The Search for the Missing Pilot's Body: The (Failed) Mission That Embarrasses Israel and Raises Suspicions of a War Crime

2026-03-10 18:42:00Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The Search for the Missing Pilot's Body: The (Failed) Mission That
Did Israel commit war crimes? It killed a family to find the body of a pilot

In Lebanon, an Israeli special forces operation to find the body of missing pilot Ron Arad has completely failed, leaving behind casualties and great destruction, according to a report by the French newspaper Libération.

The incident took place in the village of Nabi Chit, in the Bekaa Valley, where Israeli forces were trying to recover the body of a pilot kidnapped in 1986 during one of many Israeli raids on Lebanon. According to testimonies and forensic reports, the operation took place a few days after the start of Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon, taking advantage of the chaos of bombing Hezbollah positions.

The special forces infiltrated the village wearing uniforms similar to those of the Lebanese army and using two Red Cross ambulances and local vehicles, a practice that may constitute a violation of international rules and be considered “use of enemy insignia,” according to the International Criminal Court.

The operation focused on the Chokri cemetery, where commandos began digging near a Hezbollah fighter, hoping to find Arad's remains. But the plan failed when a resident, Hamda al-Halbawi, saw them from her window and was shot dead along with her husband and two children. Israeli forces retreated, using fire from Apache helicopters and fighter jets, causing a large crater in the center of the village and massive destruction of buildings.

The Israeli government, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledged the existence of the operation and the failure to achieve its goals, but the Libération report emphasizes that the lives of innocent civilians were not taken into account, especially the family of Ali Chokr, the only one of his family to escape.

In addition, several Israeli attacks during the offensive are accused of using white phosphorus, a weapon banned by the chemical weapons conventions, which Israel has signed but not ratified. The report raises serious questions about respect for international law and violations of civilian rights during military operations.


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