Lebanon: Israeli airstrike devastates a grieving family; a baby is killed during his father's funeral

An Israeli airstrike hit a grieving family in southern Lebanon, killing an 18-month-old girl during her father's funeral, according to witnesses and local authorities. The tragedy occurred in the village of Srifa, where relatives thought they would be able to mourn under a regional truce.

Among the survivors was 7-year-old Aline Saeed, found severely injured under bloodied bandages after the attack that destroyed her family home earlier in the week. Returning to bury her father, she witnessed her younger sister Taleen and other family members perish in another attack, which occurred during the funeral service.

The initial bombing took place on Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire announced between the United States and Iran, which many Lebanese hoped would extend to their territory. But Israeli strikes continued, killing more than 350 people across the country according to local authorities, and worsening the already heavy toll of the conflict.

“They said it was a ceasefire… we went to the village to pray and leave, and suddenly, it felt like a storm was hitting us,” recounted Nasser Saeed, 64, the girl’s grandfather and also a survivor of the attack. His testimony illustrates the sense of incomprehension and despair felt by the affected families.

On Sunday in Tyre, relatives gathered to recover the bodies wrapped in shrouds, including the tiny body of little Taleen. According to local reports, more than 160 children have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the Israeli airstrikes, heightening concerns about the human cost of the conflict.