Israel Kills Dozens in Eastern Lebanon Commando Raid Searching for Navigator Missing Nearly 40 Years

Israeli special forces carried out an overnight helicopter-borne raid into eastern Lebanon near the town of Nabi Chit.

“Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country has been pulled into a devastating war it neither sought nor chose”

Al Jazeera

The operation, the Israeli military said, sought information or the remains of Ron Arad, an Israeli navigator who went missing after his plane was shot down in 1986.

Al Jazeera

Israeli military statements reported the unit found no remains or evidence related to Arad and that there were no Israeli casualties.

Lebanese and local accounts describe a gunbattle as the force moved into the town, a detail that contradicts the Israeli account.

Lebanese health authorities and state media reported heavy civilian casualties from the raid and associated strikes.

Multiple outlets cite the Health Ministry's figure of at least 41 killed and about 40 wounded in Nabi Chit and nearby villages.

AP News

Reporting notes the wider Lebanon toll and displacement this week is far higher amid escalating bombardment across southern and eastern areas.

Lebanese officials and residents accused the raiders of using disguises and protected markings, alleging the commandos wore Lebanese army uniforms and used ambulances bearing Hezbollah-affiliated medical signs.

“A resident told AP that commandos dug up a grave in the Lebanese village of Nabi Chit — a claim that has not been independently verified — reviving the long-unsolved case of Israeli soldier Ron Arad”

CityNews Vancouver

Some residents said a grave was dug up during the operation.

Lebanon’s army said three of its soldiers were killed.

Israeli accounts, by contrast, emphasize that the raid found no trace of Arad and reported no Israeli casualties, and at least one outlet notes the IDF had not publicly commented in detail on the incident.

These reports contradict each other on key points — notably whether disguises and protected markings were used, whether Israeli forces suffered casualties, and whether Arad was found.

Hezbollah reported engaging the commandos on the ground.

Hezbollah said Israeli aircraft then carried out roughly 40 strikes to cover the unit’s withdrawal.

CNN

Multiple outlets described the raid and strikes as part of a broader escalation that included rocket and drone fire into Israel and warnings from Israeli officials.

Lebanon’s leaders warned the country had been pulled into a devastating war.

Israeli officials framed the operation as a search for Ron Arad but said it produced no findings.

“More than 200 people have been killed by strikes across Lebanon, and evacuation orders have forced roughly 300,000 people to flee — only about a third of them are being housed in government shelters”

Cyprus Mail

The raid revived reminders of past Israeli efforts to locate or obtain information about Arad, including controversial measures recounted by reporting and cautions from Arad’s family about risking soldiers’ lives for closure.

Cyprus Mail

Some coverage links the operation to reported intelligence leads.