Lebanese Father Recounts Harrowing Moment Israeli Missile Left His Toddler with Severe Burns
Content Warning: This story includes descriptions of traumatic injuries.
Ivana’s family was preparing to flee their home in southern Lebanon when an Israeli missile hit, leaving the two-year-old with third-degree burns across nearly half of her small body. She now lies in a hospital bed in Beirut, her head and arms wrapped in thick bandages.
In the burns unit at Geitaoui Hospital, Ivana’s father, Mohammed Skayki, stays by her side, gently fanning her face as she whimpers in pain. Though she appears tiny and fragile, her cries reflect the enormity of her suffering. Mohammed recalls the horror as her skin and flesh were seared in an instant.
It was noon on September 23, the day Israel launched an intense bombardment campaign over southern Lebanon. Mohammed’s family, sensing danger, had packed their things and were about to evacuate, but the missiles struck nearby. The closest explosion, just 10 meters from their front door, sent the house shuddering. His daughters, who had been playing on the balcony, were caught in the dust and debris. “I saw her covered in black dust,” he says. “I picked her up, and as I did, the ceiling was crumbling around us.”
The family had to abandon their home in Deir Qanoun En Nahr, leaving behind everything but their phones and fifty dollars. Ivana, along with her older sister Rahaf, was rushed to the hospital by first responders. Seven-year-old Rahaf suffered less severe injuries and has since been discharged, staying now with relatives.
Mohammed shows a photo of Ivana before the bombing: her large brown eyes, a pink pacifier in her mouth, framed by curly brown hair. Now, what remains of her hair is hidden beneath the bandages. Dr. Ziad Sleiman, one of the plastic surgeons on the unit, says she is making encouraging progress. “She’s so calm, even when we change her bandages. She just looks around, taking everything in. She’s such a brave, strong little one.”
Ivana’s unit is meticulously monitored, with nurses stationed in the center, allowing them to watch over each of the eight rooms closely. Despite limited capacity, Dr. Sleiman shares the immense demand on the hospital. “Every day, calls come in to transfer patients here. We prioritize those with the most severe injuries, especially babies and those with traumatic burns.”
Lebanon’s health system, too, has become a target. According to the UN’s World Health Organization, healthcare facilities have faced 23 verified attacks this past month, resulting in at least 72 fatalities. The Lebanese health ministry reports 55 attacks on hospitals and 201 targeting emergency medical staff, condemning these actions as clear violations of International Humanitarian Law.
Israel’s Defense Forces have stated that their target is Hezbollah, asserting that the group misuses ambulances and other medical resources. They deny targeting medical personnel.
For now, the staff at Geitaoui Hospital continue to show up daily, even as Beirut faces new hardships—heavy traffic by day, airstrikes by night. “Treating trauma and burn victims of war is emotionally draining,” Dr. Sleiman says. “These aren’t soldiers we’re treating; they’re women, children, babies. This isn’t their war, yet they’re suffering most.”
Before leaving, Mohammed quietly expresses his frustration at the violence. “I am angry. A soldier for a soldier. But these are civilians; she’s a baby. I don’t want to be like them—a murderer.”
Ivana is scheduled for a skin graft and, if her recovery continues, may be discharged within 10 days. Her family remains displaced, unable to return to their home due to ongoing bombings. Dr. Sleiman worries that more patients like Ivana will fill his ward before the conflict ends. “No one wins in war,” he says, “In war, everyone loses.”
