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Military operations of the 2006 Lebanon War

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See also: 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
See also: Timeline of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

This is intended to list information about the military operations related to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. Please see the main article for more information.

Wednesday, July 12th

The conflict began on July 12 when 8 Israeli soldiers were killed and a further two were captured. At 9:05 AM local time 2006[1] Hezbollah's military wing launched a barrage of rockets and mortars on the northern Israeli town of Shlomi, apparently as a diversion.[2]

A Hezbollah team then moved 200 meters into the Israeli territory, attacked two armoured IDF Humvees patrolling on the Lebanese border near the Israeli village of Zar'it with anti-tank rockets[citation needed]killing three soldiers, wounding three, and taking two in captivity to Lebanon's territory, to what Hezbollah has described as a "safe place". Hezbollah has named this operation "True Promise." 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 damaged by a 300 kg improvised explosive device as it crossed the border in Lebanon, attempting to pursue Hezbollah. 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.[citation needed]In all, 8 soldiers were killed, 2 captured and 6 wounded.[1] 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.[3] Israel attacked Hezbollah's TV station Al-Manar and radio station Al-Nour in Haret Hreyk (Harat Hurayk), a southern suburb of Beirut, and in Baalbeck.

File:Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah.jpeg
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah head of Hezbollah depicted on a billboard.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah later declared that "No military operation will return them [the captured soldiers]... The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade [of prisoners]."[4]

The attacks came two weeks after the beginning of the Gaza Strip-focused Operation Summer Rains by the Israel Defense Forces whose objective was to free the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit captured on June 25, 2006 by Hamas militants in an earlier cross-border attack organized by Hamas that left two Israeli soldiers dead.

In negotiations for the 2004 prisoner exchange, Hezbollah had sought the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. While many were released, Hezbollah failed to achieve the release of Samir Kuntar. Having failed to achieve this objective, Hassan Nasrallah declared that the organization would carry out further operations at a later date to gain the release of the remaining prisoners[5]. The Hezbollah leader later called for talks on prisoner exchange which was officially rejected by Olmert[6]. However it is widely believed that negotiations are underway with Egypt as mediator[citation needed].

Israel called together an emergency cabinet meeting, and said that it held the Beirut government responsible for the attack, vowing that it would pay a "heavy price" for the attacks, adding "The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake regional stability". Plans to locate "thousands" of reserve troops were also announced. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz also said[7] 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." The United Nations envoy to the region, Geir Pedrson, condemned the Hezbollah action and called on Hezbollah to release the soldiers.[7]

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora denied any knowledge of the raid and stated that he did not condone it [8]. An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position[9]. Hezbollah's action aroused varying reactions among Lebanese political forces. It was harshly criticised by many members of the largely anti-Syrian parliamentary majority[citation needed], while Michel Aoun, despite his understanding with the party, declared that he supported the government's position[citation needed].

In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of air and artillery strikes at positions in southern Lebanon, generally seen as the support base for Hezbollah. Israeli General Dan Halutz threatened to "turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years"[10] in a reference to the destruction Lebanon suffered in its bloody civil war. Israeli troops later bombed a main road in the south of Lebanon leaving two civilians dead, and a series of air-raids followed during the night which also targeted the civilian infrastructure. Israel claimed that they were trying to prevent the captured soldiers from being removed to Iran.[11]

Thursday, July 13th

File:54368.jpg
Israeli Navy sailors survey the coast of Lebanon from the Israeli naval blockade.

On Thursday, July 13, Israel began implementing a land and sea blockade on Lebanon. The Beirut International Airport (the sole international airport in Lebanon) was bombed, forcing all international flights to be diverted to Cyprus. The Israeli army said the airport had been used to smuggle in weapons to Hezbollah.[citation needed] The sea ports were also blockaded by Israel.[12]

Many roads and bridges were struck by Israel, essentially cutting of the predominantly Shia southern Lebanon from the Capital in Beirut, the south of Lebanon is considered Hezbollah's heartland. Warplanes also bombed the road to Damascus, the capital of Syria,[13] and have struck a bridge in a suburb south of Beirut, a place highly valued by Hezbollah[citation needed]. They also struck a power plant's fuel storage south of Beirut (but did not destroy the plant itself). People living in this region heard at least three strikes. No casualties have been reported yet.[14] Israeli jets attacked two Lebanese military air bases, destroying runways which Israel claims were used by the Hezbollah to transfer supplies. Attacks against the Rayak air base in the eastern Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border and the Qulayaat military airport (also known as Kleyate or Rene Mouawad airport) in northern Lebanon were the first attacks against Lebanon's army in the conflict.[15][16][17][18]

An unnamed senior IDF officer stated that the strikes were targeted against rocket launch sites and rocket storerooms, although, he claimed, many of them were intentionally located by Hezbollah in civilian population centers.[19][20] An unnamed Lebanese official responded that "Hezbollah did not store arms in civilian areas.” [20] Air strikes were also carried out against outposts of Hezbollah.[7] Israel had named the overall operation "Just Reward", and Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam of the Northern Command, says Israel has not ruled out sending ground forces into Lebanon.[21]

Hezbollah declared an all-out military alert, and said it had 13,000 rockets capable of hitting towns and installations far into northern Israel. As a result, Defense Minister Peretz told commanders to prepare civil defense plans, and some 220,000 Israeli civilians spent the night in bomb shelters.[22][23] [24] [25] Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel, killing one Israeli civilian, a 40-year-old in Nahariya, and wounding 14 others. Another Israeli civilian, a 33 year old man in Safed, later died from the wounds inflicted.

Hezbollah had threatened to hit the city Haifa, "if the southern suburbs and the city of Beirut are subjected to any direct Israeli aggression". Two rockets hit Haifa, hours after the threat.[26] Hezbollah denied firing any rockets at the city.[27][28] Israeli sources later reported that two rockets were fired from inside Lebanon.[29][30][27] The attack is the first time rockets have hit so far south into Israel. One shock injury had been reported from these initial attacks on Haifa.[30][31]

Twelve members of one Lebanese family were reported by Lebanese authorities to have been killed when Israeli planes bombed their home in the Lebanese village of Zibqine, near Tyre. According to the Lebanese government, in Dweir, a small village near Nabatiye, Israeli planes dropped a bomb onto the home of a local Shia Muslim cleric, killing him, his wife and eight of his children. Another family from that same village was also reported to have lost seven members following Israeli bombing.[32][33] Israel intensified its response on Lebanon by attacking the Beirut International Airport and damaging three runways.[34]

The Lebanese government called for a Cease-fire, claiming the Israeli reponse was "disproportionate", a view echoed by France and Russia. 35 Lebanese civilians are believed to have been killed. [35]

Friday, July 14th

Map of conflict as of July 14 2006. In yellow is the Israeli blockade, in red area regions of active conflict.

The Israeli offensive into Lebanon continues, and for the first time the offices of Hezbollah are bombed. Hezbollah declares "open war".[24][36]

The Israeli Sa'ar 5-class missile boat INS Hanit that was blockading the waters 10 nautical miles off of the Lebanese coast was critically damaged in the stern after being hit by a C-802 (Yingji-82) anti-ship missile. Various sources are reporting that the missile is Chinese-made while others report that it was Iranian-made or procured from Iran, a charge which Iran denies.[37][38][39] It is known that China has provided Iran with this type of missile in the past.[40][41][42] Early on there were mistaken reports that it had been hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle packed with explosives, and that there was no serious damage to the ship. [43] [44] Israel immediately recovered one sailor's body, and three more were found two days later.[45][46]

An Egyptian civilian merchant ship, the Moonlight,[47] was hit by a Hezbollah rocket, caught in the cross-fire as Hezbollah was firing on the Israelis. [48] The ship was registered in Cambodia, but sailing under Egyptian flag, carrying several hundred tons of cement. The ship sank in minutes, but the Egyptian crew managed to board lifeboats and was picked up by another civilian vessel. One crewman, however, was seriously injured.[49]

Hezbollah launched about 100 Katyusha rockets on Israeli towns of Nahariya, Safed, Hatzor HaGlilit, Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, and Karmiel, and in the agricultural settlements Mattat, Sasa, Peki'in, Beit Jan, Biria, Biranit, Kabri, Gesher Haziv, Saar and Ben Ami, resulting in 30 injuries. [50][51] Late the same day, a Katyusha in Meron killed two people, a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson, and residents of Haifa are reportedly being ordered into bomb shelters.[52][53][50][54]


The Jerusalem Post reported that an attempt by a group of Hezbollah members to enter Israel was stopped by IDF.[55]

The number of Lebanese civilians killed in the Israeli strikes rises above 50, and the United Nations convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council where Lebanon accused Israel of launching "a widespread barbaric aggression". [56]

Saturday, July 15th

Map showing Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil

Three Patriot anti-ballistic missile batteries were deployed in Haifa. These are aimed at intercepting missiles launched at Haifa. The last time Patriot missiles were deployed to the region was in 2003, during the Iraq War.[57] However, the Patriots are useless against the Katyusha artillery rockets which have been fired from Lebanon.[58]

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz has declared martial law throughout north Israel.[59]

On July 15th, Israel attacked commercial ports in the towns of Beirut and Tripoli, as well as ports in Jounieh and Amsheet, two predominantly Christian towns. [60]

A witness reported that at least 15 Lebanese villagers were killed on July 15 in an Israeli air strike on vehicles fleeing a village in southern Lebanon. The convoy left the border village of Marwahin, was refused asylum in a U.N. base and afterwards it was attacked. [61] It is also reported that some hours before the strike, Israeli forces had told the inhabitants of the village to evacuate by loudspeaker.[62][63]

Sunday, July 16th

File:DanHalutz06.jpg
General Dan Halutz IDF Chief of Staff (2005-) is also a former Israeli Air Force commander.

On the morning of July 16th several barrages of Katyusha rockets hit the northern cities of Haifa, Acre, and Nahariya, and explosions were also heard in Rosh Hanikra. Eight were killed in Haifa, and several were seriously wounded when unguided rockets hit a railway maintenance depot. Al-Manar has reported that the Hezbollah attack included a Fajr-3 and a Ra'ad 1 liquid-fuel missiles, developed by Iran.[64][65] Hezbollah claimed the attack was aimed at a large Israeli fuel storage plant adjacent to the railway facility. Photo of the area, with oil drums and smoke rising from the railway depot. Rockets also hit the villages of Shetula and Zar'it, the site of the original Hezbollah attack. Additional barrages hit the Israeli Arab town of Ghajar and kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch as well as striking Meron and Safed again, all with no injuries.[66] [67] On Sunday evening Hezbollah militants attempted to infiltrate an Israel Defense Forces post on the Lebanese Border.

Vladimir Putin said that "Israel may be pursuing other aims in Lebanon than saving two soldiers taken hostage" on July 16.[1]

On July 16th, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Lebanese military sources stated that Israeli forces had used white phosphorus incendiary bombs against civilian targets on villages in the Arqoub area in the South[68] [69]accusing Israel of using banned weapons against Lebanese civilians.[2][3] This claim has not been verified. A Lateline interview on Australia's ABC mentioned that jet fighters were dropping flares as countermeasures against heat-seeking missiles; such flares would release white ash which could resemble white phosphorus.[citation needed] The same interviewee also personally witnessed an aircraft of some description crashing to the ground in Lebanon.

On July 16, Sky News reported that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was wounded in a morning air strike on his Beirut compound, though Hezbollah affiliated sources have denied the reports as propaganda.[70] News services report that three explosions have been heard in Beirut. Hezbollah TV reports that the air strike destroyed a building containing the headquarters of Hezbollah, with Hezbollah's chief, Hassan Nasrallah, likely inside. He was not harmed, however, and has since released a videotape. [71][72][73]

Monday, July 17th

The Hezbollah leader, Nasrallah, said in his third televised speech since the conflict began that "In the beginning, we started to act calmly, we focused on Israel military bases and we didn't attack any settlement, Hizbullah militants had destroyed military bases, while the "Israelis" killed civilians and targeted Lebanon's infrastructure." He added that Hezbollah's arsenal had yet to take a direct hit "and so far we have used a small portion of our weaponry."[74]

On July 17th, 2006, three rounds of Hezbollah rockets struck the port city of Haifa, wounding two people and partially destroying a three-story residential building.[75] Rockets were also reported to have hit the town of Atlit, 56 km south of the border and 8 km south of Haifa. No injuries were reported. [76] Hezbollah reportedly struck a hospital in the Northern Israel town of Safed. [77] The Israeli army says that 15 cities were hit by rockets in a late night raid injuring 5 people when a rocket hit a synagogue.[78]

Some Israeli ground troops briefly advanced approximately 1 km into Lebanon and leveled Hezbollah border outposts with bulldozers in an effort to make it difficult for Hezbollah to reestablish its border presence.[79]

Tuesday, July 18th

On July 18th, 13 civilians from two families were killed in an air raid on the southern town of Aytaroun, reports indicates that the dead included nine children, taking the death toll to more than 200. [80]The UAE Red Crescent Society condemned Israel's attack on medical and relief convoy in Lebanon. [81][82]

Wednesday, July 19th

On July 19th, the Israeli military said aircraft dropped 23 tons of explosives on what it believed was a bunker for senior Hezbollah leaders in the Bourj al-Barajneh neighborhood of Beirut between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.. Hezbollah said none of its members was hurt and denied a leadership bunker was in the area, saying a mosque under construction was hit.[4]

According to CNN, Israel made an incursion into Southern Lebanon to destroy outposts of the militant group Hezbollah. An IDF spokesman said the troops are "close to the border" however no further details were given as to the success of the operation.[83] Israeli leadership denies these claims.

2 Israeli soldiers and at least 4 Hezbollah militant were killed and 9 Israeli soldiers were wounded. One Israeli Merkava Mark II tank was damaged by a mortar round.

Two Arab children were killed in Nazareth as a result of a Hezbollah rocket attack.

By July 19th, heavy damage to Lebanon's infrastructure had been reported, with a total of 42 bridges destroyed and 38 roads damaged. and extensive damage to telecommunications, electricity, ports, airports, and even private sector facilities, including a milk factory and food warehouses. [84] Damage to fuel containers in Jiyye and 12 service stations in Bir Abed, Khiam, Ain Ibl, Moseileh, Rmeileh, Houla, Hesbe, Tyre, Kfar Kila, and Douris raised the likelihood of fuel shortages. [85]

Thursday, July 20th

On July 20th, there was further fighting inside the Lebanese border between IDF soldiers and Hezbollah militants. According to Captain Eric Scheider from the IDF, there had been heavy fighting in two places inside the Lebanese border. At least, 4 Israeli soldiers and 2 Hezbollah militants were killed and 11 Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fighting. In one clash, just across the border from the Israeli town of Avivim, guerrillas fired a anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank, destroying it and seriously wounding one soldier. Hezbollah claims to have shot down an Israeli helicopter and destroyed two tanks during the encounter. It was also reported that an Israeli army armored bulldozer was destroyed by an anti-tank missile. Seperately, two Israeli Apache helicopters crashed into each other over northern Israel, leaving one soldier dead and 3 wounded.[86] This comes as Israel claims it has carried out 80 air strikes in Lebanon early on Thursday.[87]

Friday, July 21st

File:Israeli shelling.jpg
IDF shelling southern Lebanon.

On July 21st, Israel continued airstrikes against Lebanon while massing troops on the border and calling up five battalions of army reservists (3000 reserves) for a possible ground invasion. Between 300-500 Israeli soldiers backed by 30 tanks were already believed to be over the border.[88] Roughly 70 percent of Lebanese civilians living in south Lebanon fled north, and the Lebanese defense minister stated that in the event of a Israeli ground invasion that the Lebanese army would fight alongside Hezbollah. Hezbollah continued firing rockets at the Isreali town of Haifa injuring 20 Israelis while Israeli jets hit Shiite districts in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon around sunrise, killing 12 Lebanese.[89] German and Russian intelligence were reportedly seeking the release of the captured IDF soldiers.[90]

Saturday, July 22nd

On July 22nd, close to 2,000 troops entered southern Lebanon, though some returned to Israel during the day. IDF forces seized the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras, a village reputed to be a staging area for Hezbollah[91] and targeted a religious complex in Sidon. Hezbollah said that two fighters were killed. Israeli jets bombed television and cellphone transmission towers in Christian areas north of Beirut killing one person. Israeli airstrikes also targeted sites around the southern Lebanese village of Khiyam, seeking out Hezbollah positions and rocket launchers, and blasted road traffic around the coastal city of Tyre. Beirut was struck as were roads connecting Lebanon and Syria.[92] A total of 124 targets deep inside Lebanon were targeted, killing 5 Lebanese. Israeli officials stated that no full-scale invasion of Lebanon was planned, but warned villagers in fourteen south Lebanon villages to leave and thousands of Lebanese fled to the north to the port city of Sidon. American officials said that deliveries of precision guided bombs were being expedited to Israel due to an Israeli request. Over 160 rockets were fired by Hezbollah, hitting towns across northern Israel and injuring 16 people. An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Saturday when Hezbollah fired on an outpost near the Lebanese border.

Sunday, July 23rd

File:Fayssal Mekdad.jpg
Syrian Vice Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad

On July 23rd, Israeli air raids hit Beirut and east and south Lebanon, killing eight civilians and wounding 100, many of them in Tyre.[93] Six Israeli bombs fell on the coastal city of Tyre in a 20-minute span, killing one civilian and wounding about 45. Three civilians were killed by an Israeli bombing as they were evacuating south Lebanon. A textile factory in the border town of al-Manara was struck, killing one person and injuring two. In Baalbek, strikes leveled an agricultural compound and wounded five. A factory producing prefab houses near the highway linking Beirut to Damascus was targeted and a transmission factory in Fatqa was also leveled. About 270 airstrikes were conducted throughout Lebanon. Meanwhile, roughly 90 rockets struck northern Israel killing two people in Haifa and wounding 70. Hezbollah said three of its guerrillas were killed in fighting. Israel accuses Hezbollah of vastly underreporting casualties.

Israeli officials stated they would accept an international force led by NATO to keep Hezbollah guerrillas away from the border. The Syrian Information Minister stated that Syria would enter the war if IDF forces threatened Syria as the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister indicated a willingness to engage American officials in dialogue and pressed for a ceasefire. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said it was "hard to see" benefits from a Syrian-American dialogue but was open to a NATO-led force in Lebanon.[94] Regarding any multinational presence, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora told CNN "it's very early to talk about this matter". [95]

Monday, July 24th

On July 24th, Israeli troops advanced further into southern Lebanon where they encountered heavy resistance. IDF forces engaged Hezbollah guerrillas in Bint Jbail, the largest Lebanese town near the border. IDF sources reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed and 20 were wounded. Two tanks were also damaged. An Apache helicopter on its way to support the ground force in Bint Jbeil crashed in Northern Israel, killing two IAF pilots.[96] Hezbollah stated that it shot down the helicopter; however, the IDF said the cause was under investigation and was possibly due to friendly fire. Hezbollah said three of their fighters were killed. Israel claims larger casualties. Near the end of fighting Monday, the IDF forces controlled a hilltop in Bint Jbail while Hezbollah remained in control of the rest of the city. Israel halted airstrikes in Beirut due to a surprise visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Airstrikes continued in south Lebanon, killing seven near Tyre. Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into Northern Israel, wounding 13 with roughly 100 rockets.[97]

Tuesday, July 25th

File:Beirut July 25 2006.jpg
Israel strikes Beirut.

On July 25th, the IDF intensified its operations in Lebanon with over 100 strikes in southern Lebanon and fresh assaults on Beirut.[98] Seven were killed in Nabatieh when an Israeli shell struck a house, and twelve were killed Tuesday evening in the Dhaiya quarter of Beirut. Two houses were also destroyed east of Tyre. Fighting continued between IDF forces and Lebanese guerrillas near Bint Jbeil with IDF forces surrounding the town. Eight IDF soldiers were lightly wounded. Hezbollah said seven of its members were killed, and fellow Shiite group Amal said four of its members had been killed.[99] During the course of the day, Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets into northern Israel. In Haifa, one civilian died of a heart attack during rocket fire as 20 more were injured. Rockets also killed one and injured three in Maghar.

Israeli officials indicated that they planned to maintain a ground presence in south Lebanon until an multinational peacekeeping force was deployed there, preferably NATO.[100]

Wednesday, July 26th

see: Battle of Bint Jbail

On July 26th, the IDF continued operations in Lebanon with 60 strikes primarily on military targets. During the raids, 13 civilians in Tyre were injured. Two truck drivers were killed when the IAF fired missiles at supply vehicles. One aid worker and three wounded near the Syrian border. Air strikes also killed four unarmed UN observers with artillery strikes and precision guided munitions, in what UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called a deliberate strike. Their position was well known, and repeated calls were made to request that Israel stop the attacks[101].

In south Lebanon, nine IDF soldiers were killed and 27 wounded as they battled Hezbollah guerrillas near the border.[102] The casualties sustained by the Israelis were the highest since the initiation of conflict. Hezbollah fired 151 rockets into northern Israel, injuring 31. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel planned to maintain a 2 km security zone from the border free of Hezbollah as talks continued in Rome for an international peacekeeping force. Lebanese officials arrested 50 on charges of spying for Israel.

Thursday, July 27th

File:Golani Brigade.jpg
Soldiers from the Golani Brigade return to Israel.

The IDF carried out over 120 air strikes in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa valley and Beirut. At least 11 were killed.[103] Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon fired over 100 Katyusha rockets at targets in northern Israel landing across the Galilee and Hula Valley. Thirteen were lightly injured.[104] Israeli officials indicated that they planned not to expand ground operations from the their current scope despite pressure from the military. The decision was made, however, to intensify air strikes. In addition, three divisions of reservists (15,000 troops) were mobilized.

Friday, July 28th

Lebanese officials reported that Israel conducted over 130 air raids (killing 13) while an Israeli police spokesman said that Hezbollah fired 97 rockets into Northern Israel (wounding 3). [105] Hezbollah fired a new kind of rocket it called the Khaibar-1 which struck near the Israeli town of Afula. The rocket has a 100 kg warhead, which is significantly more powerful than the Katyusha rockets, and may be the same as Fajr-5 rocket. The IDF reported that 26 gunmen were killed in clashes near the southern Lebanon town of Bint Jbail.

In Israel, there was disagreement between Mossad intelligence which says Hezbollah will be able to continue fighting at the current level for a long time and military intelligence which believes Hezbollah has been severely damaged.[106] Other scholars have also questioned the Israeli reliance on air power.[107]

The Mehr news agency in Iran said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was in Damascus for meetings on the crisis, but gave no other details. Furthermore, Iran‘s state news agency confirmed Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s presence in Damascus. Although Hezbollah has recieved significant Iranian assistance in the past, Iranian officials denied assisting Hezbollah in the current conflict.[108]

Saturday, July 29th

"IDF leaves Bin Jbeil area."Israeli newspaper declared. During the morning hours most of the units who took part in Bint Jbeil began to withdraw from the area.[5]The battle for Bint Jbail has symbolized Israel's difficulty in pushing guerrillas back from the border, whether by air bombardment or ground assault. Armored forces are still fighting.[6]

Military resources of Hezbollah, Israel, and Lebanon

Lebanon's population is 3,874,050. Their annual military expenditures are $540.6 million, which is 3.1% (2004) of GDP. Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49 (821,762) and females age 18-49 (865,770) (2005 est.) United Nations Resolution 1559 calls for Hezbollah to be disarmed and the Lebanese Army to be deployed to southern Lebanon, which has not been implemented[109]. The Lebanese armed forces as of August 2004 consisted of 72,100, including 70,000 in the army, 1,000 in the air force, and 1,100 in the navy[110]. As of 2005 the Lebanese navy had two French EDIC class LST transport ships of 670 ton displacement, five 38 ton Attacker class coastal patrol craft, two Tracker Mk 2 patrol boats of 31 tons, and twenty-five 6 ton inshore patrol craft[111]. Lebanon has no operational fixed wing military aircraft. See Lebanese Armed Forces, [112], [113] and [114] for Lebanese armed forces equipment and organization.

Hezbollah had an estimated 2,000 personnel as of April 2004[115]. No information is available on their small arms, antitank weapons, and mortars. Their rockets, believed to count 11,000 to 13,000 rounds prior to shelling of Northern Israel, have been described at [116] and [117].

For Israel, the figures are Population: 6,352,117; Military expenditures: $9.45 billion (2005 est.) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 7.7% (2005 est.); Manpower fit for military service: males age 17-49: :1,255,902, females age 17-49: 1,212,394 (2005 est.) [118]. Ihe IDF as of August, 2004 had an estimated 168,000 personnel, including 107,500 conscripts. The army had 125,000; the navy had 8,000; the air force had 35,000. Full mobilization to 576,000 could be quickly achieved with the reserves of 408,000[119]. The Israeli navy had three Dolphin class diesel submarines, three corvettes of 1075 ton displacement with 3 inch guns, eight fast attack craft of 488 ton displacement with 3 inch guns, fifteen coastal patrol craft of 39 ton displacement, two Saar 4 fast attack craft-missile of 415 ton displacement, capable of carrying Harpoon surface to surface missiles with a 70 mile range and 227 kg warhead, thirteen 54 ton fast attack craft with surface to surface Hellfire missiles, one 72 ton PTFM, 2 smaller fast attack craft, and three Stingray interceptors of 10.5 ton displacement[120]. Israel purchases most of its weapons from the U.S. According to the Congressional Research Service, $8.4 billion dollars of arms deliveries went to Israel in the 1997-2004 period, with $7.1 billion dollars coming from the United States. U.S. Foreign Military Financing, U.S. grants to Israel, totals about 2.3 billion dollars a year. Israel has purchased from the US a total of over 378 F-16s, and 117 F-15s, 94 Skyhawks, 110 Phantoms[121]. On July 21 2006 it was reported that the U.S. was rushing a delivery of 5,000 pound GBU-28 bunker busting bombs to Israel[122]. See Israel Defense Forces for weapons and organization.

See also

References

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  4. ^ Hizbullah leader calls for prisoner exchange - Al Bawaba - 12 July 2006
  5. ^ "Hezbollah: Group may kidnap more Israelis". China Daily. 2004-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  7. ^ a b c "Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions". CNN. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Statement by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora". Daily Star (Lebanon). 2006-06-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "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)
  10. ^ "Israel Authorizes 'Severe' Response to Abductions". CNN. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Israel storms Lebanon". The Sun. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Israel Imposing Blockade on Lebanon". Associated Press. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Greenberg, Hanan (2006-07-14). "IDF bombs Hizbollah stronghold in Beirut". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Israeli planes strike southern suburb of Beirut". MSNBC. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  18. ^ "IDF hits Lebanese army bases, won't rule out ground invasion". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  23. ^ "Israel battles militants on two fronts". Reuters. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ a b "Hezbollah: We're Ready for 'Open War' With Israel". Fox News. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  27. ^ a b "Rockets hit Israeli city of Haifa". BBC News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Israel Wages War on Hezbollah as Jets Strike Airbase". Fox News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Brink of War: Lebanon Launches Retaliatory Assault on Israel". Fox News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  32. ^ Fisk, Robert (2006-07-14). "Slaughter of the innocent children". Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) (requires registration)
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  34. ^ Ghattas, Sam F (2006-07-13). "Israeli warplanes attack Beirut airport". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Israel imposes Lebanon blockade - BBC News - Thursday, 13 July 2006
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  42. ^ Israeli Ship Struck By Missile Returning To Port; Israeli Offensive Continues - All Headline news - July 14, 2006
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  44. ^ Israel Says Warship Attacked by Drone, AAP, 14 July, 2006
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  47. ^ Hezbollah guerrillas hit Egyptian merchant ship, AP, July 15, 2006
  48. ^ "Egypt confirms ship hit off Lebanon, crew safe". Reuters. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Merchant vessel hit by rockets - News Corporation - July 16, 2006
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  56. ^ Lebanon hammers Israeli 'aggression' - London Free Press, Can. - Sat, July 15, 2006
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  61. ^ Template:De icon "Zwölf Tote bei Angriff im Süden Libanons". Stern Online. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
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  66. ^ "Katyusha barrages hit Rajar village and Ma'ayan Baruch; no injuries". Ynet. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  74. ^ Hizbullah leader promises enemy 'more surprises' - Daily Star (Lebanon) - Monday, July 17, 2006.
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  76. ^ "Israel hammers at Lebanese infrastructure". The Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Text "2006-07-17" ignored (help)
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  82. ^ "Bombed trucks were 'carrying food'". The Australian. 2006-07-19. Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  85. ^ "By the numbers: heavy damage to infrastructure". FT.com. 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ "4 hurt when 2 Israeli helicopters collide". AP. 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  88. ^ "Israel calls up reservists, Rice announces trip". Reuters Alertnet. 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  94. ^ "US open to NATO-led force in Lebanon - Bolton". Reuters. 2006-07-23. Retrieved 006-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
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  96. ^ "Division commander: Cause of Apache crash still unclear". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 006-07-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
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  101. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14034540/
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  103. ^ "Israel readies more troops for Lebanon conflict". The Daily Star. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  104. ^ "Katyushas hit communities across north; 20 lightly wounded". Haaretz. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  105. ^ "Hezbollah strikes deep into Israel". Al Jazeera. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  106. ^ "IAF takes out launcher used to fire missiles at Afula area". Haaretz. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  107. ^ "Israel against Hezbollah: Air Power Won't Do It". Brookings. 2006-07-25. Retrieved 006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
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  109. ^ "U.S. Plan Seeks to Wedge Syria From Iran" New York Times, July 23, 2006 at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/washington/23diplo.html?hp&ex=1153713600&en=830c9036b765b06b&ei=5094&partner=homepage
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