Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains
Dozens Killed as Israeli Special Forces Target Lebanese Village in Search of Lost Remains
A new wave of casualties has struck Lebanon following Israeli air and ground attacks, as the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies. The operation in the eastern Bekaa Valley town of Nabi Chit resulted in at least 41 deaths and 40 injuries, per the Lebanese health ministry. Among the victims were three soldiers, with locals providing names of civilians, including children, believed to have perished.
The raid aimed to recover the remains of an Israeli airman who disappeared in the region four decades ago. On Saturday, a grave was unearthed in the village cemetery, but it was empty. “They thought he was there but there was nothing,” said a local man, pointing to the dug-up site. Nearby, a car lay in ruins, its seats soaked in blood, while bullet holes marred the landscape.
Hezbollah, the dominant force in the area, permitted journalists to document the destruction. The group is designated a terrorist organization by the UK, US, and other nations. The Lebanese military reported that four Israeli aircraft appeared near the Syria border late Friday, with two landing to deploy commandos. A “large-scale aerial bombardment” followed, prompting immediate defense actions.
Local units used flare bombs to locate the Israeli forces, which then clashed with Hezbollah fighters and civilians sheltering in their 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,” explained a local official. “The resistance then surrounded them, and heavy fighting erupted. Air strikes intensified to extract their forces, causing widespread damage.”
“They bombed everything. This is crazy,” said Ali Shakur. “I think they were surprised by who was here because when they bombed, they thought everyone had evacuated.”
Residents reported that an evacuation order had been issued before the operation began, yet some stayed behind. Mohamed Chokr, whose uncle and other relatives were killed, described his family’s relative safety due to their non-Hezbollah affiliations. “My uncle is a retired soldier, his son is also a retired soldier, and his other son is a school teacher. We are not members of Hezbollah, but we are all in the Lebanese army,” he said. “How should I feel today? This is my uncle and his kids and their kids.”
During the chaos, a relative arrived in a bulldozer to rescue the family from rubble but was fatally struck in the crossfire. Another local confirmed the uncle’s name and those of other casualties. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the allegations that soldiers disguised in Lebanese uniforms used ambulances bearing Hezbollah’s insignia.
