Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISLB230924s

Incident date

September 23, 2024

Location

كفرملكي, Kafrmelki, Sidon District, Lebanon

Geolocation

33.501267, 35.480173 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, a father and daughter, were killed and others were injured when an alleged Israeli airstrike reportedly hit the town of Kafrmelki in the Sidon district of Lebanon’s South Governorate on September 23, 2024

Ibrahim Sharif Qasserm and his young daughter Fatima Sharif Qassem were reportedly killed.

Fatima was widely referred to as an “angel of Kafrmelki” in multiple sources reporting the attack. Her school, Kafr Fila Official Intermediate School, shared the news of her death on their Facebook page, writing that she was “a beautiful butterfly that the earth could not contain, so it flew high towards heaven.” The account posted multiple photos of her at school and in the classroom. She was a young girl who appeared to be around 7 years old.

Relative Mirzaneh Ahmed Class spoke of his grief at the loss of his “beloved” uncle and cousin. With her death, Mirzaneh wrote, Fatima had “broke my heart”.

Facebook user Kaleed wished Ibrahim and Fatima “could be lifted up to the sky temporarily until the war ends. Then they could return to their homes safely.” When their family would invariably ask where they had gone, Kaleed wrote, they could tell them, “We were playing with the clouds.”

A Facebook account named jaafar.sawan reported that others were injured in the alleged Israeli bombing of the village but did not specify how many. One video was widely circulated with an emblem of the Hezbollah logo in the corner including by Facebook user Ahmad Mokbel of the explosion and the scenes at the location, however there was no open source material found by Airwars researchers that suggested those injured were connected to any militant activities. While Hezbollah operates an active militant wing, their political presence is also deeply enmeshed within the state.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Israeli military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ibrahim Sharif Qasserm ابراهيم شريف قاسم
Adult male killed
Fatima Ibrahim Qassem فاطمة ابراهيم قاسم
Child female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Kafrmelki (كفرملكي), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.501267, 35.480173. 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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (27) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mirzaneh Ahmed Class
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafar malake
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sultan ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sultan ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sultan ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sultan ali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed mokbel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed mokbel
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

    Source: Sawsaan mohammed
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Walaa walaa
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @lambahamra
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @MsyXp
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @farajhsn
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafr Fila Official Intermediate School
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafr Fila Official Intermediate School
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafr Fila Official Intermediate School
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafar malake
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kafar malake
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Emad awada
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 (21) [ collapse]