A post shared to X claims that a Greek Orthodox priest died in an Israeli strike in Lebanon.

Israel killed this Lebanese Christian priest and his entire family, then bombed a church. pic.twitter.com/ULsqsnnO02

— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) October 13, 2024

Verdict: False

Father Gregorios Salloum was not killed in the Israeli-led strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Fact Check:

As of Oct. 10, more than a hundred people were injured and over 20 killed in Israeli strikes that hit Beirut, the Associated Press reported.

On Oct. 12, a post on X claimed that a Greek Orthodox priest, Father Gregorios Salloum, had been killed in one such strike. The claim said that “Israel killed this Lebanese Christian priest and his entire family, then bombed a church.”

However, subsequent reports revealed that this claim is false. The religious leader was injured in a Beirut strike but not fatally so.

Salloum was wounded but has been stabilized, according to The Greek Herald. The priest serves at Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Ibl al-Saqi. Part of the strike hit his home in al-Sagi, wounding both the priest and his family.

In an Oct. 1 press release from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies, “reports circulating about the martyrdom of Father Gregorios Salloum” were refuted as inaccurate. The diocese said it “confirms” that the priest “is fine and requests the prayers of the faithful for his speedy recovery.”

Additionally, Salloum’s family and Saint George Hospital confirmed that he is still receiving treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU), the Greek City Times noted.Another report from Orthodox Christianity reiterated the same clarification, referencing news reports that Salloum had been “seriously injured” in the Ibl al-Saqi in southern Lebanon.

The Oct. 12 post on X came more than a week after a Greek organization posted a press release declaring that Salloum had been assassinated. The Oct. 1 post said that the priest had been “reported dead as a result of his injuries” and criticized “the actions of the state of Israel.” Reports correcting the false information began appearing on Oct. 2.

The Israeli-led strike was an effort to confront the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. It marked the first time that the city of Beirut was hit in the past year, since the war between Israel and Hamas began, per the Associated Press. (RELATED: FACT CHECK: Video Shows 2003 Baghdad Bombing, Not Israeli Attack)

CBS News reported on Sept. 24 that Israel had warned residents in and around Beirut to evacuate the area in preparation for the planned missile strikes.