An Australian man and his wife are killed in Israeli airstrikes after flying to Lebanon to visit his partner
An Australian has been killed in a Lebanese village targeted by Israeli airstrikes, according to family members and local media reports.
Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, had traveled from Sydney to the village of Bint Jbeil to visit his Lebanese wife Shorouk Hammoud, who had recently obtained an Australian visa.
The couple, who married in Lebanon three years ago, were planning a new life in Australia.
Family members revealed that Bazzi was concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and was “strongly considering traveling personally to Lebanon to take his wife to Australia.” ABC reported.
Bazzi’s brother, Ali Bazzi, 30, is also believed to have been killed in the bombing.
Local Lebanese media reported that the three people were killed when a two-story building was hit by a missile fired by an Israeli fighter jet overnight, leaving the house completely destroyed.
Israel’s isForce said it has attacked Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon after the Iran-backed militia fired rockets into the Jewish state.
Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, had traveled from Sydney to the village of Bint Jbeil to meet his Lebanese wife Shorouk Hammoud, who had recently obtained an Australian visa.
Black smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, a Lebanese border village with Israel in southern Lebanon, Monday, November 13, 2023
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the brothers or Ms Hammoud had links to Hezbollah.
Mr Bazzi was an electrician and construction worker from the St George district in Sydney’s south east.
His uncle, Mohamed Kahmees, said he was in a “state of shock” when he called Mr Bazzi “a beautiful boy”.
Ms Hammoud’s cousin, Mohamed Hammoud, lives in Sydney and told the ABC the news was devastating.
“My family is numb. My family is devastated. My family is in disbelief,” he said.
“We expected to meet and greet them here and welcome her to Australia, and now it’s not… utter disbelief.”
Mr. Hammoud said he would cherish his memories of Ms. Hammoud.
“She used to paint my daughter’s fingernails, she was full of life and happy,” he said.
Mr Bazzi’s brother, 30-year-old Ali Bazzi (pictured right), was also reported dead in the incident
Australians were warned to leave Lebanon in October as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah flared.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned Aussies that commercial flights abroad may not be available during a crisis.
“I say to Australians now: if you are in Lebanon, you should consider whether it is essential for you to stay there,” she said.
“If you want to leave, you should know that a crisis may limit commercial opportunities for departure and you should consider the first available option.”
Australians are also advised to reconsider travel to Israel and avoid traveling to Gaza or the Gaza border, where Israeli forces are engaged in heavy fighting with Hamas.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.