Lebanese rescuer continues mission after daughter killed in Israeli strike

A Lebanese civil‑defence volunteer who lost his daughter in an Israeli airstrike on his rescue station continues to lead operations across the war‑torn south, saying the tragedy drives his commitment to saving lives. The strike, which hit the station in the town of Marjayoun in early March, killed the volunteer’s 19‑year‑old daughter, Amal, along with several other rescuers. The attack, part of a broader Israeli campaign targeting infrastructure and alleged militant positions in Lebanon, left the station severely damaged and forced the unit to relocate to a temporary base in the nearby village of Qana.

Since the incident, the rescuer, 45‑year‑old Hassan Khalil, has overseen the deployment of emergency teams that respond to bombings, collapsed buildings and fires caused by ongoing hostilities. He coordinates with the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and local NGOs to provide medical aid, transport injured civilians to hospitals, and train new volunteers. Khalil says his daughter’s memory fuels his resolve to ensure that “no family experiences the loss we endured without help.” His work reflects the broader effort of Lebanon’s civil‑defence network to maintain essential rescue services amid sustained cross‑border conflict.