Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

ISLB240924w

Incident date

September 24, 2024

Location

جنوب لبنان, Southern Lebanon, Lebanon

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, a father and his two children, a girl and boy, were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike on the South of Lebanon on 24 September 2024. At least one other young girl was likely also killed given the associated images shared online.

Rateb Ra’es Ahmad and his two children Khalil Ahmad and Fatima Ahmad were widely reported online as victims of the airstrike. They were from the town of al-Tayyana, east of Deir Ezzor in Syria and had been residents of the village of Burj al-Ruman in the countryside of Aleppo. A post on Facebook noted that they were part of the Al-Quraan clan in the town of Al-Tayanna in Syria. A photo shared by numerous users on Twitter/X show Rateb as a young man with brown hair and brown eyes.

A post on Facebook by Yeeesaa – and later repeated by user Abnaa – reported that four of Rateb’s children were actually killed during the strike rather than the two who were identified by name. No other sources corroborated this information or named further casualties, though multiple photograph collages showed three children: Khalil, Fatima, and another young girl, indicating that another, currently unnamed, child was also killed. Khalil appears to be between the ages of five to eight years old, as does one of his sisters. The third girl appears noticeably younger.

Where sources named a belligerent, all sources claimed the Israeli military was responsible.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Rateb Ra’es Ahmad راتب رئيس أحمد
Adult male killed
Khalil Ahmad خليل أحمد
Child male killed
Fatima Ahmad فاطمة أحمد
Child female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (3–4 children1 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 (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: @ralshhwan9
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @nahermedia
  • 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
    3 – 5
  • (3–4 children1 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 (15) [ collapse]