At least 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross said. Four others were injured in the attack.

Monday's attack hit a small apartment building in the predominantly Christian town of Aitour and was one of Israel's biggest attacks in the north since the invasion of Lebanon earlier this month.

In a report on Monday (October 14), the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported this news.

In a statement, the Red Cross said the house that was attacked in the northern area was rented by displaced families. Israel is expanding its operations even though it has been attacking the Shiite-dominated areas for so long.

Lebanon's Ministry of Health earlier disclosed the death toll of 9 people in the Israeli attack.

The Red Cross said efforts were underway to search for survivors under the rubble.

Hezbollah fighters are mainly based in the south of the country and on the southern outskirts of Beirut. Therefore, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are increasing their attacks there.

Israel launched a massive air campaign against Hezbollah on September 23 across Lebanon. At least 1,488 people were killed and more than 4,297 were injured in these attacks. Besides, at least more than 1.34 million people have been displaced. Israel escalated the war by launching ground incursions into southern Lebanon on October 1.

A cross-border war between Israel and Hezbollah has erupted since the start of the Gaza offensive. Israel has killed more than 42,200 people, most of them women and children, since Hamas attacked Gaza.