah’s decision to exploit them for terrorist purposes in blatant violation of international law.”