On Monday morning, September 23rd 2024, alleged Israeli airstrikes hit Al-Housh, Lebanon, killing five members of the Gharib family.
The deceased included Ahmed Gharib, a retired Lebanese Army Lieutenant Colonel, his wife Hanan Sabra Gharib, and their three daughters: Rasha Ahmed Gharib, Maya Ahmed Gharib, and Nour Ahmed Gharib. The event was widely reported on social media platforms and by news outlets.
Yasour.org reported, “In heartbreaking news, retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Lebanese Army, Hajj Ahmed Gharib, and all members of his family consisting of his wife, Hajja Hanan Sabra Gharib, and his young daughters, Rasha, Maya, and Nour, were killed in the brutal targeting of their home in Al-Housh, near Tyre, before noon today.”
At the time of writing, the Lebanese Armed Forces have not been party to the conflict, and there is no information to suggest that retired Lebanese Army Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gharib is any exception. Further, as Ahmed was killed alongside other civilians, he has been coded as a civilian. This assessment will be updated should additional information come to light concerning the Lebanese Armed Forces’ role in the conflict, or Ahmed’s role in particular.
Joumana Gharib, Ahmed Gharib’s sister, shared a message on Facebook expressing her grief and memories of the deceased, whose “memories […] surround”. In her post, she referred to the family members as “martyrs” and expressed determination in the face of the tragedy. The post included religious references and statements of resolve. Additionally, Joumana shared multiple family photographs alongside her message.
Gen Souehil Azar, a friend of Ahmed Gharib, posted on Facebook: “Mercy to the friend and brother, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gharib, and the family. May God have mercy on them.”
The Lebanese University Faculty of Dental Medicine shared a message of condolence for Rasha Gharib, a fourth-year dental student: “With great sadness, the Lebanese University and the Faculty of Dentistry mourn the fourth-year student, Rasha Gharib, who was martyred today along with her father, mother, and sisters, Nour and Maya.”
Social media users shared details about Maya Gharib, an engineer and recent graduate. Ramy Mohammed posted on Facebook: “Engineer Maya Gharib rose with her sister, Nour Rasha, in today’s raids on the south. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.” Lebanese Fine Art said: “Bride of the South. Engineer Maya Gharib, graduate of the class of 2023-2024. May God have mercy on her and you, our martyrs.” Ali Ahmad el-dor added, on Facebook, that Maya had recently received her master’s degree.
Information about the family’s funeral was reported by Suar News Network, along with multiple photographs. According to the report, the funeral took place in the city of Tyre. The bodies of Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Gharib, his wife Hanan Sabra, and their daughters Rasha, Maya, and Nour were transported to Rawdat al-Zahra in Tyre via military ambulances belonging to the Lebanese Army. The funeral was reportedly attended by numerous city residents, friends of the family, as well as military and social figures. A funeral prayer was led by Sheikh Ali Hobb Allah before the burial. The bodies were then interred in Rawdat Al-Zahra. The report concluded with condolences to the family and a note attributing the photography to Rami Amin.
Where sources identified belligerents, all sources attributed the bombing to the Israeli military.