Taking a big decision, the Kuwait government has put 8 big hospitals of Lebanon in its ‘National Sanction List’ i.e. terrorist list. This decision was taken on 8 February 2026 and was published in the government newspaper there the next day. As soon as this news came, the Lebanese government expressed strong displeasure and said that they were not told anything about it in advance. The Health Ministry says that this is not good for the relations between the two countries.
Which 8 hospitals are banned?
The hospitals that Kuwait has banned are mainly in South Lebanon and Beirut areas. Kuwaiti authorities allege that these hospitals are part of a network linked to Hezbollah. Below is the list of hospitals on which restrictions have been imposed:
Hospital Name Locality/City Al-Rasoul Al-Azam Hospital Airport Road, Beirut St. George Hospital Hadath Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital Nabatieh Salah Gandoor Hospital Bint Jabeel Al-Amal Hospital Baalbek Dar Al-Hikma Hospital Baalbek Al-Batool Hospital Harmel Al-Shifa Hospital Khaldeh
What is this new rule and why was the decision taken?
Kuwait has taken this action under the strict rules of the United Nations (UN). According to the law of Kuwait, as soon as an organization comes in this list, all its funds and bank accounts are immediately frozen. There is no need to give advance notice for this.
According to the rules, no person or company inside Kuwait can neither send money nor provide any help to these hospitals. If any bank or financial institution holds any property related to these hospitals, it will have to inform the government within 24 hours. Kuwait says that this step was necessary to stop terrorism.
What will be the impact on common people and patients?
This decision can have a direct impact on treatment and money transactions. Since the accounts of these hospitals will be frozen, it will become difficult to send money for treatment from Kuwait. Lebanon’s Health Minister says that these hospitals are for the treatment of common citizens and are registered with the government.
Lebanese expatriates who used to send aid from Kuwait to treat their relatives are now faced with uncertainty. Also, there may be problems regarding medical visa. The Lebanese government is now trying to talk to Kuwaiti authorities to resolve this issue so that common patients do not face problems.
