Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains
Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has intensified, with recent operations in Lebanon claiming multiple civilian lives. Overnight, Israeli forces conducted a significant ground attack in the eastern Bekaa Valley, a region central to the escalating tensions, resulting in at least 41 fatalities and 40 injuries, reported by the Lebanese health ministry. Among the casualties were three Lebanese soldiers, while local residents shared names of civilians—some as young as children—who perished in the violence.
The operation in Nabi Chit aimed to locate the remains of an Israeli airman who disappeared in Lebanon over four decades ago. In the village cemetery, a grave was unearthed in the early hours of Saturday, though locals said it was empty. “They thought he was there but there was nothing,” remarked a man at the scene, pointing to the vacant plot. The destruction was widespread, with bullet holes littering a wrecked vehicle and its seats stained with blood. Nearby, buildings lay in ruins, and a massive crater disrupted the surrounding area, causing further damage.
Hezbollah, designated a terrorist group by the UK, US, and other nations, allowed journalists to survey the devastation in the village. The Shia militia and political faction had earlier deployed special forces to the region, as confirmed by the Lebanese army chief. However, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to BBC inquiries about the claim. Witnesses described Israeli troops arriving in Lebanese military uniforms, using ambulances marked with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization insignia.
Escalation and civilian casualties
According to the Lebanese military, Israeli aircraft were spotted near the Syrian border late Friday, with two landing to deploy forces. Aerial bombardment followed, prompting the Lebanese military to take immediate defensive action using flare bombs. Clashes erupted in the streets as Israeli troops engaged Hezbollah fighters and civilians sheltering in homes.
“At midnight, we felt a strange movement on one side of the village. It turned out to be an Israeli commando unit deployed for some mission,” stated a local official. “The resistance then surrounded them and heavy clashes ensued. Then the air force increased their air strikes to allow the extraction of their unit which caused tremendous damage.”
Residents noted that a mass evacuation had been ordered prior to the attack. Mohamed Chokr, whose uncle and relatives were among the victims, described his family’s sense of security. “We are not affiliated with any political party. We are Shia—we like Hezbollah, but we are not members. We are all in the Lebanese army,” he said. His uncle, a retired soldier, and his son, also a former soldier, were killed in the crossfire, as were his family members attempting to rescue them.
“How should I feel today? This is my uncle and his kids and their kids,” Mohamed Chokr added, emphasizing the personal toll of the attack.
Local survivors gathered around the crater on Saturday to evaluate the damage, some expressing shock at the scale of destruction. “They bombed everything. This is crazy,” said Ali Shakur, a villager. Another resident claimed people had evacuated their children before the operation began, though the timing of the strikes left many caught off guard.
The Lebanese military reported 40 airstrikes in the vicinity to support the extraction of Israeli forces. Despite the devastation, the IDF has not yet provided comments on the allegations or the operation’s details.
