IDF's assertion of targeting a Hezbollah command center contradicted by evidence showing major casualties were civilians, including many children.
**Tragic Collapse: Israeli Strike on Civilian Building Claims Dozens Amid Escalating Conflict**
**Tragic Collapse: Israeli Strike on Civilian Building Claims Dozens Amid Escalating Conflict**
An investigation reveals shocking civilian death toll in Ain El Delb as claims of Hezbollah presence are scrutinized.
15 hours ago
Nawal al-Maghafi, Senior international investigations correspondent, BBC World Service
In the heart of a conflict that continues to escalate, a family tragedy unfolded in the calm confines of Ain El Delb, southern Lebanon. As tensions flared between Israel and Hezbollah, Julia Ramadan found herself caught in a nightmare turned real when she took refuge with her brother Ashraf in what he assured her was a safe apartment. The grim reality was revealed just days later, on 29 September, when Israeli missiles struck their building, leading to the deadliest attack in the current round of hostilities, claiming the lives of 73 individuals.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions by stating they targeted a Hezbollah "terrorist command center," an investigation by BBC divulged that only a handful of the deceased were linked to the militant organization, raising questions about the legitimacy of the IDF's justifications. Among the confirmed casualties, over 60 were identified as civilians, including 23 children—out of which some were mere infants.
Eyewitness accounts described the horror of the attack, with Ashraf recalling the harrowing moment as the building trembled and collapsed around them. Grieving for his sister Julia, who suffocated beneath the rubble, Ashraf's heart-wrenching plea resonated with many others who lost family members in the attack.
The tragedy extended beyond Julia's family. The strike also took the life of Mohammed Fares, a reservist for Hezbollah, as well as other families who sought refuge under the belief that they were safe. Batoul Fares, who had just fled bombardment in another part of Lebanon, lost her husband and her four-year-old daughter in the catastrophic strike.
Despite the IDF asserting that collateral damage was accounted for under international law, testimonies from residents indicate that no warnings were given prior to the airstrike. UN officials have expressed concerns over the proportionality of recent Israeli operations, especially in densely populated residential areas.
This attack constitutes the deadliest Israeli assault on a building in Lebanon in nearly two decades, highlighting the severe toll and the complex intersection between military targets and civilian casualties. As the conflict draws on, families continue to seek closure, grappling with immense loss amidst unrelenting violence. Both Ashraf and other survivors are left searching through the remnants, desperately clinging to mementos of lives forever altered by the ravages of war.
Nawal al-Maghafi, Senior international investigations correspondent, BBC World Service
In the heart of a conflict that continues to escalate, a family tragedy unfolded in the calm confines of Ain El Delb, southern Lebanon. As tensions flared between Israel and Hezbollah, Julia Ramadan found herself caught in a nightmare turned real when she took refuge with her brother Ashraf in what he assured her was a safe apartment. The grim reality was revealed just days later, on 29 September, when Israeli missiles struck their building, leading to the deadliest attack in the current round of hostilities, claiming the lives of 73 individuals.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions by stating they targeted a Hezbollah "terrorist command center," an investigation by BBC divulged that only a handful of the deceased were linked to the militant organization, raising questions about the legitimacy of the IDF's justifications. Among the confirmed casualties, over 60 were identified as civilians, including 23 children—out of which some were mere infants.
Eyewitness accounts described the horror of the attack, with Ashraf recalling the harrowing moment as the building trembled and collapsed around them. Grieving for his sister Julia, who suffocated beneath the rubble, Ashraf's heart-wrenching plea resonated with many others who lost family members in the attack.
The tragedy extended beyond Julia's family. The strike also took the life of Mohammed Fares, a reservist for Hezbollah, as well as other families who sought refuge under the belief that they were safe. Batoul Fares, who had just fled bombardment in another part of Lebanon, lost her husband and her four-year-old daughter in the catastrophic strike.
Despite the IDF asserting that collateral damage was accounted for under international law, testimonies from residents indicate that no warnings were given prior to the airstrike. UN officials have expressed concerns over the proportionality of recent Israeli operations, especially in densely populated residential areas.
This attack constitutes the deadliest Israeli assault on a building in Lebanon in nearly two decades, highlighting the severe toll and the complex intersection between military targets and civilian casualties. As the conflict draws on, families continue to seek closure, grappling with immense loss amidst unrelenting violence. Both Ashraf and other survivors are left searching through the remnants, desperately clinging to mementos of lives forever altered by the ravages of war.
