Beirut: The United Nations has demanded an urgent, independent, and thorough investigation into an Israeli airstrike on the northern Lebanese village of Aito, which killed 22 civilians, including 12 women and two children. The strike, which took place on Monday, reportedly targeted a four-story residential building, according to UN rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence.

The UN expressed concern about the strike's adherence to international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the principles of distinction and proportionality. Laurence emphasized the need for accountability, stating that such incidents require immediate investigation.

While Israeli strikes have primarily focused on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, this attack struck Aito, a Christian-majority village in the north. The Israeli military has been engaged in cross-border clashes with Hezbollah for nearly a year, exacerbated by the escalating conflict in Gaza following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The intensifying violence has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to eliminate Hezbollah as part of Israel's broader response to the conflict.