Israeli bombings have recently increased in Lebanon, targeting the northern village of Aitou and killing at least 21 civilians. This attack is one of the most devastating Israeli strikes in the region amid the continuing battle between Israel and Hezbollah, which has escalated over the last year. The strikes caused tremendous destruction, and local film showed rescue personnel combing through rubble, with smoke and charred vehicles dispersed throughout the area. Hezbollah has reacted by launching missiles into northern Israel, raising tensions even further.
The UN expressed deep worry about the situation, particularly after two UN peacekeepers were wounded by Israeli tank fire at a UN observation post in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL, the peacekeeping force, reported repeated strikes on its posts, provoking international condemnation and demands for de-escalation. This event underlines the fragile atmosphere along the Israel-Lebanon border, with concerns mounting regarding the safety of both civilians and peacekeepers.
On October 15, 2024, Israeli soldiers conducted an airstrike on Aitou, a village in northern Lebanon. The strike caused widespread devastation, with local television video showing smoke rising from the wreckage and rescue personnel removing people from the rubble. Burned vehicles, trees, and damaged infrastructure remained in the aftermath, providing a vivid image of the ongoing destruction. This attack is part of a bigger campaign Israel has undertaken against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed force, which has grown in recent weeks as tensions between Israel and Lebanon have increased.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it plain that the IDF would maintain its strong position, saying that Israel would bomb Hezbollah “without mercy, everywhere in Lebanon – including Beirut.” This occurred while Hezbollah resumed firing rockets into Israel in reaction to these airstrikes, escalating the confrontation.
The airstrike on Aitou was not an isolated incident. It happened during a larger Israeli military operation that has regularly targeted UN peacekeeping forces stationed in southern Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is entrusted with keeping peace along the Lebanese-Israeli border, reported many incidences in which Israeli forces targeted their positions. near a recent incident, Israeli tanks allegedly fired on a UN observation post near Naqoura, wounded two Indonesian troops and damaging crucial communication systems.
