Attack on Nabatieh municipal council

October 2024 Nabatieh airstrike
Part of the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Nabatieh Location within Lebanon
Location	Nabatieh, Lebanon
Date	16 October 2024
Target	Municipal council
Attack type	Airstrikes, massacre
Deaths	16+ municipality staff (including the mayor)
Injured	52+
Perpetrator	Israel Defense Forces

On 16 October 2024, one hour after issuing an evacuation notice, the Israel Defense Forces targeted a meeting of the municipal council of Nabatieh in Lebanon and struck it with 10 airstrikes, ^{[1] [2]} killing at least 16 municipality staff, including the mayor of Nabatieh, and injuring more than 52. ^{[3] [4] [5]} Lebanon accused Israel of carrying out a massacre, but Israel responded by saying they were targeting military targets. ^{[4] [6]}

Background

On 1 October 2024, Israel invaded Southern Lebanon in an escalation of the ongoing Israel–Hezbollah conflict, a spillover of the Israel–Hamas war. This was a result of major attacks that occurred month prior. ^[7]

In September 2024, the Israel Defense Forces launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, sparking significant controversy. ^[8]

Airstrike

Israel had issued an evacuation notice for the building one hour the airstrike took place. ^[2]

Israel conducted ten airstrikes on the municipal headquarters in Nabatieh, while municipal staff were having a meeting inside and co-ordinating aid for civilians remaining in the town. The airstrike killed at least 16 municipality staff, including the mayor of Nabatieh, Ahmad Kahil, and injured at least 52 others. The governor of Nabatieh Governorate reported that the death toll could increase as the rubble was still being searched. ^[9]

Israel claimed to have attacked "Hezbollah targets", including "military buildings, military headquarters and munitions warehouses". ^[6]

Reactions

Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack and said that it "intentionally targeted a meeting of the municipal council to discuss the city's service and relief situation". ^[4]

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said that civilian suffering in Lebanon is reaching an unprecedented level, and stressed that "civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times". ^[10]

Mathew Miller, the spokesman for the US State Department said “We understand that Hezbollah does operate at times from...civilian homes...So Israel does have a right to go after those legitimate targets, but they need to do so in a way that protects...civilians.” ^[2]

References

1. Stambaugh, Alex; Magramo, Kathleen; Yeung, Jessie; Radford, Antoinette (2024-10-16). "Israel's plan to strike Iran is ready, source says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
2. Ward, Euan (2024-10-16). "Israeli Strike Hits Lebanese Municipal Building, Killing Mayor". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-06-16.
3. "Lebanon: Mayor and 15 others killed in Israeli strike". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
4. Bassam, Laila (16 October 2024). "Israeli strike hits municipal building in south Lebanon, mayor and five others killed". Reuters.
5. Christou, William (2024-10-16). "Israeli strike kills Lebanese mayor at meeting to coordinate aid deliveries". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-10-16.
6. "Israeli air strike kills mayor of Nabatieh during official meeting". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
7. "After the decapitation of Hizbullah, Iran could race for a nuclear bomb". The Economist. ISSN   0013-0613. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
8. Nashed, Mat. "How Israel is trying to generate civil strife in Lebanon". Al Jazeera.
9. "Israel Gaza Lebanon live updates: Israeli air strike hits Lebanese crisis meeting, killing mayor and five others". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
10. Pietromarchi, Virginia; Siddiqui, Usaid. "Israel kills Lebanon mayor in air attack on southern municipal offices". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-16.