The mayor of Dardghaya, Edmond Ellie, expressed disbelief at the tragic events that unfolded in the Christian village on the outskirts of Tyre. Five civil defense volunteers, including local policeman Joseph Badawi, lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Civil Defense building. Badawi, who was also a volunteer at the civil defense, had been in the process of evacuating his family from the area when the strike occurred.
The volunteers were on duty to respond to SOS calls and assist those affected by the conflict in the region. The destruction of the Civil Defense center has dealt a severe blow to the community's emergency response capabilities.
In addition to the loss of life, the Israeli strikes caused significant damage to a church hall in the village. The extent of the damage to the church hall remains unclear, as it is uncertain whether it was hit in the same strike that targeted the Civil Defense building.
The mayor, speaking from Beirut, confirmed reports of the destruction, noting that the two-floor building housing the church hall had been completely destroyed. A local official shared a video showing the aftermath of the strike, highlighting the devastation wrought upon the Civil Defense building.
The incident has left the community reeling from the loss of lives and infrastructure. The destruction of vital facilities like the Civil Defense center and the church hall underscores the impact of the ongoing conflict on civilian populations in the region.
