Qatar launches aid airlift to Lebanon amid Israeli bombardment

Qatar launched an airlift on Tuesday between Doha and Beirut to deliver crucial humanitarian aid to Lebanon, which has been facing ongoing Israeli attacks. 

Lolwah Al-Khater, Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation, announced the initiative in a joint press conference with Firas al-Abiad, Lebanon's Minister of Health, and Nasser Yassin, coordinator of Lebanon's National Disaster and Crisis Response. 

Ten C-17 planes will be dispatched throughout October, transporting medical supplies, shelter materials, and food to assist those impacted by the ongoing crisis, Al-Khater said.

Speaking to reporters on the launch of Qatar’s humanitarian mission, the Qatari official expressed concerns over the Israeli offensive on Lebanon’s healthcare system, stating that global inaction persists "similar to what we have observed in Gaza before and during the ongoing aggression in the West Bank".

"We reaffirm our support for Lebanon—its government, people, and national institutions, especially the Ministry of Health, which plays a heroic role, alongside the health teams," the Qatari minister added. 

"It is evident that Qatar has always supported the Lebanese Armed Forces, a national institution that unites all Lebanese people."

Al-Khater reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to Lebanon, stating that the airlift has since begun deliveries. 

She highlighted ongoing plans for immediate and long-term support, noting that over 1.2 million refugees displaced by the conflict require urgent aid. 

Al-Khater mentioned active diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions in the region, emphasising that the underlying issues, particularly concerning Gaza, must also be addressed for a lasting solution. 

Al-Abiad, the Lebanese health minister, backed Qatar’s commitment with its latest initiative and acknowledged the strain on the healthcare system, with over 2,000 Lebanese and 10,000 injuries since the hostilities began on October 8 of last year.

He noted that Qatari assistance will help healthcare workers serve the needs of both the injured and the displaced, but ultimately, a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions are essential for recovery. 

Following the announcement, al-Khater met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut, in which she emphasised Qatar's "firm and steadfast position regarding Lebanon, its sovereignty, and its right to maintain its security and stability and the safety of its citizens." 

Israel has launched extensive airstrikes across Lebanon targeting what it claims are Hezbollah positions since September 23. 

The recent attacks have resulted in over 1,250 deaths, 3,618 injuries, and the displacement of more than 1.2 million people in two weeks alone.

The aerial campaign marks a significant escalation in the ongoing cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since Israel's brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, where nearly 42,000 people, primarily women and children, have lost their lives since last year.