A major Israeli air and ground operation in the village of Nabi Chit in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley has resulted in at least 41 deaths and 40 injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Among the dead are three Lebanese soldiers, with locals listing the names of civilians, including children, they say were killed. The operation focused on recovering the remains of an Israeli military airman missing in Lebanon for 40 years, but a grave dug up in the village cemetery was found empty. A local man stated, "They thought he was there but there was nothing."

The village witnessed severe destruction, with buildings reduced to rubble, a large crater blown into the ground, and cars destroyed with bullet holes and bloodstains. Signs of civilian life, such as a children's coloring book and cooking utensils, were scattered among the debris. Hezbollah, the dominant force in the area, allowed journalists to view the damage. The Lebanese military reported observing four Israeli aircraft near the border with Syria late Friday, with two landing to deploy special forces, followed by a "large-scale aerial bombardment."

Clashes erupted on the streets between Israeli forces, Hezbollah fighters, and civilians defending their homes. A local official described how an Israeli commando unit was deployed, surrounded by Hezbollah resistance, leading to heavy clashes. Israeli airstrikes then intensified to extract the unit, causing extensive damage. Witnesses told the BBC that Israeli soldiers used disguises, including Lebanese military fatigues and ambulances marked with Hezbollah's Islamic Health Organization signs, an allegation confirmed by the Lebanese army chief but not commented on by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Mohamed Chokr, whose uncle and relatives were killed, emphasized their non-affiliation with Hezbollah, stating, "My uncle is a retired soldier, his son is also a retired soldier and his other son is a school teacher. We are not affiliated with any political party. We are Shia – we like Hezbollah, but we are not members of Hezbollah. We are all in the Lebanese army." He added that another relative attempting a rescue in a bulldozer was also killed in crossfire during the street clashes.

The IDF did not respond to BBC requests for comment but stated that no IDF personnel were injured in the operation and that it would "continue to operate relentlessly, day and night, out of a deep commitment to bringing all of Israel's sons, the fallen and the missing, back home." However, Tami, the widow of missing airman Ron Arad, urged Israeli leaders not to risk soldiers' lives, writing on Facebook that "the sanctity of life comes before the commitment to return the remains of a fighter for burial."

Across Lebanon, at least 294 people have been killed by Israeli military action since Monday, per the health ministry. In Nabi Chit, while some grieved, others expressed a sense of victory after fighting back and discovering Israel's failure to recover the remains. One man remarked, "They came standing but we made them leave lying down," highlighting the local resistance's defiance amid the ongoing escalation.

Source: www.bbc.com