Overview
- The Maronite priest, identified as Pierre Raï (also reported as Pierre El‑Rahi), died from wounds after Israeli artillery struck Qlayaa on March 9.
- Residents and Lebanon’s national news agency say a Merkava tank fired two rounds at the same house: the first injured the homeowner and his wife, the second hit as people rushed to help, wounding the priest and three others.
- Hundreds attended Wednesday’s burial as villagers urged the Lebanese army to enforce curbs on Hezbollah activity near their locality to avoid Israeli reprisals.
- A resident told AFP that hours after the priest’s death a Hezbollah rocket launched toward Israel fell near the village, underscoring the danger to civilians.
- The Vatican said the Pope expressed deep sorrow over the killing, and the Catholic charity Œuvre d’Orient condemned what it called an escalation in blind violence following Hezbollah’s March 2 missile attacks and Israeli counterstrikes.