A Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest, Father Pierre al-Rahi, was killed on March 9 when an Israeli artillery tank fired on a house in the Christian village of Qlayaa in southern Lebanon, according to Catholic officials and media reports confirmed by OSV News.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by civilians and religious leaders amid ongoing violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. Many residents have fled the area due to escalating attacks, but some, including Father al-Rahi, chose to remain despite evacuation orders from the Israeli military.
Father al-Rahi had previously said, “We are forced to stay despite the danger, when we defend our land, and we do so peacefully. None of us carries weapons. All of us carry peace and goodness and love,” during an interview with France24 television on March 8. He was reportedly among several priests who refused to leave Qlayaa after being ordered to evacuate.
According to Lebanese news reports, an Israeli Merkava tank struck a house in Qlayaa twice. The first strike wounded the owner and his wife; Father al-Rahi and other neighbors rushed to help before a second strike occurred. He later died from his injuries sustained during the attack. Several other civilians were also injured.
Father Jean Younes, secretary general of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon, said, “Father Pierre al-Rahi was from my village, Dibeh, but he was the parish priest of Qlayaa in Marjayoun. Unfortunately, he passed away. God bless his soul.” Aid to the Church in Need Ireland stated that Father al-Rahi “was ministering to his distressed parishioners in the village” at the time of his death.
L’Oeuvre d’Orient condemned what it called acts aiming “to destabilize all of Lebanon and kill innocent civilians,” adding that “the death of a priest who refused to leave his parish is yet another escalation of senseless violence.” The charity also warned about risks facing historic Christian villages south of the Litani River.
AsiaNews reported another incident involving Sami Ghafari, a Maronite Catholic killed by an Israeli drone while tending his garden; he too had refused evacuation orders. Qlayaa’s Mayor Hanna Daher denied claims that fighters were present at the site targeted by Israeli forces: “They say there were fighters in the house, but that’s not true. These are lies.” Daher added that villagers want only peace: “We are peaceful people and we don’t harm anyone… All we ask is to be able to stay in our homes in peace.”
Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces political party, called for greater protection from Lebanese authorities: “Elements of Hezbollah infiltrated the town, prompting Israeli strikes that resulted in destruction and devastation as well as the death of the parish priest,” Geagea said as reported by L’Orient-Le Jour.
The security situation remains tense as bombings intensify across southern Lebanon following Hezbollah’s involvement alongside Iran against Israel.
