BEIRUT —Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has vowed to push for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, even as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies and humanitarian workers are caught in the crossfire.

Speaking on Sunday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was working to stop the Israel-Hezbollah war and achieve an Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanese territory. His remarks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon that “the fight there was far from over,” signaling no immediate end to hostilities.

The Lebanese Red Cross confirmed that one of its paramedics was killed after being “directly targeted by an Israeli drone” while on a humanitarian mission. The organization stressed that its ambulances and crews were clearly marked with the protective Red Cross emblem. 

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said he was “appalled and saddened” by the attack, which marked the second death of a Lebanese Red Cross volunteer in recent days.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least six people were killed in Israeli strikes in the south on Sunday, underscoring the mounting civilian toll of the conflict. Salam’s appeal for troop withdrawal reflects growing pressure within Lebanon to end the violence, which has displaced thousands and devastated communities along the border.

Israel has maintained that its operations are aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s military capabilities, but critics argue that the strikes have disproportionately harmed civilians and humanitarian workers. Salam’s statement highlights Lebanon’s diplomatic push to secure international support for de-escalation, even as the conflict shows little sign of abating.

The Prime Minister’s call for troop withdrawal is expected to be a central theme in upcoming discussions with regional and global partners. For Lebanon, the challenge remains balancing domestic demands for peace with the realities of a conflict that continues to draw in powerful actors on both sides.