The full text of Statement No. 14 issued by the Iranian Red Crescent Society and the National Committee on International Humanitarian Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran is as follows:

 

 

In the Name of God; the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

 

The National Committee on International Humanitarian Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been following with deep concern reports concerning the setting on fire of Mays al-Jabal Governmental Hospital in the Marjayoun District of Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces, and strongly condemns this act against a medical facility and a vital healthcare infrastructure.

According to reports issued by official Lebanese sources, Mays al-Jabal Governmental Hospital, which had previously ceased operations amid the hostilities and prevailing security conditions, was subsequently reconstructed, repaired and re-equipped. The hospital was once again subjected to an attack and, on Friday, 18 September 2026, sustained extensive fire damage and destruction.

The National Committee on International Humanitarian Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran recalls that hospitals, medical units, medical personnel, and means and facilities dedicated to medical purposes enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law and must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Such protection constitutes a fundamental pillar of international humanitarian law and an essential safeguard for ensuring that the wounded, the sick and the civilian population have access to vital medical services.

Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law, parties to an armed conflict are required to respect and protect medical facilities and medical services and to refrain from actions that disrupt, or deprive the civilian population of access to, essential medical care.

The National Committee further emphasizes that the temporary closure or non-operation of a hospital does not, in and of itself, provide legal grounds for its destruction or for an attack against it. The legal status and protection of any medical facility must be assessed on the basis of its actual use and the circumstances prevailing at the relevant time, in accordance with the applicable rules of international humanitarian law. Even where it is alleged that a medical unit has lost its special protection, the fundamental requirements of international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction and proportionality and the obligation to take precautions, remain fully applicable.

Reports concerning the prior military presence in the hospital, followed by its burning and destruction, further underscore the need for a prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigation to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, the status of the hospital at the time of the incident, and any potential responsibility arising from violations of international humanitarian law.

The National Committee on International Humanitarian Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls upon the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other competent international bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to ensure the thorough documentation of this incident, facilitate an independent examination of all its circumstances, and pursue accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law.

Repeated attacks against hospitals, medical facilities, ambulances and healthcare personnel not only endanger the lives of patients and humanitarian and medical personnel, but may also disrupt the entire system for the provision of healthcare to the civilian population and significantly aggravate the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict. The protection and independent functioning of medical facilities and personnel must be respected without discrimination and in all circumstances.

The National Committee on International Humanitarian Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates the imperative of full and non-discriminatory compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law, the effective protection of civilians and vital infrastructure— particularly medical facilities and personnel—and the need to prevent impunity for serious violations of these rules.

 

Dr. Pir Hossein Kolivand

President of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran

& National Committee on Humanitarian Law