Lebanon: An Israeli special forces operation in eastern Lebanon aimed at locating the remains of missing airman Ron Arad has left at least 41 people dead and 40 wounded, Lebanese authorities said.

The overnight operation targeted the town of Nabi Sheet in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and involved air strikes and clashes with Hezbollah fighters, according to residents and officials.

Lebanon’s health ministry said the strikes on the town and surrounding areas caused widespread destruction, with several buildings damaged and a large crater left at the site of the attack.

“The sounds of the explosions were like something out of a movie,” Nabi Sheet resident Mohammed Mussa, 55, told AFP during a media visit organised by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. “We later understood that there was a commando operation underway.”

He said Hezbollah fighters in the area had confronted the Israeli forces, leading to clashes that escalated into heavy exchanges of fire and air strikes.

Israel’s military confirmed on Saturday that it had carried out a special operation in Lebanon overnight to search for Arad’s remains but said no trace of the navigator, missing since 1986, had been found.

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that despite the lack of results, Israel’s commitment to locating its missing servicemen remained “absolute and permanent”.

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

The Lebanese army also reported that three soldiers and several civilians were killed as a result of heavy Israeli shelling during the operation.

Hezbollah said its fighters had observed four Israeli helicopters entering Lebanese airspace from the direction of Syria and landing near a cemetery in Nabi Sheet. According to the group, Israeli troops were engaged by Hezbollah fighters after advancing in the area, prompting air strikes before the force withdrew.

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

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Arad has been missing since October 1986, when he ejected from his combat jet over Lebanon after it was hit during a mission. He is widely presumed dead, though his remains have never been recovered.

In the town’s cemetery, journalists observed what appeared to be a dug-up grave surrounded by damaged tombstones. Local officials said the cemetery belonged to the Shukr family.

Last month, Lebanese authorities charged four people with kidnapping Ahmad Shukr — whose brother Hassan is suspected of involvement in Arad’s capture — allegedly on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency

Nabi Sheet mayor Hani Moussawi said residents had attempted to evacuate children from the area after the Israeli military issued warnings earlier on Friday.

“As the Israelis withdrew, the bombing became indiscriminate and very heavy, causing destruction in dozens of locations,” he said.

The operation comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Since Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israel has carried out repeated strikes and limited ground operations in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli attacks across the country had killed nearly 300 people since Monday.