At least 18 people have been killed in Israel's attack on Aitou in northern Lebanon, according to the Red Cross, citing several media outlets. The attack is described as unusual – partly due to the geographical location, partly because a majority of the population in the area are Christians. According to the state-owned Lebanese NNA, a residential building in the village was hit.
The attack comes shortly after Hezbollah fired a large number of rockets at Israel, targeting two military bases, according to the Shia militia. The air defense is said to have shot down most of them, as well as two drones launched from Syria.
On Monday afternoon, Hezbollah reports that fierce ground battles are underway between the movement and Israeli soldiers in Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.
The latest clashes come a day after four Israeli soldiers, all 19 years old, were killed in a drone attack on a military base in Binyamina in northern Israel.
EU: Ensure Security
More than 60 people were injured in Sunday's Hezbollah attack, several seriously. Israel plans a "powerful" response to the attack, claimed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a conversation with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin during the night, according to AFP.
Meanwhile, more and more people are expressing support for the UN's peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Unifil, following the recent Israeli attacks on the forces – including the EU and the union's foreign minister Josep Borrell, who calls the attacks "completely unacceptable".
The US Defense Minister is said to have urged his Israeli counterpart to ensure that the UN soldiers are not harmed.
The calls come after Israeli tanks on Sunday rolled into a UN outpost in Ramyah in Lebanon.
Spain: UN Stays
In parallel, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the UN forces leave their positions.
Mr. Secretary-General, move the Unifil forces out of the way. It should be done now, immediately, he said in a recorded statement addressed to UN chief António Guterres.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated on Monday that the UN force in the area will not withdraw, according to AFP. The force of around 9,500 men is led by a Spanish general and has nearly 700 Spanish soldiers.
In recent days, at least five UN soldiers have been injured in the area, according to Unifil. Israel claims that Iran-backed Hezbollah has positions, weapons caches, and launchpads just tens of meters from the UN forces in the area, according to Israeli media reports.
