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At 9:05&nbsp;[[AM]] local time (0605 [[GMT]]) on [[12 July]] [[2006]]<ref name=haaretz3 /> Hezbollah’s military wing launched a barrage of rockets and mortars on Israeli military positions and northern Israeli village of [[Shelomi]], apparently as a diversion, wounding five civilians in the process.<ref>{{cite news | title= Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel | date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[The New York Times]]| url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?hp&ex=1152849600&en=7c501785edb16cc8&ei=5094&partner=homepage}}</ref> A Hezbollah force then attacked two armoured [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle|Humvee]]s patrolling along the Lebanese border road near the Israeli village of Zar’it with [[anti-tank rocket]]s killing three soldiers and taking two in captivity to unknown territory, possibly into Lebanon.<ref name="haaretz4">{{cite news |title=IDF releases names of two reserve soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah| date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[Haaretz]]| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738310.html}}</ref> Hezbollah has named this operation “Truthful Promise.”
At 9:05&nbsp;[[AM]] local time (0605 [[GMT]]) on [[12 July]] [[2006]]<ref name=haaretz3 /> Hezbollah’s military wing launched a barrage of rockets and mortars on Israeli military positions and northern Israeli village of [[Shelomi]], apparently as a diversion, wounding five civilians in the process.<ref>{{cite news | title= Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel | date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[The New York Times]]| url= http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?hp&ex=1152849600&en=7c501785edb16cc8&ei=5094&partner=homepage}}</ref> A Hezbollah force then attacked two armoured [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle|Humvee]]s patrolling along the Lebanese border road near the Israeli village of Zar’it with [[anti-tank rocket]]s killing three soldiers and taking two in captivity to unknown territory, possibly into Lebanon.<ref name="haaretz4">{{cite news |title=IDF releases names of two reserve soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah| date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[Haaretz]]| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738310.html}}</ref> Hezbollah has named this operation “Truthful Promise.”


[[Image:Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah.jpeg|left|thumb|120px|Sayed Hassan Nasrallah<br/>Hezbollah Secretary General on a propaganda billboard]]
[[Image:Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah.jpeg|left|thumb|120px|Sayed Hassan Nasrallah<br/>Hezbollah Secretary General on a billboard]]
Hezbollah leader Sayyed [[Hassan Nasrallah]] then declared that “No military operation will return them… The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade [of prisoners].”<ref>http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711</ref>
Hezbollah leader Sayyed [[Hassan Nasrallah]] then declared that “No military operation will return them… The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade [of prisoners].”<ref>http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711</ref>

Revision as of 04:34, 21 July 2006

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
Part of the 2006 Arab-Israeli conflict
File:54454.jpg
An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Southern Lebanon.
Date12 July 2006 – present
Location
Lebanon and northern Israel
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah Israel Lebanon
Commanders and leaders
Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General) Dan Halutz (CoS)
Udi Adam (Regional)
Amir Peretz (Defense Minister)		 Michel Sulaiman
Elias Murr (Defense Minister)
Casualties and losses
Militants:
Unclear, at least 36 confirmed[1][2]		 Civilians:
15 killed[3]
338 injured
Soldiers:
17 killed[2][1][4]
32 wounded
2 captured[5] (Israeli media accounts)

Civilians:
289 killed [6][7][4] 1000+ injured
500,000 displaced

Soldiers:
22 killed
63 wounded[3]
(Lebanese government accounts.)

The 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict is a series of ongoing military actions and clashes in northern Israel and Lebanon involving Hezbollah's armed wing and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On 12 July 2006 Hezbollah initiated Operation Truthful Promise,[8] named for a “promise” by its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to capture Israeli soldiers and swap them for the remaining three Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.[9][10] The early morning raid into Israeli territory resulted in eight Israeli soldiers killed and two captured. Israel then responded with Operation Just Reward,[11] later renamed Operation Change of Direction.[12] This retaliatory strike has thus far encompassed extensive bombing raids by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), a full Air and Naval blockade as well as some raids into southern Lebanon.[13] Hezbollah in turn responds with barrages of rockets fired into northern Israel.

The conflict has thus far resulted in more than 300 civilian deaths (the vast majority Lebanese), and the displacement of at least 500,000 people. Meanwhile international pressure is increasing, calling on both parties to end the violence and avert a humanitarian disaster.[14]

Timeline

Main article: Timeline of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
See also: Military operations of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Hezbollah raid

At 9:05 AM local time (0605 GMT) on 12 July 2006[5] Hezbollah’s military wing launched a barrage of rockets and mortars on Israeli military positions and northern Israeli village of Shelomi, apparently as a diversion, wounding five civilians in the process.[15] A Hezbollah force then attacked two armoured IDF Humvees patrolling along the Lebanese border road near the Israeli village of Zar’it with anti-tank rockets killing three soldiers and taking two in captivity to unknown territory, possibly into Lebanon.[16] Hezbollah has named this operation “Truthful Promise.”

File:Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah.jpeg
Sayed Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah Secretary General on a billboard

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah then declared that “No military operation will return them… The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade [of prisoners].”[17]

The IDF confirmed that two Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah, and identified them as Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. An Israeli Merkava Mark II tank was destroyed by a 300 kilogram (660 lb) improvised explosive device as it attempted to pursue Hezbollah into Lebanon. All four of the crew members were killed. Another Israeli soldier was killed when he came under heavy fire during an attempted recovery of the bodies from the tank.[16] In all, 8 soldiers were killed, 2 captured and 6 wounded.[5]

Israel accuses Iran of organising the capture. They occured on the day that Iran was supposed to address its uranium enrichment program or face sanctions from the West.[18]

Israeli response

File:DanHalutz06.jpg
Dan Halutz, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert declared the attack by Hezbollah’s military wing an “act of war” and promised Lebanon a “very painful and far-reaching response.”[19] Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz also said that “the State of Israel sees itself free to use all measures that it finds it needs, and the Israeli Forces have been given orders in that direction.”[20] IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said “If the soldiers are not returned we will turn Lebanon’s clock back 20 years.”[21]

Israel said it held the Beirut government responsible for the attack, but Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denied any knowledge of the raid and stated that he did not condone it.[22] An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.[23]

Following several days of Israeli bombing raids, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated that Hezbollah was now ready for "open war" with Israel.

Early on 13 July 2006 Israel sent IDF jets to bomb Lebanon’s international airport near Beirut, forcing its closure and diverting its arriving flights to Cyprus. Hezbollah retaliated by bombarding the Israeli towns of Nahariya and Safed, as well as villages nearby with rocket fire. The attacks killed two civilians and wounded 29 more.[24] Nahariya residents began leaving the city en masse in fear of further Katyusha attacks.[25] Israel is now imposing an air and sea blockade on Lebanon,[26][27] and has bombed the main Beirut–Damascus highway.[28]

Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev claims the Hezbollah unit that captured the two soldiers is trying to transfer them to Iran. However, the spokesman did not disclose his source.[29] Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam of the Northern Command, says Israel has not ruled out sending ground forces into Lebanon.[30] Air strikes were also carried out against outposts of Hezbollah.

The Israeli leadership has stated that their aims in the conflict are twofold: the unconditional release of the two captured Israeli soldiers and the weakening of Hezbollah in order to prevent unmitigated future attacks on Israel and its citizens.[citation needed]

Continuing military operations

Main article: Military operations of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Targeting of civilians

Strikes on Lebanon's civilian infrastructure include Beirut airport, ports, grain silos, bridges, roads, factories, medical and relief trucks, and the country's largest dairy farm Liban Lait.[31] In one example characterized to be a breach of international law and the Geneva conventions,[32] families evacuating the village of Marwahin in South Lebanon were struck on an open road by an Israeli missile attack; 17 were killed, most of them women and children.[33][34] The organization Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into this incident: “The IDF needs to investigate this attack on a civilian convoy and provide more details about the circumstances … Having warned civilians to evacuate their village, Israeli forces should have been aware that civilians would be using this road and should have taken great care to avoid harming them.”[35]

After widespread attacks on Lebanon by Israeli forces, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said "In the beginning, we started to act calmly, we focused on "Israel" (sic) military bases and we didn't attack any settlement, However, since the first day, the enemy attacked Lebanese towns and murdered civilians... Hizbullah militants had destroyed military bases, while the "Israelis" killed civilians and targeted Lebanon's infrastructure."[36] Artillery rockets by Hezbollah were fired at civilian targets throughout the conflict, landing in all major cities of northern Israel including Haifa, Nazareth, Tiberias, Nahariya and Safed.[37]

Louise Arbour, United Nations high commissioner for human rights, expressed "grave concern over the continued killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory." She called for Israel to obey a "principle of proportionality." She also suggested that actions on both sides may be war crimes, telling the BBC that "indiscriminate shelling of cities constitutes a foreseeable and unacceptable targeting of civilians … Similarly, the bombardment of sites with alleged military significance, but resulting invariably in the killing of innocent civilians, is unjustifiable," and also warning that, "This obligation is also expressed in international criminal law, which defines war crimes and crimes against humanity. …The scale of the killings in the region, and their predictability, could engage the personal criminal responsibility of those involved, particularly those in a position of command and control." [6][7] [8] Arbour was the Chief Prosecutor of War Crimes before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. The United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland has said that one third of the dead are children.[38]

On 16 July Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said Israeli forces have used "phosphorus incendiary bombs, which are a blatant violation of international laws, ...against Lebanese civilians."[39][40][41] Information Minister Ghazi Aridi also said, "Israel is using internationally prohibited weapons against civilians."[39][40][42] The use of incendiary weapons on civilians is prohibited by the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.[43] The accusations have not been confirmed. Some military analysts have said that Israel is intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure. James Dobbins, a former member of the Bush administration, had the following to say: "The military rationale seems rather thin, since many of the targets have no conceivable relationship to Hezbollah," [9]

Human Rights Watch stated on 18 July that "Hezbollah's attacks (on Haifa) were serious violations of international humanitarian law and probable war crimes."[44] Amnesty International condemned both parties and called for UN intervention, stating: "The past few days has seen a horrendous escalation in attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Yet the G8 leaders have failed conspicuously to uphold their moral and legal obligation to address such blatant breaches of international humanitarian law, which in some cases have amounted to war crimes."[45]

Historical background

Arab-Israeli conflict

Main article: Arab-Israeli conflict

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, 110,000 Palestinians fled or emigrated from present day Israel to take refuge in Lebanon.[citation needed], and make up 695,000 refugees in Lebanon as of today [46]. From 1970 to 1973, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was engaged in the Black September in Jordan, which routed a large number of Palestinian fighters and refugees into neighboring Lebanon. By 1975, they numbered more than 300,000, creating an informal state-within-a-state in South Lebanon. The PLO became a powerful force and played an important role in the Lebanese Civil War. Continual fighting occurred between Israel and the PLO from 1968 onward. In 1978, Israel invaded Lebanon in an attempt to rout out Palestinian militants who had been using southern Lebanon as a base for raids on northern Israel since 1968.[citation needed] As a result the United Nations passed UN Resolutions 425 and 426, which called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces and an end to military action in Lebanon.[47] At the end of the operation, Israeli forces withdrew from Lebanon, leaving behind a UNIFIL force, and their allies, the South Lebanon Army.

Israel invaded again four years later in 1982 in response to an assassination attempt against Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov by Fatah - Revolutionary Council and to artillery attacks launched by the PLO against populated areas in northern Israel. Israel’s attack forced PLO forces out of Lebanon (mostly to Tunisia), and Israel occupied the southern part of the country. In 1985, Israel withdrew its forces from parts of Lebanon and remained in a 4-6 km deep strip of southern Lebanon named by Israel “The Security Zone”, which Israel cited as a protective measure to defend its Northern towns against Katyusha rockets. This occupation lasted until 2000. During the 18-year period from 1982, Israel was involved to varying degrees in a guerrilla conflict and a number of incidents including the Qana shelling[48] and the Sabra and Shatila Massacre, Human Rights Watch on April 13, 2000 urged the Lebanese govenment to effectively investigate the cases of an estimated 17,000 Lebanese civilians who were kidnapped or "disappeared" during the occupation.Human Rights Watch.

On 24 May 2000, Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon, more than six weeks before its stated deadline of 7 July.[49] This was considered by some Lebanese a victory for Hezbollah and boosted its popularity hugely in Lebanon.[50]

The pullout was certified by the UN as complete as of 18 June 2001, in compliance with the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 for Israel to “withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory”.[51] However, Hezbollah claims the Shebaa Farms, a 35 square kilometre (13.5 sq mi) area, controlled by Israel, to be Lebanese territory.[52] This is territory which the United Nations Security Council has ruled is an occupied territory of Syria, and not part of Lebanon.[53][54] Hezbollah has fired mortar rockets into Israel, whilst Israel has carried out numerous attacks aimed at striking Hezbollah bases. (see: Hezbollah activities)[55][56][57][58][59]

In June 2006, the Lebanese military arrested an alleged assassination squad led by former South Lebanese Army corporal Mahmoud Abu Rafeh. According to army statements, the cell was trained and supported by the Israeli Mossad and "used ... to carry out assigned assassinations in Lebanon." Among the killings attributed to the squad are those of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Holy War) Mahmoud Mjzoub and his brother (May 26, 2006), and Hezbollah (Party of God) officials Ali Saleh (2003) and Ali Hassan Dib (1999).[60]

Hezbollah

Main article: Hezbollah
File:Ahmadinejad-and-Nasrallah.jpg
Nasrallah who was partly educated in Iran (in Qom in 1989) receives much funding therefrom to bankroll his military forces in Lebanon

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shi’a Muslim organization formed in 1982 “primarily to offer resistance to the Israeli occupation.”[61] According to a BBC report, Hezbollah's political doctrine has consistently called for the destruction of Israel.[61]

It has a military and civilian wing, the latter participating in the Lebanese parliament, taking 18% of the chairs (23 out of 128) and the bloc it forms with others, the "Resistance and Development Bloc", a little less than thirty percent for a total of 35 seats, (see Lebanese general election, 2005). It is a minority partner in the current Cabinet.

Hezbollah's armed wing is called Al-Muqawama Al-Islamiyya ("The Islamic Resistance"). One of its broadcasting outlets is the satellite TV station Al-Manar ("The Beacon").

Previous prisoner exchanges

During an attack in October 2000 on Shebaa Farms Hezbollah captured three IDF soldiers who were killed either during the operation or in its immediate aftermath. Hezbollah sought to obtain the release of 14 Lebanese prisoners in exchange, together with Palestinian prisoners.[62] The prisoner swap was carried out on 29 January 2004: 30 Lebanese and Arab prisoners, the remains of 60 Lebanese militants and civilians, 420 Palestinian prisoners, and maps showing Israeli mines in South Lebanon were exchanged for an Israeli businessman and army reserve colonel Elchanan Tenenbaum captured in 2001 in a business trip, and the remains of the three IDF soldiers mentioned above.[citation needed] Three Lebanese nationals are still held in Israel's prisons, including Samir Kuntar.

Casualties

Map showing some of the Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil as of 16 July 2006.
The ongoing nature of the conflict makes assessing the precise number of casualties difficult.

Lebanese

  • Al Jazeera reports, as of morning on 20 July "More than 300 people have now been killed and 500,000 displaced during the week-long conflict"[63]
  • AFP reports the number of killed in the Israeli raids, as of 19 July, more than 300 people have been killed, while more than 480 people have been wounded.[65]
  • BBC News reports the number of killed in the Israeli raids, as of 19 July, "270 Lebanese — mostly civilians".[66]

Israeli

  • 17 Israeli soldiers were killed, 2 captured, and 32 more wounded.[1]
  • 15 civilians have been killed, Eight in Haifa city on 16 July, while another 500 civilians were treated in hospitals, 11 of whom were seriously injured.[68]

Foreign nationals

  • Seven Lebanese-Canadians from Montreal, including four children and all from the same family, were killed and six severely injured by an Israeli attack on Aitaroun in South Lebanon on 16 July. An eighth member of the family died of injuries sustained in the blast later. [69]
  • A family of four Brazilians, including two children, was killed in the Israeli bombings in Srifa,[70] drawing condemnation from foreign relations minister Celso Amorim.[71] Another Brazilian child was killed in an Israeli strike in Tallousa.[72]
  • Four members of a German-Lebanese family, including two minors, from Mönchengladbach, Germany were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Chehour in southern Lebanon while on vacation.[73] [74]
  • The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry has reported that two Kuwaiti nationals have been killed by Israeli bombing.[75]
  • A Sri Lankan maid of a Lebanese family was killed in an Israeli bombing.[1]
  • One Iraqi was killed by Israeli bombing.[1]
  • One Jordanian was killed when Israeli missiles hit trucks near Zahleh in the mountains above the eastern Bekaa Valley.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Refugees and evacuations

Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus following their flight from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has received reports of 50,000 to 60,000 internally displaced people fleeing from the heavily Shia-populated south of Lebanon and southern suburbs of Beirut, areas that have borne the brunt of the Israeli attacks.[76] United Nations estimates run as high as 500,000 internally displaced Lebanese. Media reports indicate that thousands of people have fled Lebanon into Syria, with 15,000 reportedly entering through the Masnaa crossing on 15 July alone.[77] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) monitors believe most of these people are Syrian nationals working in Lebanon.[78]

Thousands of Israelis have fled northern towns such as Safed, but many remain, protected by bomb shelters.[citation needed]

Foreign nationals

Main article: International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict § Evacuation of foreign nationals
See also: List of countries evacuating citizens from Lebanon

The Israeli strategy of blockade, including seaports, the Beirut airport, and key roads and bridges, meant that normal escape routes were unavailable. Lebanon borders only Israel and Syria. According to a spokesman for the British High Commission in the Republic of Cyprus, both France and the US have secured permission from the British to use the facilities of the British Sovereign Base Areas,[79] which includes RAF Akrotiri.

Many governments are engaged in efforts to evacuate their nationals by boat to Cyprus or Turkey or by bus to Syria.[80][81]

Further information: [[:List of countries with foreign nationals in Lebanon]]

Position of Lebanon

Almost immediately after hostilities began, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called for a ceasefire. On 14 July, following a phone call between Siniora and President Bush, the Prime Minister’s office issued the statement that “Prime Minister Siniora called on President Bush to exert all his efforts on Israel to stop its aggression on Lebanon, reach a comprehensive ceasefire and lift its blockade.”[82]

The next day, in a televised message to the Lebanese people, and afterwards in an interview with CNN, Siniora said “We call for an immediate ceasefire backed by the United Nations.”[83]

On 16 July, the Lebanese special envoy to the UN, Nouhad Mahmoud, claimed that the United States was obstructing the Security Council's attempt to broker a ceasefire.[84] Condoleezza Rice, speaking from St. Petersburg on 16 July, seemed to oppose an immediate cessation of violence, claiming that the ceasefire demanded by Siniora would be unworkable unless it addressed Hezbollah violence and the support it gets from Syria and Iran. She said the only way to deal with the problem is “to deal with the extremists, isolate the extremists, and put in place moderate democratic states”.[85]

Many Lebanese feel the international community is not doing enough to end the conflict and consider Israel's attack to be unjustly punishing a country that has hardly any control over Hezbollah. There is also anger at Hezbollah for provoking Israel into attacking Lebanon.[86]

On July 20, an emotional Lebanese prime minister called for an immediate cease-fire, stating his country "has been torn to shreds".[87]

Negotiations for ceasefire

Hezbollah has demanded that Israel trade three Lebanese prisoners for the two captured Israeli soldiers but Israel refused.[88]

On 14 July BBC News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would agree to a ceasefire if Hezbollah returned the two captured soldiers, stopped firing rockets at Israel, and if Lebanon implemented UN Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the group’s disarmament.[89] Two days later, it was reported that Israel would agree to a ceasefire under two conditions: 1) The return of the two soldiers captured on 12 July and, 2) The Army/Government of Lebanon would have to ensure that Hezbollah would pull back to the Litani River.[90]

On Monday, 17 July Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the fighting in Lebanon would end when Hezbollah guerrillas freed two captured soldiers, rocket attacks on Israel stopped and the Lebanese army deployed along the border.[91]
But a spokesman for Hezbollah says it wants an unconditional ceasefire.[92]

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that a prisoner exchange was the only way to secure the release of the soldiers.[93]

IDF Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz is understood to believe that Israel should have launched the kind of anti-Hezbollah offensive now being carried out in late 2000, after the previous capture, and that the failure to act then was a central inspiration for the second intifada.[94]

Hezbollah's states that its arsenal had yet to take a direct hit "and so far we have used a small portion of our weaponry".[95]

On 19 July Jerusalem Post stated that it has been told that Hezbollah is still operating at between 50 and 60 percent of its military capability, and the IDF believes it needs at least another week or two to reach the declared goal of dramatically weakening it. The IDF is stated to be determined to avoid a major ground offensive, assessing that the casualties of such an offensive would be high. [96]

International reaction

Main article: International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

International reactions to the conflict for the most part have condemned both Hezbollah and Israel, with many nations expressing concern over a possible escalation of the conflict.[97] Some nations (including the United States,[98] United Kingdom, Germany and Canada) have asserted Israel's right to self-defense. The nations of the G8 blamed the upsurge in violence in the Middle east on "extremists" and accepted Israel's right to self-defense whilst excercising restraint.[99][100]

Iran, Syria and Yemen have given support to Lebanon and Hezbollah.[101] The Arab League "condemns the Israeli aggression in Lebanon which contradicts all international law and regulations". However, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia also criticised Hezbollah for harming Arab interests.[102] On 20 July UN Secretary General Kofi Annan demanded both sides stop all violence immediately, condemning Hezbollah for sparking the conflict but also attacking Israel for its "excessive use of force".[103]

Frontline blogs

Additional commentary, fact files, and miscellaneous

References

  1. ^ a b c d e According to the Associated Press, 2 militants were killed before 18 July. "Mideast Casualties at a Glance". Associated Press. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "2 IDF troops killed during fighting in Lebanon". Jerusalem post. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Dozens die in fresh Lebanon raids". BBC news. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Israel hints at full-scale Lebanon attack". Associated Press. 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Hezbollah kills 8 soldiers, kidnaps two in offensive on northern border". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Israel hints at a full-scale invasion". Reuters. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Israel: Lebanese in south should flee now". MSNBC. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Lebanese brace for Israel's strategy of collective punishment". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=500&sid=810114
  10. ^ Sami Moubayed. It’s war by any other name. Asia Times. 15 July 2006. Link: [1]
  11. ^ "Israel for rules change in south Lebanon". United Press International. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Israel to Lebanon: No to ceasefire". Ynetnews.com. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Lebanon-Israel Developments". Forbes. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ BBC News (2006-07-20). "Annan demands Lebanon ceasefire". BBC.co.uk. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel". The New York Times. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ a b "IDF releases names of two reserve soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711
  18. ^ [2]
  19. ^ "Regional tensions fuel Lebanon-Israel clashes". MSNBC. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Tel Aviv: Lebanon govt held responsible for attack". United Press International.
  21. ^ "Israel holds Lebanon government responsible for Hezbollah attack". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Statement by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-06-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Siniora's Cabinet makes clear it had nothing to do with 'what happened'". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-06-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Woman killed in Hizbullah attack in Nahariya". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "haaretz.com News Flash". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Israel Imposing Blockade on Lebanon". Associated Press. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Israel targets Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut suburb; IAF attacks Beirut airport, Hezbollah TV station". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Bombing highways out of Beirut". BBC News. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Hizbullah wants soldiers moved to Iran". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "Iran denies Hizbullah moving captives". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "?". The Daily Mirror. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "Assault on Lebanon makes mockery of Geneva Conventions". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "'Their bodies litter the road'". BBC. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "Israeli Attacks Kill 13 Lebanese Civilians". All Headline News. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Israel: Investigate Attack on Civilians in Lebanon". Human Rights News. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Hizbullah leader promises enemy `more surprises`".
  37. ^ Major Attacks in Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip, New York Times
  38. ^ Fighting inside Lebanese border — BBC News, Thursday, 20 July 2006
  39. ^ a b "Lebanon under Israeli attack: Sunday Roundup". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  40. ^ a b "Lebanon Accuses Israel of Using Internationally Prohibited Weapons Against Civilians". Naharnet. 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Updated report on the war in Lebanon - Day 8". Ya Libnan. 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Israel uses banned weapons against Lebanese civilians". Aljazeera. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  43. ^ "Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons". GlobalSecurity.org. 1980-10-10. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  44. ^ [3]
  45. ^ "Amnesty International. "UN: Security Council must adopt urgent measures to protect civilians in Israel-Lebanon conflict". Amnesty.org.
  46. ^ CIA Factbook
  47. ^ "Lebanon — UNIFIL Background". United Nations. 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
  48. ^ "Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab Territories, including Palestine". United Nations. United Nations Commission on Human Rights. 2004-03-11. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Timeline: Lebanon. BBC News, 13 July 2006
  50. ^ See:
  51. ^ Security Council Endorses Secretary-General’s Conclusion on Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon as of 16 June, accessed 18 July 2006
  52. ^ In focus: Shebaa farms BBC, 25 May 2000
  53. ^ "Press Release SC/6878". United Nations Security Council. 2000-06-18. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ "Press Release SC/8299". United Nations Security Council. 2005-01-28. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. ^ "Israeli jets hit Lebanon targets". BBC News Online. 2004-01-20. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ "Israeli jets attack south Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  57. ^ "Israel hits back at Hezbollah". BBC News Online. 2005-04-05. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  58. ^ "Israeli jets hit deep in Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2004-06-07. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ "Israeli planes attack in Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2005-12-28. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  60. ^ "Lebanon: Israeli spying cell busted". Xinhua. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  61. ^ a b "Who are Hezbollah?". BBC News Online. 2002-04-04. Retrieved 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ "Factfile: Hezbollah". Aljazeera. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  63. ^ "Lebanon 'torn to shreds'". Al Jazeera. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  64. ^ "Israeli forces kill 16 in Lebanon bombings". AP. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ "Lebanon shudders under deadly strikes as toll soars". AFP. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  66. ^ Dozens die in fresh Lebanon raids, BBC News Wednesday, 19 July 2006
  67. ^ "Crude Oil Rises From One-Week Low as Lebanon Conflict Continues". Bloomberg. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ "500 Israelis injured since fighting began". Ynetnews. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  69. ^ "Eight Canadians killed in Lebanon: Ottawa". Reuters. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ Template:Pt icon "Itamaraty confirma morte de brasileiros no Líbano". Globo. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ Template:Es icon "IBrasil consternado por ataque que mató a cuatro brasileños en el Líbano". La Tercera. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  72. ^ Template:Pt icon "Leia íntegra do Itamaraty sobre morte de criança brasileira no Líbano". Folha de S. Paulo. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  73. ^ Template:De icon "Deutsch-libanesische Familie umgekommen". Süddeutsche Zeitung. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  74. ^ Template:De icon "Urlauber getötet". n-tv.de. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ "Israel targets Lebanese air bases, Kuwaiti nationals among dead and UN prepares envoy to Region". The Daily Star. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Lebanon puts cost of raids at $2bn". The Financial Times. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ "Syrian hospitality sector stretches to accommodate traffic from Lebanon". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ "Lebanon: Arrivals in Syria mostly returning Syrians; UNHCR monitoring Iraqis and Sudanese". ReliefWeb. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  79. ^ "News in English, 06-07-17". Cyprus News Agency. 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-07-18.
  80. ^ "Mass evacuations from Lebanon as Israel bombs road to Syria". 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  81. ^ Template:Es icon"Colombia y Venezuela evacúan latinos de Líbano". 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "Lebanon says Bush to press Israel to limit attacks". Reuters. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ "Lebanese PM demands ceasefire". ABC News. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ Al Jazeera.net (2006-07-16). "Lebanon blames US for UN silence". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ "Rice tells Israel US concerned about casualties". Reuters. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ Al Jazeera. "Lebanese question world's silence". AlJazeera.net.
  87. ^ BBC News. "Lebanon 'has been torn to shreds'". BBC.co.uk.
  88. ^ "In Israel, fury mixed with fears". USA Today. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  89. ^ "Israel hits Hezbollah leader's HQ". BBC News. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ AP (2006-07-16). "Israel sends instructions to Lebanon through Italy". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ "Rockets Fired From Lebanon Rain Down on Israel". 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  92. ^ "Hezbollah spokesman says they want unconditional ceasfire".
  93. ^ "Reserve IDF division called up in wake of attack; Nasrallah: Prisoner swap only way to free soldiers". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  94. ^ "Hizbullah still at half its strength". The Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  95. ^ [4]
  96. ^ [5]
  97. ^ Developments in Israel-Lebanon Crisis
  98. ^ Office of the Press Secretary (2006-07-13). "President Bush and German Chancellor Merkel Participate in Press Availability". The White House. Retrieved 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  99. ^ "G8 says Israel has right to self-defence".
  100. ^ "G8 urges 'extremists' to stop Middle East attacks". ABC. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  101. ^ Arabs divided over Hezbollah's role in Lebanon crisis - Deutsche Presse-Agentur - 15 July 2006
  102. ^ Al Jazeera (2006-07-16). "World divided over Mideast conflict". Al Jazeera.net. Retrieved 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  103. ^ BBC News (2006-07-20). "Annan demands Lebanon ceasefire". BBC.co.uk. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

More background

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