Deadly Clashes in Eastern Lebanon as Israel Raids to Recover Pilot's Remains
Israeli commandos' failed operation to locate an IDF pilot's remains sparks gun battle with Hezbollah and airstrikes that kill dozens in the Bekaa valley.
Israeli forces launched a covert operation in eastern Lebanon overnight in an attempt to locate the remains of a famous IDF pilot, but the mission ended in a deadly confrontation with Hezbollah fighters and local residents that left at least 44 people dead.
The commandos had been digging up a grave thought to be the resting place of Ron Arad, an air force navigator who went missing in action in 1986 after his plane was shot down over southern Lebanon. However, the operation was quickly discovered by Hezbollah and local militia, leading to a fierce gun battle.
According to the Lebanese army and ministry of health, the fighting resulted in the deaths of three Lebanese soldiers and 41 civilians from the Bekaa valley region. No Israeli casualties were reported.
Source: The Guardian
