DistantNews
Support us
🇱🇧 Lebanon /Conflict & Security

Lebanon village mourns fighters and civilians killed in Israeli strikes

From Naharnet · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Gravediggers in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Lebanon, prepare tombs for civilians and fighters killed in Israeli strikes during the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.
  • Families mourn lost relatives, with one woman describing the loss of her twin brother, a colleague, and an uncle in separate strikes.
  • The village, known for its olive oil, has become a resting place for martyrs, with dozens killed and homes destroyed since March.

In the southern Lebanese village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, the grim task of digging graves continues, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict with Israel. Tombs are being prepared for both fighters and civilians, many laid to rest near those lost in previous wars.

We came here to understand what happened... we still can't believe he's gone.

— Shourouk HaririA resident mourning her twin brother and uncle killed in Israeli strikes.

Shourouk Hariri, dressed in black, wept for her twin brother Ahmad, a volunteer rescuer, his colleague, and her uncle, a civilian, all killed in recent Israeli strikes. "We came here to understand what happened... we still can't believe he's gone," she told AFP, her 10-year-old daughter by her side. Ahmad Hariri, also a photographer, left behind a wife and young daughter. His uncle, Ali Hariri, recounted how an Israeli strike on May 22 killed his nephew and two other first responders as they attempted to help a family following an earlier raid. "We were a team of eight first responders, and we lost three. They were killed while carrying out their duty," Ali said, wearing a pin honoring the slain rescuers from the Risala Scouts Association. The village, renowned for its olive oil, also holds significance as the hometown and resting place of Hashem Safieddine, who was killed by Israel after being chosen to succeed Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. "Deir Qanoun is the village of martyrs and scholars," said Hussein Ghassani, a rescuer with the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, as he awaited the burial of 17 to 18 more individuals.

We were a team of eight first responders, and we lost three. They were killed while carrying out their duty.

— Ali HaririRecounting the loss of his nephew and two colleagues during a rescue mission.

Municipal official Hassan al-Husseini reported that dozens of Israeli attacks since March have claimed at least 55 lives from the village of approximately 11,000 residents. He noted that "in every family, if it's not a brother, it's a cousin" who has been killed. At least 50 homes have been destroyed and 150 others rendered uninhabitable. The Israeli army had also issued evacuation orders, leaving only about 400 residents in the village days before a U.S.-Iran agreement was announced, which is expected to include Lebanon.

Deir Qanoun is the village of martyrs and scholars.

— Hussein GhassaniDescribing the village's reputation amidst ongoing casualties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Naharnet in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog