At least 21 dead in Israeli attack in northern Lebanon

Israel broadened its targets in the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 21 people in its first attack on the majority-Christian town of Aitou in the north, while millions of Israelis had to take shelter from projectiles launched from the other side of the border.

Until now, Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have focused on the south, the eastern Bekaa Valley and the suburbs of Beirut.

The attack in the northern region hit a house that had been rented to displaced families, he told Reuters the mayor of Aitou, Joseph Trad. In addition to the dead, eight people were injured, according to the Red Cross.

Local television broadcast images of the aftermath of the attack in Aitou, showing rescue teams searching through piles of rubble and doctors loading a victim wrapped in a white shroud into an ambulance. Burned vehicles and trees were scattered around the area and thick smoke rose into the air.

Israel on Monday ordered residents of 25 villages to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River, which runs through southern Lebanon, as it intensifies its attacks in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the military base in central Israel where four soldiers were killed by a Hezbollah drone attack on Sunday, said the Jewish state will continue to attack the Iranian-backed movement “mercilessly, in all of Lebanon, including Beirut.”

In central Israel, residents rushed to shelters as sirens sounded. The Army said three projectiles that had crossed from Lebanon had been intercepted. There were no injuries.

An Israeli strike killed Muhammad Kamel Naim, commander of the anti-tank missile unit of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, in the Nabatieh area of ​​southern Lebanon, the military said. Hezbollah has not commented.

UN-Israel tension

The operations occur under high tension between Israel and the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, in southern Lebanon. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen on Monday reiterated Netanyahu’s call for UN troops to withdraw.

The sides have traded accusations over peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, as Israel continues to push its forces through the area in an attempt to take down Iran-backed Hezbollah and its military infrastructure, while fighting against Hamas in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Middle East remains on high alert over the possibility of Israel retaliating against Iran for a barrage of long-range missiles launched on October 1 in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

UNIFIL has stated that previous Israeli attacks on a watchtower, cameras, communications and lighting equipment had limited its surveillance capabilities. UN sources say they fear it will be impossible to monitor any violations of international law in the conflict.

European Union member states have been too slow to condemn Israel’s attacks on UNIFIL soldiers in Lebanon, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday, calling the attacks “totally unacceptable.” .

EU countries, led by Italy, France and Spain, have thousands of soldiers in the 10,000-strong peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, which has said it has suffered repeated attacks by Israeli forces in recent years. days

On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged European Union members to respond to Madrid and Ireland’s request to suspend the bloc’s free trade agreement with Israel over its attacks in Lebanon and Gaza.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah resumed a year ago, when the militant group began firing rockets at Israeli positions in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war, and has escalated in recent weeks.

Israel claims its operations in Lebanon are aimed at ensuring the return of tens of thousands of its displaced residents from their homes in northern Israel.