Brother of Australian man and his wife killed in Israeli airstrike in Lebanon revealed to be a ‘martyr’ for terrorist group Hezbollah – as the trio are buried in coffins covered with the militia’s flag
A government investigation has been launched after an Australian man and his wife, along with his Australian Hezbollah militia fighter brother, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Boxing Day.
Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, had traveled from Sydney to the village of Bint Jbeil to take his Lebanese wife, Shorouk Hammoud, to Australia after she was granted a visa.
The couple was in the two-storey home of his brother Ali Bazzi, 30, when it was hit by a missile from an Israeli warplane aimed at Hezbollah.
The two men were killed instantly in the attack, but Ms Hammoud was initially pulled from the rubble alive before she too later died.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah later admitted that Ali Bazzi was one of their guerrillas, in a tribute to their ‘martyr’ posted online in his memory.
The Australian government confirmed on Thursday that both men were Australian citizens and wanted to confirm Ali Bazzi’s ties to Hezbollah.
They also flagged an investigation into any illegal financial support the militia fighter may have received from Australians while with Hezbollah.
Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, had traveled from Sydney to the village of Bint Jbeil to visit his Lebanese wife Shorouk Hammoud (pictured together), who had recently been granted an Australian visa
All three were buried within hours of the attack in emotional funeral scenes in the small Lebanese village in the Al-Dawra region, amid the rubble of the bombed house. The photo shows Ahmad Bazzi, father of the brothers, with other mourners at the site of the airstrike
The coffins of all three were draped in yellow Hezbollah flags and carried by uniformed Hezbollah militia fighters
“Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization under Australian law,” acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus warned on Thursday.
“It is an offense for any Australian to collaborate with, support – let alone fight – a designated terrorist organization like Hezbollah.
“Because Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization, it is a criminal offense for any Australian to provide financial support to that terrorist organization.”
The government said it was aware that Hezbollah had claimed Ali Bazzi as a member, adding that Australians had been told not to travel to Lebanon since October.
All three killed in the attack were buried within hours in coffins draped with Hezbollah flags, beneath an image of Ali Bazzi in camouflage clothing, cheering his martyrdom.
The coffins were carried by Hezbollah fighters in full uniform through the streets of the village in Lebanon’s Al Dawra region, near the Israeli border.
“The Islamic Resistance celebrates the martyr, Mujahid Ali Ahmed Bazzi from the city of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, who was martyred on his way to Jerusalem,” Hezbollah’s official website said.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization listed by the CIA and Australian National Security and an ally of the Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7, the country has exchanged fire with Israel across Lebanon’s southern border.
Ibrahim Bazzi married his wife in Lebanon three years ago and planned a new life in Sydney over fears for his wife’s safety in the Middle East.
He is believed to have moved to Australia in 2020-2021 and was an electrician and construction worker from the St George area of south-east Sydney.
There is no evidence that the couple had ties to Hezbollah beyond Ali Bazzi.
The funeral took place under an image of Ali Bazzi in army-style camouflage clothing, in honor of his ‘martyrdom’. In the photo, the brothers’ father, Ahmad Bazzi, says goodbye
The coffins were draped in yellow and decorated with the Hezbollah logo’s gun
The couple were with Ibrahim Bazzi’s brother Ali, 30 years old (the brothers are pictured together) at his brother’s house when it was hit by an Israeli warplane targeting Hezbollah fighters.
Ms Hammoud’s cousin, Mohamed Hammoud, lives in Sydney and told the ABC the news was devastating.
Mr. Hammoud said he would cherish his memories of Ms. Hammoud.
“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.”
“She used to paint my daughter’s fingernails, she was full of life and happy,” he said.
Founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah is both a political party and a militant combat operation aimed at spreading Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
This is especially strong in the border area of Lebanon and Israel, where the rocket attack took place and where there are regular firefights between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli army.
The IDF said the deadly airstrike was part of an operation to hit Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon after militias fired rockets into the Jewish state.
Australians were warned to leave Lebanon in October as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah flared.
Hezbollah celebrated Ali Bazzi as ‘martyr on the way to Jerusalem’ on a giant banner at the funeral procession (photo)
The village was packed with mourners for the triple funeral
Mourners held photos of militia fighter Ali Bazzi and the couple Ibraham Bazzi and his wife Shorouk Hammoud
Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned Australians that commercial flights may not be able to leave the country 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.