Israeli 'double-tap' strike kills three rescue workers in Lebanon, officials say

Israeli 'double-tap' strike kills three rescue workers in Lebanon, officials say6 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleHugo BachegaMiddle East correspondent, BeirutReutersThe Israeli military says it struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon on TuesdayTwo successive Israeli air strikes on a building in southern Lebanon have killed five people, including three emergency workers, Lebanese officials say, in what the country's prime minister has described as a "war crime".The Lebanese health ministry said the three rescuers from the Lebanese Civil Defense, a state-run emergency service, had been sent to rescue those wounded in the first strike in the town of Majdal Zoun on Tuesday. They were trapped under rubble caused by the second strike and later confirmed dead.The ministry did not identify the two other fatalities. Two Lebanese army soldiers were also wounded in the attack.The Israeli military has been approached for comment.It has previously failed to explain attacks on health professionals while they were on rescue missions. The tactic, known as "double tap", sees an initial attack followed by a second or more - often hitting civilians and rescuers. It has been used by Israel in Lebanon and Gaza.Human rights groups say deliberate attacks on health workers could constitute a war crime.The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah - the Lebanese militia and political party that is funded and armed by Iran - started on 2 March after the group fired rockets into Israel, which responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.Since then, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 103 health professionals, according to the Lebanese health ministry. It does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but says the number includes at least 270 women and more than 170 children.Two civilians have been killed by Hezbollah attacks in Israel, while 16 Israeli sol...