At least 21 people were killed and eight more injured in a rare Israeli air strike on a residential building in the village of Aitou, deep in the north of Lebanon, far from the areas usually hit by the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The toll was confirmed by the Lebanese Health Ministry, which called it a strike ‘unprecedented’ for this mainly Christian region. Aitou, not far from Tripoli, has now become a temporary refuge for families forced to flee their homes south of the country by the war.
Local residents reported that the building has been rented to a family who fled the conflict lately, and they labeled it as a surprise strike without any warning. “One big blast,” said one witness who described bodies falling to the ground amidst the wreckage.
The Israeli military had no comments on this particular airstrike. But in a tour of a northern Israel military base, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue attacking Hezbollah forces across all of Lebanon, including its capital, Beirut. Netanyahu said that the Israeli operations “with no mercy” will continue because the military is reacting to greater cross-border attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Hezbollah Drone Attack and Israeli Response:
It follows one of Hezbollah’s deadliest attacks on Israel in over a year. The group launched a drone that attacked a training facility of the Israeli Golani Brigade near the town of Binyamina. Four Israeli soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded, according to the reports. An investigation by the Israeli military says it is looking into how the drone made its way past its air defense systems.
In reaction, Israel has amplified its aerial attacks on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley region, which traditionally falls under control of the Shia militant group. Within the past 24 hours, Israeli forces have reportedly attacked over 200 Hezbollah positions, including missile launch sites, terrorist cells and military infrastructure. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air and ground assault in southern Lebanon had killed “dozens of terrorists” and destroyed “substantial Hezbollah infrastructure.”.
Escalation of Civilian Casualties:
Roughly 1,700 people have been reportedly killed according to the Lebanese authorities in Israel’s operations during the last month. Civilian deaths are mounting as strikes go on. In the airstrike that recently happened, it was in the village of Aitou, which had not seen any previous confrontation as a focal area. According to the report from the Lebanese Health Ministry, DNA tests were conducted on a number of individuals whose remains were identified after the explosion.
The Israeli forces also said they had killed the commander of Hezbollah’s antitank unit in a strike in the Nabatieh area. Hezbollah had no statement relating to this.
Reactions from International Peacekeepers and Countries:
This continues as UNIFIL remains in south Lebanon while Israel is adamant that they must withdraw. The military action Israel launched has resulted in UN peacekeepers being injured, and the UN Security Council has expressed concern for the safety of its personnel.
The international community appeals for restraint as though tensions between Israel and Hezbollah might pull forces in the region into the general conflict.