agriculture activities across the border in Israel over the last several decades. History Ottoman era In 1596, it was named as a village, ’Aytarun in the Ottoman nahiya (subdistrict) of Tibnin under the liwa' (district) of Safad, with a population of 91 households and 15 bachelors, all Muslim. The villagers paid taxes on agricultural products, such as wheat, barley, goats and beehives, in addition to "occasional revenues” and a fixed sum; a total of 14,570 akçe. Visiting in 1875, Victor Guérin described it as a village with 200 Metualis. In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A large village, built of stone, containing 400 Moslems, situated in bed of wady, with olives, gardens and arable land. Water from a large birket and cisterns." 1985 South Lebanon conflict and aftermath During the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) Aitaroun was part of the South Lebanon security belt. Around 20 soldiers of the South Lebanon Army were kidnapped by Hezbollah in the final year of the war. 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, on July 16, 12 civilians from the Akhrass family, including 7 Canadian nationals, were killed when their Aitaroun home were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes . On July 18, 9 civilians from the Awada family were killed after Israeli air-strikes against their homes. On July 19, 6 civilians were killed and 8 wounded by Israeli strikes, while they were trying to flee from Aitaroun. The village lost 41 villagers to the war new figures said. Families laid flowers and read Quranic verses at the graves on October 23, 2006, which marks the Eid ul-Fitr-holiday. Population Aitaroun is considered one of the larger villages in southern Lebanon with a total population estimated at 20,000 (2002). However, the actual number of residents is now considered to be significantly higher. The non-resident population is divided between emigrants and internal migrants distributed throughout Lebanon. Approximately 45% of the population is under the age of 30 and the average family size is 6-7 members. Economy Most families depend on agriculture as their primary source of income. During the 22 year Israeli occupation (1978 to 2000), the village received a significant cash flow from forced (as well as hired) enlistment in the Israeli funded South Lebanon Army and through work in Israel. Housing and infrastructure There are around 1,300 homes in the village. An electrical network was established in 1964 and access