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2006 Lebanon War

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2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
(Arab-Israeli conflict)
Part of the 2006 Middle East conflict
File:54995.jpg
An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.
Date12 July 2006 – present
Location
Lebanon and northern Israel
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah Israel Lebanon
note: AA only[1]

United Nations

[2]
Commanders and leaders
Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General) Dan Halutz (CoS)
Udi Adam (Regional)		 Michel Sulaiman (CoS)
Casualties and losses
Militia:
35 confirmed by Hezbollah[3]
Allied militia:
8 confirmed by Amal[4]
IDF claims 200+ killed[5]

Civilians:
19 killedCite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).
418 injured, 875 treated for shock[6]
300,000 displaced[7]
Soldiers:
33 killed[8] 99 wounded[8]

2 captured		 Civilians:
750 killed[5][6]
1,661 injured
900,000 displaced[9]
Soldiers:
23 killed
67 wounded[citation needed]
(Lebanese government accounts)		 4 UNIFIL Killed
Other casualties include 4 UNTSO observers killed by Israeli air raid[10]
Wikinews has related news:

The 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict is a series of ongoing military actions and clashes in northern Israel and Lebanon between Hezbollah's armed wing and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On 12 July 2006 Hezbollah initiated Operation Truthful Promise,[11] consisting of a cross-border raid resulting in the capture of two Israeli soldiers and shelling into Israel.[12][13] Israel then responded with Operation Just Reward,[14] later renamed Operation Change of Direction.[15] To date, Israel's strike has included massive bombing raids by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), an air and Israeli Sea Corps naval blockade of Lebanon (especially southern Lebanon and Beirut), a force of tanks and armored personnel carriers, and some small raids into southern Lebanon by IDF ground troops.[16] Meanwhile, Hezbollah has engaged in artillery rocket bombardment of Israel's northern cities and towns, including Haifa.[17]

The Lebanese government has disavowed Hezbollah's actions while urgently calling for international peacemakers to end the conflict by enforcing an immediate ceasefire.[18]

The conflict has caused a heavy civilian death toll, widespread damage, large-scale displacement of populations and the disruption of normal life across most of Lebanon and northern Israel. The attacks on civilian population centers and infrastructure by both sides have sparked sharp criticism internationally.[19] [20]

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

Background

Beginning of conflict

According to official Israeli reports, at 9:05 AM local time, a ground contingent of Hezbollah militants attacked two Israeli armored Humvees on a routine patrol along the Israel-Lebanon border near the Israeli village of Zar'it with anti-tank rockets, capturing two Israeli soldiers, and killing three.[21] Five others were killed later on the Lebanese side of the border on 12 July during a mission to rescue the two captured soldiers. [22]According to the Lebanese police force and Hezbollah, the Israeli soldiers were attacked and captured on the Lebanese side of the border on 12 July during a mission to infiltrate the Lebanese town of Ayta al-Sha`b,[23]

The IDF confirmed the capture of the two Israeli soldiers on 13 July and identified them as Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, both reservists who were on their last day of operational duty.[24]

Hezbollah's attack was named after a "promise" by its leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah to capture Israeli soldiers and swap them for Samir Kuntar and other Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.[25][26][27]

Hezbollah released a statement saying "Implementing our promise to free Arab prisoners in Israeli jails, our strugglers have captured two Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon".[28] Later on, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah 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."[29]

Israeli response

Main article: Israeli response in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
File:Lebanese Areas Targeted 7-15 to 7-27.jpg
Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, 12 July to 27 July 2006.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israel responded within 2 hours.

"[A] force of tanks and armored personnel carriers was immediately sent into Lebanon in hot pursuit. It was during this pursuit, at about 11:00 A.M. . . . [a] Merkava tank drove over a powerful bomb, containing an estimated 200 to 300 kilograms (440–660 Lb) of explosives, about 70 meters (230 ft) north of the border fence. The tank was almost completely destroyed, and all four crew members were killed instantly. Over the next several hours, IDF soldiers waged a fierce fight against Hezbollah gunmen . . . During the course of this battle, at about 3:00 P.M., another soldier was killed and two were lightly wounded." [30]

CNN reported that "The Israeli Cabinet authorized "severe and harsh" retaliation on Lebanon . . . Israel's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, told Israel's Channel 10, "If the soldiers are not returned, we will turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years."[31] Retired Israeli army Col. Gal Luft, a former commander in the town of Ramallah, said,

"Israel is attempting to create a rift between the Lebanese population and Hezbollah supporters by exacting a heavy price from the elite in Beirut. The message is: If you want your air conditioning to work and if you want to be able to fly to Paris for shopping, you must pull your head out of the sand and take action toward shutting down Hezbollah-land."[32]

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.”[33] 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.”[34]

Amir Peretz
Israeli Minister of Defence.

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.[35] An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.[36]

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. Israel is now imposing an air and sea blockade on Lebanon,[37][38] and has bombed the main Beirut–Damascus highway.[39]

The Israeli Air Force has carried out nearly 2,000 bombing sorties across Lebanon, especially targeting transportation infrastructure.[40] Israel says these missions are essential for weakening Hezbollah's rocket-launching capability.[41]Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said that the ground operations would be limited.[42]

On 23 July 2006, Israeli land forces crossed into Lebanon in the Maroun al-Ras area, which overlooks several other sites said to have been used as launch pads for Hezbollah rockets.[43]

On 25 July IDF forces attacked Bint Jbeil, an important Hezbollah stronghold opposite the Israeli border. On 27 July, Hezbollah successfully ambushed the Israelis and killed 8 soldiers, though Israel says it also inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah.[44] By 29 July, the bulk of the combat had ended, and Israel withdrew some of its more battle-weary troops while maintaining control of the town.[45]

The EU has warned Israel about disproportionate attacks against Lebanon.[46] In addition spokespersons from the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Conference and an assortment of human rights organizations have condemned Israel for its ‘disproportionate’ response to Hezbollah’s attacks, although unprovoked by Israel.[47] Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon stated "We received yesterday (26 July) at the Rome conference permission from the world... to continue the operation," and "everyone understands that a victory for Hezbollah is a victory for world terror"[48]. He said that in order to prevent casualties amongst Israeli soldiers battling Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, villages should be flattened by the Israeli air force before ground troops move in. With the loss of nine Israeli soldiers on 27 July and the Israeli government decision not to expand ground forces, Mr Ramon issued the warning at a security cabinet meeting headed by Ehud Olmert that everyone remaining in southern Lebanon will be regarded as terrorists .[49].

The Israeli government also began a public relations initiative in the press and the internet to promote and explain its actions in Lebanon, a practice also known as hasbara. The Israeli Foreign Ministry coordinated the efforts of "trainee diplomats" and international Jewish and evangelical Christian groups to track websites and chatrooms pertaining to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and the 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict[50] using the so-called "megaphone software" from Israel that enables these groups to post pro-Israeli viewpoints in response to software alerts of negative internet opinions or internet polls.[51]

Hezbollah rocket campaign

Main article: Hezbollah rocket campaign in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
File:Nasrallah on al-Manar television.jpg
Nasrallah on al-Manar television.

On 14 July, following Israeli bombing raids on Lebanon which result in killing 60 civilians [52] Nasrallah said, addressing Israel: "You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war. We are ready for it."[53]

After the Israeli initial response, 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 many of the nearly 1,000,000 civilians living in Northern Israel have been sent to bomb shelters or fled their homes to other parts of the country.[54][55][56] Hezbollah continued to fire hundreds of Katyusha rockets into northern Israel's towns and cities, including Nahariya, Safed, Hatzor HaGlilit, Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, and Karmiel, and numerous small agricultural villages.[57][58][59][60]

Map showing some of the Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil as of Monday 24 July.

Hezbollah attacks have penetrated as far south as Haifa, Israel's third largest city, as well as Atlit and the Jezreel Valley cities of Nazareth and Afula. Al-Manar has reported that the Hezbollah attack included a Fajr-3 and a Ra'ad 1 liquid-fuel missiles, developed by Iran.[61][62] One of the attacks hit a railroad repair depot, killing eight workers; Hezbollah claimed that this attack was aimed at a large Israeli fuel storage plant adjacent to the railway facility. The plant has not been hit to date. Haifa is home to many strategically valuable facilities such as shipyards and oil refineries, and their targeting by Hezbollah is seen as an escalation.[63] [64]

Human Rights Watch criticised Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli civilian areas on 18 July, in part because "the warheads used suggest a desire to maximize harm to civilians. Some of the rockets launched against Haifa over the past two days contained hundreds of metal ball bearings that are of limited use against military targets but cause great harm to civilians and civilian property. The ball bearings lodge in the body and cause serious harm."[65]

On 29 July in a televised address to the Lebanese nation Nasrallah said:

"I tell the Lebanese that no one among you should be afraid of the victory of the resistance.. I assert that the victory will be for all of Lebanon, for every Arab, Muslim and honorable Christian, who stood with Lebanon and defended it."[66]

30 July reportedly saw 140-146 rockets fired from Hezbollah positions into Israel- the most fired on a single day since IDF Operation Change Direction began.[67][68]

Targeting of civilian areas

Main article: Targeting of civilian areas in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
File:Tyre Mass Graves (PBS NewsHour).png
A mass grave of Lebanese, among them children (in the half-length coffins), killed in the Israeli attack on Tyre, 21 July 2006.
Southern suburbs of Beirut after heavy bombing by the Israeli Air Force

UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland, while calling Israel's offensive "disproportionate" and "a violation of international humanitarian law", also accused Hezbollah of "cowardly blending" among Lebanese civilians and causing the deaths of hundreds during two weeks of cross-border conflict with Israel.[69]

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 suggested that the actions of Israel and Hezbollah may constitute war crimes. [70][71]Arbour called for Israel to obey a "principle of proportionality" and said, "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."

Amnesty International condemned both Israel and Hezbollah 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."[72]

The alleged targeting of civilian areas in Israel and Lebanon by combatants on both sides has figured prominently in the conflict. Over one-third (18 civilians out of 51 dead) of Israeli casualties, and a majority (423 civilians out of 462 dead) of Lebanese casualties, have been civilians.[73]

Strikes on Lebanon's civilian population and infrastructure include Beirut airport, residential buildings,[74][75] clearly marked ambulances,[76] fleeing civilians prominently waving white flags,[77] United Nations posts and personnel,[78] ports, a lighthouse, grain silos,[79] bridges, roads, factories, medical and relief trucks,[80] mobile telephone and television stations,[81] fuel containers and service stations,[82] and the country's largest dairy farm Liban Lait.[83] Reports of attacks on civilian vehicles transporting the fleeing, aid convoys, and UN convoys have also been reported.

On 30 July 2006 an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in Qana that housed refugees, which Israel said was near Hezbollah rocket launching sites; 60 people died, including 37 children.[84]

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman accused Hezbollah of possibly being responsible for the civilian deaths. Dan Gillerman: "Israel has besieged and asked repeatedly for the residents of Qana to leave. I would not be surprised if the Hizbollah made them stay." [85]

The IDF said that "the building itself was not targeted,"[86] and also raised questions about a nearly eight hour gap between the bombing and the building's collapse.[87] The IDF later released footage which it claims shows rockets being fired from Qana, and of the rocket launchers being hidden in residential areas of Qana[88]. The deadly airstrike, which followed Israeli attacks on two clearly marked Red Cross ambulances in Qana one week before on 24 July[89] and Israel's infamous Qana massacre in 1996, sparked angry denunciations in Lebanon, and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora cancelled scheduled talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.[90]

Hezbollah has fired rockets at civilian targets throughout the conflict, landing in all major cities of northern Israel including Haifa, Nazareth, Tiberias, Nahariya, Safed, Afula[91] Kiryat Shmona, Karmiel, and Maalot, and dozens of kibbutzim, moshavim, and Druze and Arab villages.[92] Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claims that "In the beginning, we started to act calmly, we focused on Israel[i] military bases and we didn't attack any settlement, However, since the first day, the enemy attacked Lebanese towns and murdered civilians … Hezbollah militants had destroyed military bases, while the Israelis killed civilians and targeted Lebanon's infrastructure."[93]

Environmental consequences of attacks

Israel's strikes on the Jiyeh power plant on 13 July and 15 July has caused 25,000 tonnes of oil to spill into the Mediterranean ocean and may be the worst environmental disaster in Lebanon's history. A thick, black coat of oil covers 80km of Lebanon's 200km of coastline. The slick is reportedly causing breathing problems, killing fish and threatening Lebanon's marine environment which is a habitat for the endangered green turtle. [94] [95] [96]

Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud indicated on 20 July that the IDF's suspected use of Depleted Uranium (DU) warheads in Lebanon was being investigated and if evidence was found it would be presented to the UN.[97]


Historical background

See also: 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict § More background
See also: Roles of non-combatant State and non-State actors in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Israeli-Lebanon conflict

The history of conflict between Israel and Lebanon began in 1947, when Lebanon's founding Prime Minister Riad as-Solh sparked the Arab League decision to enter the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and sent his army into Palestine. The army was defeated, and retreated back into Lebanon, where it signed an armistice that lasted until shortly after the 1967 Six Day War. [citation needed] After the war, and following the Black September in Jordan, over 110,000 Palestinian refugees migrated to Lebanon, making up over 400,000 refugees today. [98]. 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. In response to numerous attacks launched from southern Lebanon, Israel invaded in 1978 in an attempt to rout out Palestinian militants. 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.[99] At the end of the operation, Israeli forces withdrew from Lebanon, leaving behind a UNIFIL force. Israel invaded again four years later in 1982, forcing PLO forces out of Lebanon (mostly to Tunisia), and Israel occupied the southern part of the country. A US brokered peace treaty was ratified by the Lebanese parliament in 1983, but President Amine Gemayel decided against signing in 1984. In 1985, Israel withdrew its forces from parts of Lebanon and remained in a 4–6 kilometre (2.5–3.75 mi) deep[100] 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. On 24 May2000 after the collapse of the South Lebanon Army and the rapid advance of Hezbollah forces, Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon.

Since then, Hezbollah has repeatedly attacked Israeli military positions, whilst Israel has carried out numerous attacks aimed at striking Hezbollah bases (see: Hezbollah activities).[101]

Previous prisoner exchanges

See also: Israeli MIA 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.[102] A prisoner swap was carried out on 29 January 2004: 30 Lebanese and Arab prisoners, the remains of 59 Lebanese militants and civilians, 400 Palestinian prisoners, and maps showing Israeli mines in South Lebanon were exchanged for Israeli army reserve colonel Elchanan Tenenbaum captured in 2000 in Kuwait, and the remains of the three IDF soldiers mentioned above.[103]

Hezbollah

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shi’a Muslim Islamist organization formed in 1982 "primarily to offer resistance to the Israeli occupation."[104] Hezbollah's political rhetoric has consistently called for the destruction of Israel.[104]

It has a military and civilian wing, the latter participating in the Lebanese parliament, currently with 18% of the seats (23 out of 128) and the bloc it forms with others, the "Resistance and Development Bloc", a little less than 30% for a total of 35 seats (see Lebanese general election, 2005). It is a minority partner in the current Cabinet.

Casualties

The ongoing nature of the conflict does not permit an accurate assessment of the precise number of casualties.

Lebanese

  • According to various media, between 481 and 750 people are reported dead. Additionally, there have been between 480 and 1100 people wounded, and over 800,000 have been made refugees, with an unknown number of missing civilians in the south. [105][106][107][108][109]
  • On 28 July Lebanese Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh announced that hospitals in Lebanon had received 401 dead Lebanese people since 12 July. He also reportedly said: "On top of those victims, there are 150 to 200 bodies still under the rubble. We have not been able to pull them out because the areas they died in are still under fire".[110]
  • Hezbollah acknowledges 27 killed.[111][112] IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Dan Halutz has claimed that close to 100 Hezbollah fighters have been killed at 22 July, in land fighting in South Lebanon.[113] However he provided no evidence for the claim.

Israeli

File:Apache channel10.jpg
Crashed IAF Apache
  • 33 Israeli soldiers have been killed (including one pilot, killed in a collision between two helicopters, and two in another helicopter crash, also 4 servicemen were killed after INS Hanit was hit), and 99 more wounded.[114][8]
  • 19 civilians have been killedCite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page)., while another 418 civilians were treated in hospitals, 19 of whom were seriously injured, and another 875 treated for shock.[6] Many civilians have left their homes in northern Israel and went south. Some Israeli cities and villages near the Israeli-Lebanese border have been deserted, such as Kiryat Shmona and Nahariya, from fear of rockets and mortar fire.
  • Over 1,200,000 Israeli civilians were evacuated to shelters and other safe locations in fear of Hezbollah's rocket attacks. Over 1600 missiles have been fired by Hezbollah on Israel leaving over 600 buildings in damaged condition.[citation needed]

Foreign nationals

  • Seven Lebanese-Canadian members of a family from Montreal, including four children, 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 later from injuries sustained in the blast.[115]
  • A family of four Brazilians, including two children, was killed in the Israeli bombings in Srifa,[116] drawing condemnation from foreign relations minister Celso Amorim.[117] Another Brazilian child was killed in an Israeli strike in Tallousa.[118]
  • 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.[119][120]
  • The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry has reported that two Kuwaiti nationals have been killed by Israeli bombing.[121]
  • One Sri Lankan the source indicates they are UNIFIL civilian staff, and there is no evidence that a second Nigerian couple was killed in an Israeli bombing.[114]
  • One Iraqi was killed by Israeli bombing.[114]
  • One Jordanian was killed when Israeli missiles hit trucks near Zahleh in the mountains above the eastern Bekaa Valley.[114]
  • A Brazilian businessman was killed in an IAF missile attack on a factory he owned in Lebanon.[122]
  • A Palestinian was killed in an Israeli bombing that hit a Palestinian refugee camp at Rashidiyeh.
  • An Argentinean woman died 13 July in a Hezbollah rocket attack on Nahariya, Israel.[123]
  • A Nigerian domestic worker was killed during an airstrike as he rode his motorbike south of Tyre on 27 July.[124]
  • An Indian glass factory worker in Lebanon, Devendra Kumar Swain was killed on 21 July.[125]

United Nations

Main article: Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

UN personnel were subjected to dozens of attacks and near misses from both sides during the present conflict, most prominently the 25 July Israeli bombing of a UNTSO position, which killed four UNTSO unarmed observers (Austrian, Canadian, Chinese and Finnish).[126]

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement from Rome that he was " ... shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting by Israeli Defence Forces."[127] On 26 July 2006, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert phoned Kofi Annan and expressed his deep regret over the death of the four UN observers. He promised that Israel would thoroughly investigate the incident and would share the findings with Annan, but says he was taken aback by secretary general’s statement saying Israeli attack on UN post "apparently deliberate".[128]

After the attack, Dan Gillerman, Israel's UN representative, said Israel would not allow the UN itself to participate in an investigation of the airstrike that killed the 4 UN observers.[129]

Position of Lebanon

Main article: Position of Lebanon in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

While Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the Hezbollah attacks due to their failure to implement Resolution 1559 calling on them to disarm Hezbollah, Lebanon disavows the Hezbollah raids and states it does not condone them.[35] An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.[36] 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.”[130]

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.”[131]


Negotiations for ceasefire

Main article: Negotiations for ceasefire in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Terms for a ceasefire have been drawn and revised several times, yet have not been successfully agreed upon by the two sides. Hezbollah has maintained that it insists on an unconditional ceasefire [132], while Israel has insisted that it will agree to a ceasefire only under certain conditions, including the return of two captured Israeli soldiers.

IDF agrees to cease air operations for 48 hours

On 30 July in the aftermath of the IAF bombing raid on Qana the Israeli Government announced a forty-eight hour suspension of air operations over southern Lebanon effective immediately. The reason given was to allow the United Nations to coordinate humanitarian efforts on the ground in southern Lebanon and also to allow the IDF time to investigate events at Qana. [133]

The suspension was qualified and a spokesman stated:

"Israel has, of course, reserved the right to take action against targets preparing attacks against it.. Only targets that are about to attack Israeli targets will be hit, and this will be the case until the full IDF inquiry is concluded."[134][135]

IDF movements into southern Lebanon will continue at the discretion of the IDF Northern Command as military intelligence deems neccessary.[citation needed]

The suspension was interrupted the next day, 31 July, when IDF bombers hit the area around Tayba. CNN reported that the Israeli Army had explained the bombing was to "protect ground forces operating in the border area and were not aimed at specific targets". The bombing also led to damage of an unspecified number of Lebanese Army vehicles in the area. The Israeli Army apologised for the damage.[133]


International reaction

Main article: International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
Lebanese protest in Sydney

International reactions to the conflict have included widespread concern over current damage and over the possible escalation of the crisis, as well as mixed support and criticism of both Hezbollah and Israel.[136] A number of nations, including the United States,[137] United Kingdom, Germany and Canada, have asserted Israel's right to self-defense. Further, The United States authorized the expedited processing and shipment of precision-guided bombs to Israel to support the Israeli campaign, but did not announce the shipment publically. [138] Still, most have agreed but criticized Israel's disproportionate response, which they fear may lead to war. The majority (10) of the UN Security Council members have demanded an immediate cease-fire through a UN draft resolution, which was vetoed by the US and abstained from by 4 nations (UK, Peru, Slovakia, Denmark)[139]

Neighboring Middle Eastern nations have been split in their response. Iran, Syria and Yemen have voice strong support for Hezbollah,[140] and the Arab League has issued a statement condemning Israel's response. By contrast, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan criticized Hezbollah's actions[141], as well as Iran and Syria for extending support to the organization,[142] although they are under pressure to change their stance.[143]

Protests and demonstrations have been held worldwide, mostly appealing for an immediate ceasefire on both sides and to express concern for the heavy loss of civilian life, but also to show support for both countries. In addition there have been numerous newspaper advertising campaigns, text and email appeals [144] and on-line petitions [145] calling for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities.

Various foreign governments have stepped in to assist in the evacuation of civilians[146] of their citizens from Lebanon.

The Israeli bombing of an apartment building in Qana on 30 July which killed 57 people, 37 of them children has led to widespread condemnation from around the world[147], even causing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to say that she wanted a ceasefire "as soon as possible",[148] and the attack was condemned by the European Union, including the UK.[149]

See also

Template:Campaignbox Arab-Israeli conflict

Template:Unverifiable-external-links

News and analysis

Independent

Pro-Israeli

Pro-Lebanese

Frontline photographs

Warning: the following links contain graphic wartime imagery.

  • From Israel To Lebanon — Photographs of Lebanese civilian targets and casualties, as well as Israeli children of Qiryat Shemona addressing artillery shells to Nasrallah
  • stopdestroyinglebanon.com — Graphic photographs of Lebanese civilian targets and casualties
  • Images of war in Israel — Graphic photographs of Israeli military and civilian casualties

Frontline blogs

Israeli blogs

  • Aggregate of Israeli blogs in English — Approximately 100 blogs by Israelis with a variety of political opinions
  • Kishkushim — Written mainly by Carmia, a resident of Haifa
  • On the Face — A Tel Aviv-based Israeli-Canadian journalist, featured in Le Monde, La Repubblica and the Wall Street Journal, amongst other publications
  • Israel North blog - A compilation of blogs of Russian-speaking residents of northern Israel, translated into English

Lebanese blogs

  • BloggingBeirut.com — Finkployd's and other's regular war dispatches from Beirut, as featured in the New York Times[150]
  • Lebanese Political Journal — In-depth analysis on the political situation in Lebanon
  • Lebanon News Live — Minute by minute account of the conflict, covering both sides. Constantly updated
  • Beirut Live — The Blog for people who want to know more about the situation in the Middle East. The Blog is run by three former editors of The Daily Star in Lebanon.

References

  1. ^ "Lebanese Army Seen As Key to Mideast Peace". Associated Press. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Lebanese Army Seen As Key to Mideast Peace". Associated Press. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Hezbollah's news website (latest updates)". Moqawama. 2006-07-24.
  4. ^ "Israeli troops suffer largest one-day loss". CNN. 2006-07-27.
  5. ^ "IDF: Some 200 Hezbollah men killed". Haaretz. 2006-07-28.
  6. ^ a b "Some 1,300 Israelis hurt since fighting began". Ynetnews. 2006-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ynetcasual1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Israeli Refugees Seek Friends and Families". The New York Times. 31 July 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b c "13 IDF casualties reported in Bint Jbeil". YnetNews. 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "KBCI2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ Lebanon Under Siege: Dahr Jamail Reports from Beirut on How Israel Air Strikes Have Caused a Humanitarian Crisis for Hundreds of Thousands of Refugees, democracynow.org, 2006 July 24. Accessed 2006 July 30.
  10. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5217176.stm
  11. ^ "Escaping Lebanon". Porterville Recorde. 2006-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Hezbollah Raid Boosts Group's Image
  13. ^ "It's war by any other name". 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "publisherAsia Times" ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Israel for rules change in south Lebanon". United Press International. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Israel to Lebanon: No to ceasefire". Ynetnews.com. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Lebanon-Israel Developments". Forbes. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Rockets fired at Meron, Safed; no injuries". Ynet. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Middle East Situation; Siniora Addresses Lebanese People (transcript)". CNN. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Vatican condemns Israel for attacks on Lebanon". Reuters. July 14 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  22. ^ "IDF retrieves bodies of four tank soldiers killed in south Lebanon". Haaretz. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers". Yahoo News. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Kidnapped soldier's kin: Stop the killing". CNN. 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  26. ^ Hezbollah Raid Boosts Group's Image
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  29. ^ Hizbullah leader calls for prisoner exchange
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  31. ^ "Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions". CNN. 12 July 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  88. ^ http://www1.idf.il/SIP_STORAGE/DOVER/files/3/55363.wmv
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  95. ^ "LEBANON: An environmental disaster looms". Reuters. 2006-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  96. ^ "Amid the fighting in Lebanon, a budding ecological disaster". Globe and Mail. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  97. ^ "Lebanon to Present Files to UN on Israel's Use of DU Weapons". Peoples Daily China. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  100. ^ Israel-Lebanon border, June 1982
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  107. ^ Dozens die in fresh Lebanon raids, BBC News Wednesday, 19 July 2006
  108. ^ "Crude Oil Rises From One-Week Low as Lebanon Conflict Continues". Bloomberg. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  109. ^ [1], Annan urges Lebanon action 'now' BBC News Sunday, 30 July 2006
  110. ^ "WRAPUP 14-Lebanon says up to 600 killed in Israel's assault". Reuters. 2006-07-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  111. ^ "Israel 'to control Lebanon strip'". BBC. 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  112. ^ "Israeli Forces Gather at Border". Washington Post. 2006-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  113. ^ IAF strikes religious building in southern Lebanon, 4 wounded
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  115. ^ "Eight Canadians killed in Lebanon: Ottawa". Reuters. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  116. ^ Template:Pt icon "Itamaraty confirma morte de brasileiros no Líbano". Globo. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  117. ^ 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)
  118. ^ 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)
  119. ^ Template:De icon "Deutsch-libanesische Familie umgekommen". Süddeutsche Zeitung. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  120. ^ Template:De icon "Urlauber getötet". n-tv.de. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  121. ^ "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)
  122. ^ "Two more Brazilians killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon". People's Daily. 2006-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  123. ^ Template:Es icon "Naharía, la ciudad del norte israelí donde una argentina murió bajo fuego de Hezbollah". Clarín. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  124. ^ "Israel decides not to expand Lebanon offensive (Roundup)". Monsters & Critics. 2006-07-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  125. ^ "First Indian casualty in Lebanon". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India. 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  128. ^ "PM apologizes for UN observers' death, criticizes Annan". ynetnews.com. 2006-07-27.
  129. ^ "Israel rejects UN call for 72-hour halt in fighting; France 'regrets' decision". Haaretz. July 29 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  130. ^ "Lebanon says Bush to press Israel to limit attacks". Reuters. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  131. ^ "Lebanese PM demands ceasefire". ABC News. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  132. ^ "Hezbollah wants an unconditional ceasefire". 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  133. ^ a b "Israel halts attacks for 48 hours". CNN. 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "CNN" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  134. ^ "Deadly Israeli Attack Escalates Conflict". New York Times. 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  135. ^ "Israel suspends air raids Death of 50 in strike prompts 48-hour break; Rice rebuffed". Chicago Tribune. 2006-07-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  136. ^ Developments in Israel-Lebanon Crisis
  137. ^ 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)
  138. ^ Reuters (2006-07-22). "US Rushes Precision-Guided Bobms to Israel". Reuters. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  139. ^ http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8775.doc.html
  140. ^ Arabs divided over Hezbollah's role in Lebanon crisis - Deutsche Presse-Agentur - 15 July 2006
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  145. ^ "Unconditional Ceasefire Now". Stop the War Coalition. Retrieved 2006-07-30.
  146. ^ "Lebanon evacuation gathers pace". BBC News. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  147. ^ "Israeli Strike Kills 54 as Rice Resumes Mideast Talks". Bloomberg Television. 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  148. ^ Forbes (2006-07-30). "Rice says 'time to get to a ceasefire' in Lebanon - UPDATE". Forbes. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  149. ^ "Israeli Strike Kills 54 as Rice Resumes Mideast Talks". Bloomberg Television. 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  150. ^ Tom Zeller Jr. (2006-07-24). "Anne Frank 2006: War Diaries Online". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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