They fled Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon and died in an unprecedented strike on a building in Aito, in the northern region of Zgharta. Twelve women, nine men and two children from Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) were killed on Monday in an Israeli army raid at around 2 p.m. on a house in which they had taken refuge on the highway between Zgharta and Ehden. A 24th victim was found Tuesday morning inside his car near the building, crushed by the force of the rocket explosion and covered by a pile of rubble, according to our correspondent Michel Hallak. Excavations are continuing at the site of the strike.

The municipality of Aitaroun mourned its 23 victims this morning: Hussein Mohammad Hijazi, Sanaa Abdelkarim Marmar, Ali Hussein Hijazi, Jana Kamel Kassem, the little girl Helene Ali Hijazi, Fouad Hussein Hijazi, Abbas Hussein Hijazi, Alaa Hussein Hijazi, Ruqia Hussein Issa, Sakana Ali Hijazi, Ali Hassan Hijazi, Mohammad Hassan Hijazi, Abbas Hassan Hijazi, Soraya Ali Awada, Leila Hussein Hijazi, Mariam Hussein Hijazi, Amal Mohammad Hijazi, Ahlam Ali Mrad, Dalal Ali Mrad, Ahmad Ali Fakih, Manal Naji Hamad, Salma Mohammad Abdel Monheim and Najia Mahmoud Hamad. The identity of the 24th victim has not yet been revealed.

According to our correspondent in north Lebanon, Michel Hallak, 28 displaced people from south Lebanon were living in the building hit on Monday. The two-story building belonging to a member of the Alwan family was completely destroyed by the strike. The victims were transported to hospitals in Tripoli and Zgharta. Three mortal remains were taken to Notre-Dame hospital in Zgharta for DNA testing on Monday evening, when the death toll from the strike was put at 22. The results of the tests are still unknown.

According to the Health Ministry, 2,309 people have been killed and 10,782 wounded in Lebanon since the war between Hezbollah and Israel began on Oct. 8, 2023.