Lebanese Rescuer Finds Father’s Remains After Israeli Strike on Civil Defense Center

Lebanese Rescuer Finds Father’s Remains After Israeli Airstrike on Rescue Center

In Lebanon, a heartbreaking story unfolded when a civil defense worker, Suzanne Karkaba, had to identify her father, Ali, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Ali Karkaba, also a rescuer, was at the main civil defense center in Douris when it was targeted by Israeli forces.

The strike killed at least 14 rescue workers, including Suzanne’s father. Suzanne, who has been working nonstop since Israel’s attacks on Lebanon intensified in late September, rushed to the center after the attack to search for fellow rescuers.

“I had to identify my father by his fingers,” she said tearfully. “Now, it’s my turn to pick up the pieces of my dad.” The civil defense center, which was hit during the airstrike, was a state-run facility with no political affiliation.

The tragic incident highlights the increasing danger faced by rescue teams in Lebanon, where airstrikes have killed more than 150 first responders and paramedics. Despite the loss, Suzanne continues to work, unable to leave the site where her father died.