An Israeli special forces operation in eastern Lebanon aimed at locating the remains of missing Israeli airman Ron Arad killed at least 41 people and wounded 40, Lebanese officials said Saturday.

The raid took place overnight in Nabi Sheet, a town in the Bekaa Valley where the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has a strong presence.

Large craters, gutted buildings, and scattered munitions were visible across the area following the operation, which involved airstrikes and clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters.

“The sounds of the explosions were like something out of a movie,” resident Mohammed Mussa, 55, told AFP during a media tour organized by Hezbollah.

“We later understood that there was a commando operation underway,” he said, adding that Hezbollah fighters confronted Israeli troops in the area.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said strikes on Nabi Sheet and surrounding areas killed 41 people and wounded 40 others.

Local officials said the blasts were powerful enough to throw a vehicle onto the second floor of a building.

Evacuation warning issued

Israel’s military said it had issued evacuation warnings for the area earlier Friday.

“With this warning, we prepared and evacuated the children from the town to protect them,” said Nabi Sheet mayor Hani Moussawi.

The Israeli military said Saturday that the overnight mission sought information about Arad but failed to locate his remains.

“No findings related to him were located,” the military said, adding that no Israeli soldiers were injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel remained committed to locating all missing servicemen.

“Israel’s commitment to bringing back its missing soldiers is absolute and permanent,” he said.

Clashes during infiltration

Lebanon’s army chief, Rodolphe Haykal, said Israeli troops involved in the operation wore uniforms resembling those of the Lebanese army and used vehicles similar to those of the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority.

Hezbollah said its fighters engaged Israeli troops who had landed near a cemetery in Nabi Sheet after arriving in helicopters from the direction of Syria.

According to the group, the confrontation escalated into clashes and airstrikes before Israeli forces withdrew.

An AFP correspondent in eastern Lebanon reported hearing warplanes and intense gunfire throughout the night.

Background on Ron Arad

Arad, an Israeli air force navigator, went missing in 1986 after ejecting from his aircraft over Lebanon during a military mission.

He was captured after the crash and is widely believed to have died, though his remains have never been recovered.

Israeli governments have repeatedly launched efforts over the decades to determine his fate.

The raid comes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Since Monday, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed nearly 300 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

Lebanese officials say continued Israeli strikes are complicating efforts by the national army to implement a plan aimed at disarming Hezbollah.