Israel’s attack on Aitou in northern Lebanon on Monday was described as unusual, both because of its geographical location in the north and because a majority of the population in the area is Christian. But Israel will continue to attack Iran-backed Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted on Monday.
– We will continue to strike against Hezbollah in all parts of Lebanon – even in Beirut, he said during a visit to the military base in the city of Binyamina in northern Israel, which was attacked by Hezbollah with drones on Sunday. Four Israeli soldiers were killed and around 60 people were injured in the attack.
Simone Casabianca-Aeschlimann, director of the International Red Cross in Lebanon, says that over 1.2 million people have been forced to flee in Lebanon. She says there is no longer any safe place in the country, and also points to the attack on central Beirut last Thursday.
– It is very unpleasant not knowing where and when it will happen next time, says Casabianca-Aeschlimann to Sky News.
Criticism of UN shelling
Israel has been heavily criticized from several quarters for attacks on UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon recently. Several UN soldiers have been injured.
The EU on Monday condemned the attacks and rejected Israeli accusations that the forces were there to hinder military operations against Hezbollah. The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, calls the work of the UN forces very important and believes that it is unacceptable to attack them.
Shortly afterwards, Italy, Great Britain, France and Germany demanded in a joint statement that Israel immediately cease the attacks.
Israel, on the other hand, has called on UN forces to leave Lebanon. Netanyahu repeated the call on Monday.
Bloody day
In various parts of Gaza, more than 40 people have been killed and many injured in several Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours. On Monday evening, at least eight people were killed in an attack on Gaza City, Reuters reports.
– The bombings are unprecedented. There is no water, no food and no medicines, and during ongoing shelling people are forcibly evacuated, Khamis Elessi, professor of medicine in Gaza City, describes the situation for BBC.