Israel kills 18 in attack on Christian town in north Lebanon

Israel expanded its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday, conducting an airstrike on the predominantly Christian town of Aitou in the north, which killed at least 18 people, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.

This is a shift from Israel’s previous focus on southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in the east, and the suburbs of Beirut.

The airstrike hit a house rented to displaced families, as confirmed by Aitou’s mayor, Joseph Trad, while the Red Cross reported four others injured in the attack. In southern Lebanon, Israel ordered residents of 25 villages to evacuate northward, past the Awali River, which is about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of the Israeli border.

In the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon, Israel claimed responsibility for killing Muhammad Kamel Naim, a Hezbollah commander in charge of the anti-tank missile unit of the elite Radwan Force, though Hezbollah has not yet commented on the incident.

Tensions are also rising between Israel and the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, in southern Lebanon. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for U.N. troops to leave the area, as accusations between Israel and the U.N. escalate.

The U.N. recently accused Israeli tanks of entering its base, which Israel disputed, with Netanyahu accusing UNIFIL of acting as “human shields” for Hezbollah, a claim the group denies.

Amidst this regional conflict, the entire Middle East remains on high alert, with concerns that Israel might retaliate against Iran for an October 1 missile barrage launched in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The U.S. Pentagon announced it would send troops and an advanced anti-missile system to Israel in response to the escalating situation.