Windsor Father and Engineer Killed by Israeli Strike in Lebanon

The Windsor community is mourning the loss of Hassan Haidar, a 38-year-old mechanical engineer and father of five, who was killed last week by Israeli forces in Southern Lebanon.

His death has sparked a wave of grief and renewed calls from national advocacy groups and family members for the Canadian government to take concrete action beyond verbal condemnations.

Haidar, a resident of Windsor who split his time between Ontario and Lebanon, was killed on his family property in the community of Qana.

According to his family and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), he is among over 1,500 people killed during recent Israeli military operations and the invasion of Lebanon.

A Final Act of Bravery

At a news conference in Windsor on Monday, Hassan’s sister, Fatima Haidar, and brother, Hussein Haidar, shared the harrowing details of his final moments.

They explained that Hassan had moved his wife and children to a safer location but stayed behind to care for his horses.

"He had a dream of having the biggest horse farm in Lebanon," Fatima Haidar told reporters, as reported by PelhamToday and CBC News. "He risked his life to care for his animals that he loved and not leave them behind because he had no means of moving them to a safe place."

The family stated that Hassan was on the phone with his wife last Thursday when he heard cries for help.

A man who helped tend to the horses had been shot by a drone strike on the property. When Hassan rushed out to assist him, he was shot in the head and killed.

"My brother died in the facility around his home, still on his private property trying to save another human being," Fatima said.

A Life of Dedication

Hassan Haidar’s journey was one of hard work and community roots.

His parents immigrated to Canada from Qana 20 years ago to escape conflict.

Hassan built a life in Windsor, completing an automotive technician program at St. Clair College and working as a licensed mechanic before earning his engineering degree from the University of Windsor.

His brother, Hussein, described him as an "extremely devoted man" who worked long hours to provide for his family and dreamed of retiring by age 40.

"Hassan was a hard-working citizen who owned a business," Hussein said, according to CBC News. "He died at the age of 38."

Calls for Government Action

The tragedy has intensified demands for the federal government to move beyond expressions of concern.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand acknowledged the death of a Canadian citizen in southern Lebanon, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that Canada calls on Israel "to cease its attacks" and encourages a "durable, diplomatic solution."

However, the Haidar family and the NCCM argue that these statements are insufficient. They are calling for:

• Targeted Sanctions: Placing specific sanctions on the Netanyahu government.
• Legal Accountability: Ensuring that any Canadians fighting for the IDF who are found to be committing war crimes are appropriately prosecuted.
• Transparency: A full investigation into the killing of Canadian citizens abroad.

"It is time for Canada to back up its condemnations of these attacks with specific actions," the NCCM stated. "We must have transparency and justice. Canada must stand up when its own citizens are being killed."

For the Windsor community and the Haidar family, the loss of a man described as "social, kind, and educated" serves as a painful reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict.

As Fatima Haidar noted, there are "no words that can describe the pain" caused by the loss of a brother who died while attempting to save another life.