At least 21 people were killed, and eight others were injured in a rare Israeli airstrike on northern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strike hit a residential building in Aitou, a predominantly Christian village far from the usual conflict zones, where Israeli forces have largely targeted Hezbollah strongholds in the southern and eastern regions of the country.
Local residents reported that a family displaced by the ongoing conflict had been living in the building, which was struck without warning. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the attack, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue striking Hezbollah “without mercy” across Lebanon, including in Beirut. He made these remarks following a deadly drone attack by Hezbollah that killed four Israeli soldiers near the town of Binyamina.
The drone attack was one of the most significant strikes by Hezbollah on Israel in over a year, amid continued cross-border hostilities fueled by the Gaza conflict. Hezbollah claimed the attack was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which the Lebanese health ministry says have resulted in nearly 1,700 deaths over the past month.
Most of Israel’s recent military activity has focused on Hezbollah-dominated areas in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, but the strike on Aitou has shaken the village, which had been seen as a safe haven. Residents described the devastation, with bodies scattered among the rubble. The Lebanese health ministry is conducting DNA tests to identify the remains recovered from the scene.
In response to Israel’s ongoing military operations, Hezbollah has fired around 115 projectiles into Israel, with most intercepted by Israel’s defense systems. However, some rockets landed in open areas, causing minor injuries. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported striking over 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and deeper within the country, destroying missile launchers, terrorist cells, and Hezbollah infrastructure.
The escalating conflict has also affected UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, with the UN Security Council expressing concern over injuries sustained by its troops during the Israeli offensive. Despite calls from Israel to withdraw, the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has stated it will not abandon its positions.
As the violence continues, both sides remain locked in a dangerous cycle of retaliation, further destabilizing the region.
