Ain el Delb, Lebanon — On a typically relaxed Sunday in Lebanon, Hecham al-Baba was visiting his sister when she urged him and their elder brother to stay for lunch, hoping to enjoy each other’s company amidst the ongoing turmoil. The elder brother, however, opted to leave for a nap due to anxious nights caused by escalating Israeli airstrikes.

At 60 years old, al-Baba was visiting from Germany and decided to remain for the meal. His sister, Donize, even encouraged him to reconnect with an old romantic interest over coffee. Eager for the visit, al-Baba stepped into the bathroom to prepare. Just moments later, he was jolted by an explosive blast that struck the apartment. He collapsed to the ground as something collided with his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs. As he struggled to regain his footing, he called out for his sister. A second detonation sent him back down, as the ceiling above him caved in.

This aerial attack targeted a six-story residential structure in Ain el Delb, situated just outside the coastal city of Sidon. The entire building tipped down a slope, landing on its side and burying 17 apartments that housed families and guests. Reports indicate that over 70 people lost their lives, with 60 others sustaining injuries.

Israel claimed responsibility for the attack on September 29, asserting that their strike was aimed at a Hezbollah commander and that the building served as a stronghold for the group. However, the connections of the residents to Hezbollah remain unverified. A video circulating online featured a man, purportedly a resident, donning military gear, signifying a possible Hezbollah affiliation.

Experts have criticized this approach, suggesting it demonstrates Israel’s readiness to suffer high civilian casualties in pursuit of specific targets. This strategy contributes significantly to the rising death toll of Palestinians during Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas.

Since September 23, Israel has increased its bombardment of Lebanon as retaliation against Hezbollah, which had initiated attacks on northern Israel following Hamas’s assault on October 7. Israel contends it is focusing on Hezbollah’s personnel and capabilities while claiming that the group conceals military assets within civilian areas.

Approximately 2,000 individuals have died in the offensive, which includes Hezbollah members and leaders, but also countless civilians, tragically caught in impact zones during airstrikes on homes. “This scenario echoes that of Gaza, with families perishing together in single strikes,” noted Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, an organization that evaluates conflict situations.

During the initial week of this offensive, a residential strike in Tyre province resulted in the death of a family comprising 15 members, predominantly women and children, aside from one suspected Hezbollah combatant. Another assault in Byblos claimed six relatives of a Hezbollah fighter who had died in combat a month previously — raising doubts regarding the intelligence that informed such operations. Additionally, a strike targeting a makeshift shelter for migrant families resulted in 23 fatalities.

The incident in Ain el Delb marked one of the most catastrophic attacks in this campaign. Tragically, al-Baba’s sister, her spouse, and two children—one young adult daughter and a teenage boy—were among the deceased.

Al-Baba remained trapped for hours under the debris, forced into a distressing kneeling position, with his neck contorted and face pressed against the floor, unable to sense his legs. The continuous ringing of his sister’s family’s phones struck him with the grim realization that they were likely gone. “No one spoke. I didn’t hear any movement,” he recounted.

The Israeli military claimed they executed evacuation protocols prior to the Ain el Delb attack based on confirmed intelligence. However, residents reported no warnings were given. Abdul-Hamid Ramadan, residing on the uppermost floor and who lost his wife, Jinan, and daughter, Julia, expressed his dismay: “Had we received a warning, we would have evacuated. I would have lost my home, but not my loved ones.”

Israel maintains that evacuation notifications are frequently rendered before strikes, but organizations in both Lebanon and Gaza argue these alerts are often insufficient and delivered under inconvenient circumstances, such as late hours or through social media channels.

Ramadan, a retired military officer, stated he was unaware of any Hezbollah presence in the building where he had lived for over two decades. No one within the mixed community — comprised mainly of Sunni Muslims and Christians — anticipated being a target for Israeli forces. In fact, 15 of the building’s 17 apartments were occupied by long-time, familiar residents including displaced individuals fleeing from the southern region.

Before her tragic death, al-Baba’s sister confided her concerns about a Shiite tenant who frequently entertained guests, fearing he might attract Israeli attention. Ultimately, she chose to remain, uncertain where to go instead, and neither she nor al-Baba knew of any connections between that tenant and Hezbollah.

Recent Israeli actions have instigated apprehension among Lebanese concerning the dangers of harboring guests alleged by Israel to have links to Hezbollah. Many building managers are now requesting tenants to disclose the identities of displaced individuals sheltering with them, leading to some refusing to accommodate these guests.

The initial strike hit the building’s lower levels around 4 p.m. The Ramadan family, startled but initially believing the structure would hold, did not expect it to collapse completely. Only Jinan rushed for the exit, while Ramadan’s son, Achraf, had time to bring a glass of water to his sister Julia, attempting to soothe her fears.

Then the second missile impacted. The building shuddered violently and subsequently caved in. Ramadan tumbled off the couch, which, along with a nearby piece of furniture, provided him brief protection from the destructive force. Achraf, a fitness trainer and ex-soldier, ducked beneath a door frame, while Julia dropped to the floor.

For what felt like an eternity, they communicated amid the chaos, with Ramadan anxiously hoping for rescue while using his mobile to call for help. After what seemed like an age, Achraf was freed first, followed by Ramadan about six hours post-attack. Unfortunately, they mistakenly thought Julia had also been saved, only to later discover she had perished. Jinan succumbed to internal bleeding later at the hospital.

“I lost the foundation of my home: my wife, my confidante, my friend,” Ramadan mourned. “My daughter Julia was my joy, my smile, my future.” They are now laid to rest in unmarked graves within a cemetery in Sidon designated for victims of the Ain el Delb assault.

Similar to the situation in Gaza, experts share grave concerns regarding the elevated civilian casualty figures, particularly when the purported military target remains obscure or relatively minor, as observed by Rich Weir, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The level of destruction is escalating, endangering civilians in densely populated areas,” he remarked.

Ramadan was not surprised by the extensive civilian casualties linked to a single suspected Hezbollah associate, acknowledging this has been a recurrent theme. “We frequently hear about an apartment in the news that was targeted, and people are left wondering who they were after,” he noted. “People remain in the dark about the particulars, while Israel possesses the knowledge.”

Bottom line, Hecham al-Baba was ensnared in darkness amid the ruins for four torturous hours, his body contorted, struggling to breathe as he feared losing his legs. “There was no circulation to my legs,” he expressed, “I couldn’t sense them. I attempted to maintain composure, but the memories overwhelm me.”

Eventually, he heard sounds of rescue efforts—a bulldozer, voices nearby. He began shouting, though every word aggravated his wounds. He was eventually discovered, and a rescuer remarked, “This is worse than a coffin.”

Rescue operations spanned over 43 hours, initially reporting 45 dead; however, local authorities later indicated that as many as 73 fatalities were recovered from the debris. Doctors assured al-Baba that his rib injuries would heal with time, but his emotional wounds will take far longer.

Al-Baba vowed to mourn his sister for life, dressed in black as a constant reminder of his loss. Although previous conflicts did not deter him from visiting Lebanon, he now feels uncertain about his return. “There will be no peace,” he lamented, reflecting on his family’s tragedy alongside the ongoing conflicts in both Lebanon and Gaza. “No one will deliver justice for this.”