Lebanon’s Christian Community Shattered by Israeli Airstrike

In northern Lebanon, a devastating Israeli airstrike has left a Christian community reeling, and a sense of fear and despair has settled over the region. The strike, which occurred on October 14, targeted a private residence in the village of Aito, killing 23 people, including 12 women and two children.

Among the victims was a family of four who had been sheltered by Elie Alwan, a 42-year-old Christian who had welcomed them into his home, believing they would be safe. Instead, the airstrike destroyed his home and left his mother injured. Alwan is now forced to rent a new house, miles away, and is still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

The strike, which was the first to hit the village, has sent shockwaves of fear throughout the region, with many Christians who had previously welcomed displaced families now turning against them. "We are Christians, our religion teaches us tolerance. But now we have learned our lesson. We will no longer welcome anyone into the family home," said Alwan’s brother, Sarkis.

Adele Khoury, a local resident, echoed similar sentiments, saying, "Hezbollah has brought us into a war from which we can no longer escape." She fears that Israel’s string of assassinations of Hezbollah officials will leave no community unharmed.

The strike has also sparked an outpouring of condemnation from local residents, who are calling for an independent and thorough investigation into the attack. "We have real concerns with respect to… the laws of war and the principles of distinction, proportion and proportionality," said a UN rights official.

As the people of Aito struggle to rebuild and come to terms with the devastation, the incident has raised serious questions about the future of Lebanon’s fragile peace and the role of the international community in resolving the crisis.