Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISLB230924k

Incident date

September 23, 2024

Location

الهرمل, Hermel, Hermel District, Lebanon

Geolocation

34.396653, 36.384483 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Monday, September 23, 2024, an alleged Israeli airstrike on the town of Hermel in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon killed four civilians.

Those killed were named online as: Hussein Nasser al-Din, his wife, Zainab Nasser al-Din, and their two daughters, Retaj Nasser al-Din and Zahraa Nasser al-Din.

A number of different online sources posted news updates to X/Twitter, reporting that a family of four had been killed by a strike in the town of Hermel in the Bekaa Valley. None seemed to provide specific details on the nature of the strike itself beyond ascribing it to “raids” by the Israeli military. Facebook user Bahjat al-Abidi did refer to Israeli aircraft being used to carry out the attack. However, where sources attributed the raid to a belligerent, all sources identified the Israeli military.

Three local Hermel news accounts, as well as the user Mimo Nasser el-Din, made Facebook posts identifying the victims and their relation to each other, alongside family photos of Hussein, Retaj, and Zahraa – Retaj and Zahraa appeared to be young girls. The Hermel Pulse poetically described the family as “moonlit planets of Hermel.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Hussein Nasser Al-Din حسين ناصر الدين
Adult male killed
Zainab Nasser Al-Din زينب ناصر الدين
Adult female wife of Hussein killed
Retaj Nasser Al-Din ريتاج ناصر الدين
Child female Daughter of Hussein and Zainab killed
Zahraa Nasser Al-Din زهراء ناصر الدين
Child female Daughter of Hussein and Zainab killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Hermel (الهرمل), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.396653, 36.384483. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mimo nassereldin
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel is our city
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel is our city
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel city
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hermel city

Israeli Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military
  • Israeli Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Israeli Military

Sources (36) [ collapse]