Samir Ayoub Mourns the Loss of Three Lebanese Girls Killed in Israeli Airstrike

Accident – death – Obituary News : Samir Ayoub, the uncle of three Lebanese girls who were tragically killed along with their grandmother in what he claims was an Israeli airstrike, has spoken out about the devastating incident. The girls, Rimas, Daline, and Lianne Ayyoub, were on their way to Beirut for temporary schooling due to the escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants in their hometown in southern Lebanon.

The horrific incident occurred when a missile, allegedly fired by Israel, struck the car the girls were traveling in, instantly killing them and their grandmother. Their mother, who was also in the vehicle, was left injured and in a state of confusion. Samir Ayyoub, who was driving in convoy with them, witnessed the strike and recalled the heartbreaking moment when their mother was frantically searching for her children amidst the chaos.

“The children were burning to death inside the vehicle,” Ayyoub said, his voice filled with grief. As a local journalist, he spoke to Reuters on Monday while sifting through the wreckage of the car. He held up schoolbooks and bags that had been charred in the blast, questioning the notion that these innocent belongings could be associated with terrorism.

Lebanese authorities have accused Israel of carrying out the strike and have vowed to submit a complaint to the United Nations regarding the killing of civilians. In response, Israel’s military stated that its troops engaged a vehicle in Lebanon that was suspected of transporting terrorists. They are currently investigating reports suggesting that civilians were present in the car.

The Ayyoub sisters, aged 14, 12, and 10, have become the latest victims of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The war, which began on October 7 after an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel, has claimed the lives of approximately 1,400 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes and a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of around 10,000 Palestinians, including 4,000 children.

Amidst the escalating tensions, Lebanese Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas backed by Iran, has engaged in regular clashes with Israeli forces at the Lebanon-Israel border. Concerns are mounting that the violence could escalate into a larger and more devastating conflict. Lebanese security officials have reported that Israeli strikes have killed approximately 60 Hezbollah fighters and at least 10 civilians.

Samir Ayyoub firmly believes that an Israeli drone was responsible for the attack on the car, emphasizing that it would have been evident to the drone operators that children were present. He recalled how the girls were playing near the vehicle before they embarked on their journey and expressed his disbelief that their innocence went unnoticed.

In the hours leading up to the tragic incident, the area had experienced bombardment, but the attacks had ceased by the time the family set off. All they could hear were the sounds of drones in the sky before the blast occurred. However, Reuters has not been able to independently confirm Ayyoub’s account.

Ahlam Ibrahim, one of the girls’ aunts, expressed her grim expectation that this would not be the last dark chapter for southern Lebanon. She highlighted the long-standing history of conflict between the region and Israel, stating, “It’s not new with Israel, this isn’t the first time we’ve been through this kind of thing.”

This recent surge in violence marks the most significant escalation across the border since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 158 Israelis, primarily soldiers.

Tragically, among those killed in the current conflict is Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah. Lebanon’s army has blamed Israel for his death, and Israel’s military has pledged to review the case. Reuters has called on Israel to conduct a thorough, swift, and transparent investigation into the incident.

As the families of the Ayyoub sisters mourn their devastating loss, the community in southern Lebanon fears that the violence will continue to escalate. The international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a swift resolution and an end to the loss of innocent lives.

(Writing by John Davison in Beirut; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne).