At least 18 killed in Israeli strike on northern Lebanon

Israel expands operations in country as tensions with UN peacekeepers in south run high

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JERUSALEM - Israel expanded its targets in its war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon on Oct 14, killing at least 18 people in its first strike on the Christian-majority town of Aitou in the north, the Lebanese Red Cross said.

So far the main focus of Israel's military operations in Lebanon has been in the south, the eastern Bekaa Valley and the suburbs of Beirut.

The strike in the northern region hit a house that had been rented to displaced families, Aitou Mayor Joseph Trad told Reuters.

In addition to the deaths, four people were injured, the Red Cross said.

Israel on Oct 14 ordered residents of 25 villages to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River, which flows through southern Lebanon, as it intensifies its attacks in the region.

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 south Lebanon, the military said.

Hezbollah has not immediately commented.

The operations come amid high tensions between Israel and the United Nations peacekeeping force Unifil in south Lebanon, with Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen on Oct 14 repeating a call by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the UN troops to leave.