Heartbreaking Farewell: Lebanese Family Mourns Loss Amid Ongoing Conflict

Sat Mar 28 2026 20:39:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Younes family faces tragedy as they bury 11-year-old Jawad and his uncle Ragheb, casualties of an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. This incident highlights the rising civilian toll amidst intensified military operations in the region.

In the village of Saksakiyeh, southern Lebanon, hundreds gathered for the funeral of 11-year-old Jawad Younes and his uncle Ragheb, who were tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike. Their deaths come amid escalating violence in the region, with Lebanese health officials reporting over 1,100 casualties since the start of the latest conflict. Jawad's mother, grieving at her son's side, shared his dreams of martyrdom and resistance against Israel, reflecting the deep scars of this ongoing war that have enveloped many families in Lebanon.

A funeral has been held in a southern Lebanese village for an 11-year-old boy and his uncle who were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Jawad Younes and his uncle, 41-year-old Ragheb Younes, were laid to rest in Saksakiyeh on Saturday after their family compound was hit a day earlier.

They are among the latest casualties in Israel's offensive against the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, following the group's rockets fired into Israel earlier this month amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Lebanese health officials report that more than 1,100 people have died since the escalation began, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire.

The Israeli military did not provide a comment on the targeted airstrike against the Younes family compound, which resulted in the deaths of Jawad and Ragheb.

During the funeral, hundreds gathered to mourn in the town centre of Saksakiyeh. Women dressed in black wailed over the bodies, with Jawad's body draped in Hezbollah's yellow flag, reflecting the group's support in this predominantly Shia area.

Jawad's mother, Malak Meslmani, sat beside her son's body with tears streaming down her face, stating, My son is gentle and pure. He loved the idea of martyrdom, and when he grew up, he wanted to be with the resistance. He wanted to resist the enemy Israel who killed him.

As the funeral procession went to the grave, the sound of Israeli airstrikes could be heard in the distance, with smoke rising above hilltops.

The day of the airstrike, Jawad was playing football with his nine cousins when the attack occurred around 1 PM. His father, Hussein Younes, expressed bewilderment as to why their home was targeted, stating, If this was a military base, no kids would be here.”

Local family and council members confirmed that the Younes family had no ties to Hezbollah militarily. Five people survived the attack, including Jawad's aunt, Zeinab, who is undergoing treatment after being injured.

The strikes have intensified, with the United Nations warning that the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon could escalate, displacing over a million people. Despite the violence, many in the region, including the Younes family, maintain a spirit of resistance.

As reiterated by Zainab's son Ali, they are not afraid of war and face the challenges with resilience, framing their struggles within a broader context of resistance and the ongoing fight against oppression.