Dozens killed as Israeli special forces raid Lebanese village in search of 40-year-old remains
Israeli Raid in Lebanese Village Sparks Major Casualties
The ongoing war with Hezbollah has intensified, as Israeli forces conducted a significant operation in the eastern Bekaa Valley, resulting in at least 41 fatalities and 40 injuries in the village of Nabi Chit. The Lebanese health ministry reported the toll, highlighting the involvement of both military personnel and civilians, including children, in the attack.
Operation Focus: Recovering Missing Israeli Airman
The mission centered on locating the remains of an Israeli military airman who vanished in Lebanon decades ago. Local accounts describe a disturbed cemetery, where a grave was unearthed in a corner, only to find it empty. “They assumed he was there, but there was nothing,” a resident recounted, pointing to the hole.
Elsewhere in the town, remnants of destruction included a car riddled with bullet holes and bloodstained seats. Nearby buildings lay in ruins, with a massive crater damaging homes. Items like a children’s coloring book and cooking utensils were scattered among the debris, underscoring the civilian toll.
Hezbollah’s Role and Evacuation Orders
Hezbollah, the dominant force in the region and designated a terrorist organization by the UK, US, and others, permitted journalists to witness the damage. The Lebanese military noted that four Israeli aircraft approached the border with Syria late Friday, two landing to deploy special forces. Aerial bombardments followed, prompting immediate defensive actions by local units, including flare bombs to identify the landing site.
Clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters, as well as civilians defending their homes. A local official described the scene: “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.” The resistance surrounded them, leading to heavy fighting. Israeli air strikes intensified to aid the extraction of the unit, causing widespread damage.
Disguises and Crossfire
Witnesses claimed Israeli soldiers arrived in Lebanese military uniforms and used ambulances bearing Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization insignia. The Lebanese army chief later confirmed this to local media, though the IDF has not commented on the claim. Evacuation orders were in place, and residents reported a final call for civilians to leave their homes just before the operation began.
Survivors and displaced individuals gathered near the crater on Saturday to evaluate the aftermath. “They bombed everything. This is crazy,” said Ali Shakur, who expressed disbelief at the scale of destruction. He noted that the Israeli forces might have been surprised by the presence of civilians, as they believed the area was evacuated. Another villager added that people had left their children behind during the chaos.
Among the casualties was Mohamed Chokr’s uncle and relatives, including his cousins. “We are not affiliated with any political group. We are Shia and support Hezbollah, but we are not its members,” Chokr explained. “How should I feel today? This is my uncle and his kids and their kids.” He also mentioned that a relative arrived in a bulldozer to rescue the family but was killed in the crossfire.
Residents listed additional names of those lost, emphasizing the personal impact of the conflict. The Israeli military remains silent on BBC inquiries about the incident.