Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISLB230924zf

Incident date

September 23, 2024

Location

القليعة, Qaliya, Western Beqaa District, Lebanon

Geolocation

33.437036, 35.657915 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September 23rd 2024, between five and nine people, including at least two children, were killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes launched on civilian homes in the town of Qaliya in Western Bekka, Lebanon. Multiple reports claimed that a family of eight or nine were killed in the reported Israeli attack, and some claimed that the civilians killed were of Syrian origin.

The civilians killed in the attack included Kamal Hussein Abdullah and his son Ali Kamal Abdullah as well as Raif Hussein Nasser and his daughter Mirna Raif Nasser. Both Ali and Mirna were still in high school and according to one source, a Facebook post from Lelnasher Yohmor, Kamal and Raif were lifelong friends.

Kamal Hussein Abdullah was killed alongside his son, Ali Kamal Abdullah. Kamal was remembered as a “Hajj,” indicating he may have completed the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. A Facebook page for Sohmor High School reported that Ali was in his first year of high school at the time of his death. According to a Facebook post from a family member, Mahmoud Hassan Haidar, Ali had a kitten, loved playing football, and was a joyful child who loved playing and laughing.

The two reportedly had spent time living in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu, according to a Facebook post from a page called “The Lebanese Community in Brazil.” The post said that only a short time ago Kamal and Ali had been in Brazil “playing and smiling”.

Raif Hussein Nasser and his teenage daughter Mirna Raif Nasser were also reportedly killed. Mirna was a student at Sohmor High School, and the Facebook page for the school also reported her death in the alleged Israeli attack. She was in her third year of high school. A Facebook post from Jinan Zaiter reported that the two were at their home feeding their goats when the alleged Israeli attack occurred.

Reports on the number of those killed in the attack varied, with some sources including al-Mayadeen News claiming that nine civilians were killed in the attack. Initial reports from al-Mayadeen News reported five killed but this number likely grew as more casualties were discovered. Several sources, including a Twitter/X account @thebeirutbrief, also reported that eight members of a family were killed. Some sources, including a Facebook post from an account called Beirut City, also reported that the family killed was of Syrian origin.

Social media sources claimed that Israeli aircrafts launched a number of attacks on homes in the village of Qaliya, with one post on Twitter/X from @Moh_S186 claiming that five Israeli raids were launched on the town at the time of the attacks and above civilian deaths.

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)

Kamal Hussein Abdullah كمال حسين عبدالله
Adult male killed
Ali Kamal Abdullah علي كمال عبدالله
Child male son of Kamal killed

Family members (2)

Raif Hussein Nasser رائف حسين ناصر
Adult male killed
Mirna Raif Nasser ميرنا رائف ناصر
Child female daughter of Raif killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qaliya (القليعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 33.437036, 35.657915. 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
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (2 children2 men)
  • 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 (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: Sohmor high school official
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

    Source: Mahmoud hassan haidar
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The lebanese community in brazil
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

    Source: Western beqaa news

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Residential
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 9
  • (2 children2 men)
  • 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 (44) [ collapse]