Jump to content

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
m Removed protection from "2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict": Indefinite protection not required
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
#REDIRECT [[2006 Lebanon War]]
{{current}}

{{Infobox Military Conflict (3 sided)
{{Redirect category shell|
|partof= the [[2006 Middle East conflict]]
{{R from move}}
|image=[[Image:54995.jpg|351px]]
|caption=<small>An [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[M109 howitzer|M109 self-propelled howitzer]] fires into [[Southern Lebanon]]</small>
|conflict=2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict<br />([[Arab-Israeli conflict]])
|date=[[12 July]] [[2006]] — present
|place=[[Lebanon]] and northern [[Israel]]
|result= Ongoing
|casus=Hezbollah raid and capture of two [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers.
|combatant1=[[Image:Flag of Hezbollah.svg|22px]] [[Hezbollah]]
|combatant2=[[Image:Flag of Israel.svg|22px]] [[Israel]]
|combatant3=[[Image:Flag of Lebanon.svg|22px]] [[Lebanon]]<br />
|commander1=[[Hassan Nasrallah]] <small>(Secretary General)</small>
|commander2= [[Dan Halutz]] <small>([[Ramatkal|CoS]])</small><br />[[Udi Adam]] <small>([[Israeli Northern Command|Regional]])</small>
|commander3=[[Michel Sulaiman]] <small>([[Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces|CoS]])</small>
|casualties1=<small>
'''Militia:'''<br/>80 killed<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon counts human cost of 23 days in firing line|publisher=The Guardian|date=[[2006-08-04]] |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1837057,00.html}}</ref><br/><br/>'''[[Amal Movement|Amal]] militia:''' 8 killed
<br><br>Israel claims 400 killed and 7 captured<ref>{{cite news | title =Israel strikes deep into Lebanon | publisher = [[CNN]] | date = 2006-08-01 | url =http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/01/mideast.main/index.html}}</ref>
|casualties2=<small>'''Civilians:'''<br/>35 killed [http://www.newsru.co.il/israel/05aug2006/shem.html]<ref>{{cite news|title=8 killed in rocket attacks|date=[[2006-08-03]]|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3285857,00.html}}</ref><ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah fires record number of rockets |date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=AP|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060802/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_israel_3;_ylt=Aji0IZSHS24m0sZUxpwJe18UvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl}}</ref><br/>1,293 injured <br/> (875 treated for shock)<ref name="ynetcasual1">{{cite news| title=Some 1,300 Israelis hurt since fighting began|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|date=[[2006-07-23]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279994,00.html}}</ref><br>300,000 displaced<ref name="NYTimes Israel Seek">{{cite news |title=Israeli Refugees Seek Friends and Families |publisher=The New York Times |date= [[31 July]] [[2006]]|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/31/world/middleeast/31displaced.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin}}</ref><br/>'''Soldiers:'''<br />45 killed [http://www.newsru.co.il/israel/05aug2006/shem.html]<ref name="KBCI2">{{cite news|title=13 IDF casualties reported in Bint Jbeil| date=[[2006-07-25]]| publisher= [[YnetNews]]|url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3281480,00.html}}</ref><br/>154 wounded<ref name="KBCI2">{{cite news | title=Israel says soldiers killed in clash with Hezbollah| date=[[2006-07-21]]| publisher= [[KBCI 2]] | url = http://www.kbcitv.com/x51828.xml?URL=http://10.56.1.26/APWIREFEED/d8j07fso1.xml&NewsSection=InternationalHeadlines}}</ref><br/>2 captured
|casualties3=<small>'''Civilians:'''><!--please use math on Talk; source reliable numbers please; current Talk justifies 577, and not 750+--> 577 killed<ref name=CBS02>{{cite news|title=Israel Bombards Beirut|date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/02/world/main1858131.shtml}}</ref><br/>One million displaced<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon counts human cost of 23 days in firing line|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|url=[http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1837057,00.html}}</ref><br />'''Soldiers:'''<br />28 killed<br />73 wounded<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel severs Lebanon road link to Syria |publisher=[[Associated Press|AP]] |date=[[2006-08-04]] |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel_768;_ylt=AvQ5uLxbXnhPQCDoHbWBqtMUvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl}}</ref>
|notes= Other casualties ''See'' [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict#Casualties|Casualties]]
}}
}}

The '''2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict''' is a series of ongoing military actions and clashes in northern [[Israel]] and [[Lebanon]] between [[Hezbollah]] and the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF). The conflict came in the context of a larger [[2006 Middle East conflict|Middle East conflict]], and two weeks after the start of the [[2006 Israel-Gaza conflict]], which continues in parallel.

Triggered by a cross-border Hezbollah raid and [[Feint|diversionary]] shelling [[Blue Line (Lebanon)|into Israel]] which resulted in the capture of two and killing of three Israeli soldiers, the conflict expanded to include massive Israeli [[airstrike]]s in Lebanon and Hezbollah rocket attacks on [[North District (Israel)|Northern Israel]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Rockets fired at Meron, Safed; no injuries|date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276843,00.html}}</ref> as well as an [[Israeli Air Force|air]] and [[Israeli Sea Corps|naval]] [[blockade]] of Lebanon, and an [[Israeli Armor Corps|Israeli armour]] and [[Israeli Infantry Corps|infantry]] invasion of [[Southern Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon-Israel Developments |date=[[2006-07-17]]|publisher=[[Forbes]]|url= http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2006/07/17/ap2883932.html }}</ref>

The conflict has caused the death of hundreds of civilians, widespread infrastructure damage in Lebanon, and has displaced more than a million people and disrupted normal life across most of Lebanon and the northern parts of Israel. Israeli and Hezbollah attacks on civilian population centers and infrastructure have both drawn sharp criticism internationally.

The [[United States]] and [[France]] recently backed a [[United Nations Security Council]] [[ceasefire]] resolution that calls for the disarmament of all groups in Lebanon besides the [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Army]] and an international force that would protect the border with Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14201487|title=Draft truce calls for ‘full cessation of hostilities’|publisher=Reuters|date=[[August 4]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Lebanon has rejected the proposed resolution, as it does not call for immediate Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, nor for an immediate cease-fire. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-08-05T223907Z_01_L05688729_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3|title=Mideast violence rages, UN resolution nears|publisher=Reuters|date=[[August 4]] [[2006]]}}</ref>
{{see also|Timeline of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
{{see also|Military operations of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}


==Beginning of conflict==
{{main|Zar'it-Ayta al-Sha`b incident}}

According to numerous sources, 9:05 AM local time on 12 July 2006, a ground contingent of Hezbollah militants attacked two Israeli armored [[High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle|Humvee]]s on a routine patrol along the Israel-Lebanon border near the Israeli village of [[Zar'it]] with [[Shoulder-launched missile weapon|anti-tank rockets]], capturing two Israeli soldiers, and killing three.<ref name="haaretz6">{{cite news |title=8 soldiers killed, 2 snatched in Hezbollah border attacks| date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[Haaretz]]| url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/737634.html}}</ref> Five others were killed later on the Lebanese side of the border on [[12 July]] during a mission to rescue the two captured soldiers.<ref name="HaaretzIDFRetrieve">{{cite news|title=IDF retrieves bodies of four tank soldiers killed in south Lebanon|date=[[2006-07-14]]|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738310.html}}</ref> In an [[Zar'it-Ayta al-Sha`b incident|initial report]] the Lebanese police force stated that 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]],<ref name="yahoo234">{{cite news | title=Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers| date=[[2006-07-12]]|publisher=[[Yahoo News]]| url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/060712/43/65tzi.html}}</ref> though the U.N, EU, G8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060712.html|title=Statement on Condemnation of Hizballah Kidnapping of Two Israeli Soldiers|date=[[2006-07-12]]}}</ref>, and prominent news agencies<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/20/mideast.diplomacy/index.html|title= U.N. chief calls for immediate cease-fire|date=[[2006-07-21]]|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> have characterized the Hezbollah action as "cross-border". However, the question of which side of the border the clash took place remains in dispute, with many international press reporting that the Israelis were taken on Lebanese soil. <ref name="AsiaTimes">{{cite news |title=It's war by any other name| date=[[2006-07-15]]| publisher=[[Asia Times]]| url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG15Ak02.html}}</ref>
The [[Israel Defense Forces|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.<ref name="cnnkid">{{cite news | title= Kidnapped soldier's kin: Stop the killing| date=[[2006-07-21]]|publisher=[[CNN]]| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/20/kidnapped.soldiers/index.html}}</ref>
Hezbollah's attack was named '''Operation Truthful Promise''', after a "promise" by its leader [[Sayyid]] [[Hassan Nasrallah]] to capture Israeli soldiers and swap them for [[Samir Kuntar]] and other Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.<ref name"Naz_press">{{cite news|title=Press Conference with Hasan Nasrallah|date=[[2006-07-12]]|publisher=Al-Manar|url=http://www.upc.org.uk/hasann12jul06.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Escaping Lebanon|date=[[2006-07-22]]|publisher=Porterville Recorde|url=http://myopr.com/articles/2006/07/22/news/local_state/news2.txt}}</ref>
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".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews&id=21653|title=Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers|publisher=NewKerala Online Newspaper, India|date=[[12 July]] [[2006]]|access=[[26 July]] [[2006]]}}</ref>
Later on, [[Sayyid]] [[Hassan Nasrallah]] declared: “No military operation will return them… The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade of prisoners.”<ref>{{cite news|title=Hizbullah leader calls for prisoner exchange |publisher=Al Bawaba |date=2006-07-12|url=http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711}}</ref>

==Israeli action==

[[Image:Lebanese Areas Targeted 7-15 to 7-27.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, [[12 July]] to [[27 July]] [[2006]].]]

{{main|Israeli military action in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}

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.”<ref>{{cite news|title=Regional tensions fuel Lebanon-Israel clashes|date=[[2006-07-12]]|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|url= http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13827858/}}</ref>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."<ref name="severe and harsh">{{cite news |url= http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions |date=[[12 July]] [[2006]]}}</ref> 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."<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071801436_pf.html]</ref>

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.<ref name=Lebanon2>{{cite news|title= Statement by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora|date=[[2006-06-17]]|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74027}}</ref> An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.<ref name=Lebanon1>{{cite news|title= Siniora’s Cabinet makes clear it had nothing to do with “what happened”|date=[[2006-06-13]]| publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73930}}</ref>

[[Image:Beirut_July_25_2006.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Israel strikes Beirut.]]
Early on [[13 July]] [[2006]] Israel sent IAF jets to bomb [[Rafic Hariri International Airport|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]],<ref>{{cite news|title= Israel Imposing Blockade on Lebanon|date=[[2006-07-13]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url= http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/13/D8IQVBP02.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Israel targets Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut suburb; IAF attacks Beirut airport, Hezbollah TV station|date=[[2006-07-13]]|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|url= http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=737860&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0}}</ref> and has bombed the main [[Beirut]]–[[Damascus]] highway.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bombing highways out of Beirut|date=[[2006-07-18]]|publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5192698.stm}}</ref>

The [[Israeli Air Force]] has carried out nearly 2,000 bombing sorties across Lebanon,{{citation needed}} especially targeting transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges.<ref>{{cite news|title=Day-by-day: Lebanon crisis - week two|date=[[2006-07-25]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5194156.stm}}</ref> Israel says these missions are essential for weakening Hezbollah's rocket-launching capability.<ref>{{cite news|title=IDF Attacks Over 60 Targets in Lebanese Territory |publisher=Israeli Defense Forces |date=[[July 29]] [[2006]] |url=http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=7&docid=55273.EN}}</ref>[[Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff]] [[Dan Halutz]] said that the ground operations would be limited.<ref>{{cite news|title=Halutz: Ground operations will be limited in scope|date=[[2006-07-22]]|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741318.html}}</ref>

On [[23 July]] [[2006]], [[Israeli Army|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel 'seizes' Hezbollah village|date=[[2006-07-23]]|publisher=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5206966.stm}}</ref>

On [[25 July]] IDF forces attacked [[Bint Jbeil]], an important Hezbollah stronghold opposite the Israeli border. On [[27 July]], Hezbollah ambushed the Israelis and killed 8 soldiers, though Israel says it also inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bint Jbeil: Hezbollah heartland|date=[[2006-07-27]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5221086.stm}}</ref> By [[29 July]], the bulk of the combat had ended, and Israel withdrew its battle-weary troops and left the town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Focus: Brutal battle for uncertain peace|date=[[2006-07-30]]|publisher=[[Times]]|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2291490,00.html}}</ref>

On [[1 August]] Israeli commandos landed in [[Baalbeck]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-08-01T201942Z_01_L01895035_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-BAALBEK.xml
|title=Israeli troops land near Hizbollah town in Lebanon|publisher=Reuters|date=[[August 1]] [[2006]]}}</ref> Troops had landed near Dar al-Himkeh hospital west of Baalbeck as part of a 'widescale operation' in the area.<ref>{{cite news|url=[http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1186211.php/Big_Israeli_airborne_assault_in_eastern_Lebanon
|title=Big Israeli airborne assault in eastern Lebanon|publisher=Monsters & Critics|date=[[August 2]] [[2006]]}}</ref>

{{see also|Operation Sharp and Smooth}}

==Hezbollah rocket campaign==
{{main|Hezbollah rocket campaign in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
[[Image: haifa1772006.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Haifa street following rocket attack 17 Jul 06]]
On [[14 July]], following Israeli bombing raids on Lebanon that killed 60 civilians <ref>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah leader vows 'open war' |publisher=BBC |date=07-15-06 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5182048.stm}}</ref> Nasrallah said, addressing Israel: "You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war. We are ready for it."<ref name=openwar>{{cite news|title= Israeli Attacks Increase; Hezbollah Vows 'Open War'|date=[[2006-07-14]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5557835}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Guardian1">{{cite news |title=Israeli Couple Weds in Bomb Shelter|date=[[2006-07-22]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5968227,00.html }}</ref>
Hezbollah continued to fire hundreds of [[Katyusha]] rockets into northern Israel's towns and cities, including [[Nahariya]], [[Safed]], [[Hazor HaGelilit|Hatzor HaGlilit]], [[Rosh Pina]], [[Qiryat Shemona|Kiryat Shmona]], and [[Karmiel]], and numerous small agricultural villages.<ref name=ynet4>{{cite news|title=Katyusha rockets hit Galilee|date=[[2006-07-13]]|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275440,00.html}}</ref>
[[Image:2006crisis lebanon israel.png|left|thumb|300px|Map showing some of the Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil as of Monday [[24 July]].]]

Hezbollah attacks have hit as far south as [[Hadera]], as well as Israel's third largest city, [[Haifa]], and the [[Jezreel Valley]] cities of [[Nazareth]] and [[Afula]]. [[Al-Manar]] has reported that the Hezbollah attack included a [[Fajr-3 (rocket)|Fajr-3]] and a [[Ra'ad 1]] liquid-fuel missiles, developed by Iran.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah rockets kill 9 in Israeli city |date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060716/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel}}</ref><ref name=Manar>{{cite news|title=Hizbullah: One of the rockets is a Ra'ad 1|date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276411,00.html}}</ref> 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. <ref>{{cite news|title=2 wounded in Hezbollah strike on Haifa |date=[[2006-07-17]]|publisher=[[The News-Sentinel]]|url=http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/15056871.htm}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel hammers at Lebanese infrastructure | [[2006-07-17]]|publisher=[[The Associated Press]]|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LEBANON_ISRAEL?SITE=NYPLA&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME}}</ref>

On [[25 July]] Nasrallah has announced the launch of the "second phase of our struggle" in which his long-range rockets would "go beyond Haifa," Israel's third-largest city. Israeli officials have been bracing for possible rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, which would mark a major escalation in the conflict. <ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0728/p06s01-wome.html "Israeli strikes may boost Hizbullah base"], ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 28]], [[2006]]</ref> On [[29 July]] in a televised address to the Lebanese nation Nasrallah said:<blockquote>"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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/29/AR2006072901107.html |publisher=[[Washington Post]] |title=What Next, Lebanon?| date=2006-07-30}}</ref></blockquote>

[[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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Analysis: Too late now for an invasion? |publisher=Jerusalem Post |date=07-26-06 |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292036844&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-07-30T171354Z_01_L22849465_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MIDEAST.xml|title=WRAPUP 16-Israel raid kills more than 60, Lebanon shuns Rice=Reuters news|date=[[2006-07-30]]|accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref> On [[2 August]] Rockets also landed near the town of [[Beit Shean]], about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the border _ the deepest penetration so far.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/47301.html|title=10:44 am: Hezbollah guerrillas fire record number of rockets at Israel |date=[[2006-08-02]]|accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref> Reports of rocket attacks reached 300 striking 15 targets inside Israel<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8505110528|title=300 Hezbollah Rockets Strike 15 Israeli Targets|date=[[2006-08-02]]|accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref> despite the IDF's claim that the three-week offensive in Lebanon had eroded Hezbollah's firepower. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/47301.html|title=10:44 am: Hezbollah guerrillas fire record number of rockets at Israel |date=[[2006-08-02]]|accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref>

On [[3 August]], which saw eight Israeli civilians killed by rocket attacks, Nasrallah explicitly warned Israel "if you hit our capital we will hit your capital Tel Aviv". Israel has yet to strike the central part of Beirut. <ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200608/04/eng20060804_289697.html "Lebanese Hezbollah warns of rocket attacks at Tel Aviv if Beirut struck"], ''[[People's Daily]]'', [[4 August]] [[2005]]</ref> [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]] military correspondent cited a "most senior IDF source" who stated in response that "if Tel Aviv is attacked, the national infrastructure of Lebanon will be destroyed." <ref name="mabat">{{he icon}}[http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=31&ar=mabat "Mabat"], ''[[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]]'', [[3 August]] [[2006]]</ref>
In his [[3 August]] speech, Nasrallah stated for the first time, however, that if Israel ceases aerial and artillery strikes of Lebanese towns and villages, Hezbollah will stop its rocket campaign. <ref name="mabat" /> On [[August 4]], Israel attacked the southern outskirts of Beirut, and later in the day, Hezbollah launched rockets at the [[Hadera]] region, its southernmost rocket attack to date. <ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3286401,00.html "For first time: Hizbullah targets Hadera area"], ''[[Ynetnews]]'', [[August 4]], [[2006]]</ref>

==Targeting of civilian areas==
{{main|Targeting of civilian areas in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
[[Image: haifacar.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A car in Haifa following rocket attack 17 Jul 06 showing result of anti personnel shrapnel]]

<!--In order to resolve article size issues, this entire section and subsections has been moved to [[Targeting of civilian areas in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], please read the talk page of this article, and please visit the main page for this section. Please note that in accordance to [[Wikipedia:Manual of style]] a resume should be left here of each main point in order to avoid any [[WP:POVFORK]]. -->

[[Louise Arbour]], [[United Nations]] [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|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 crime]]s, a belief shared by [[Human Rights Watch]].<ref>{{cite news|title=UN warning on Mid-East war crimes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5197544.stm|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=[[2006-07-20]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Toll Rises in Middle East|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/world/middleeast/20mideast.html?ei=5094&en=c9b26163f93ed42f&hp=&ex=1153454400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all|publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[2006-07-19]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/08/02/lebano13902.htm ''some of Israeli Attacks Amount to War Crimes'' - Human Rights Watch]</ref>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." has also condemned both sides for attacks on civilians.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGIOR410122006|title=UN: Security Council must adopt urgent measures to protect civilians in Israel-Lebanon conflict |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref>[[Robert Fisk]] wrote on [[August 2]], "The obscene score-card for death in this latest war now stands as follows: 508 Lebanese civilians, 46 Hizbollah guerrillas, 26 Lebanese soldiers, 36 Israeli soldiers and 19 Israeli civilians.In other words, Hizbollah is killing more Israeli soldiers than civilians and the Israelis are killing far more Lebanese civilians than they are guerrillas."<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/article1211295.ece]</ref>

[[Amnesty International]] has warned against the use of [[depleted uranium]] and [[white phosphorus (weapon)|white phosphorus]] by the IDF, while Lebanon has accused Israel of using the weapons, in violation of international law ([[Convention_on_Certain_Conventional_Weapons#Protocol_III:_Incendiary_Weapons|Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]]).<ref name= "DailyStarGeneva">{{cite news|url= http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73994 |title=Lebanon under Israeli attack: Sunday Roundup|date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE150702006 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |title=Obligations under international humanitarian law of the parties to the conflict in Israel and Lebanon |date=[[2006-07-26]]}} Section 8.4 </ref> Israel has also been accused of using [[cluster munitions]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/24/isrlpa13798.htm |title=Israeli Cluster Munitions Hit Civilians in Lebanon|date=[[2006-07-24]]|publisher=[[HRW]]}}</ref> while Hezbollah has been accused of violating international law by using rockets packed with metal ball bearings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/17/lebano13748.htm | title=Questions and Answers on Hostilities Between Israel and Hezbollah | date=[[2006-07-28]] | publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref> "Lobbing rockets blindly into civilian areas is without doubt a war crime," said [[Kenneth Roth]], executive director of Human Rights Watch. "Most of the attacks appear to have been directed at civilian areas and have hit pedestrians, hospitals, schools, homes and businesses."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525810863&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
|title='Hizbullah committing war crimes'
|publisher=Jerusalem Post
|date=[[August 5]] [[2006]]
}}</ref>

Strikes on Lebanon's civilian population and infrastructure include [[Beirut International Airport|Beirut airport]], sea ports, a lighthouse, grain silos,<ref>{{cite news|title=Howard says Lebanon evacuation possible by ferry|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1687633.htm |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]|date=[[2006-07-16]]}}</ref> bridges, roads, factories, medical and relief trucks,<ref>{{cite news|title=UAE aid truck bombed by Israel|url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/07/18/10053572.html |publisher=[[Gulfnews]]|date=[[2006-07-18]]}}</ref> mobile telephone and television stations,<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel hits Lebanon telecoms, plans more incursions|url= http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-22T172011Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-260604-3.xml |publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=[[2006-07-22]]}}</ref> fuel containers and service stations,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_ID=1&article_ID=74049&categ_id=2|title=By the numbers: heavy damage to infrastructure|date=[[2006-07-18]]|accessdate=2006-07-19|publisher=[[FT.com]]}}</ref> and the country's largest dairy farm [[Liban Lait]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayhem in middle east: it gets worse|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17415818&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=it-gets-worse--name_page.html|publisher=[[The Daily Mirror]]|date=[[2006-07-20]]}}</ref> There have been reports of incidents involving attacks on residential buildings,<ref>{{cite news|title='10 buildings for each rocket'|date=[[2006-07-24]]|publisher=[[News24]]/[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Middle_East/0,,2-10-2075_1972537,00.html}}</ref> ambulances,<ref>{{cite news|title=CNN Live Saturday|url=|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=[[2006-07-22]]|url= http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0607/22/cst.01.html}}</ref> fleeing civilians,<ref>{{cite news|title=To Flee or to Stay? Family Chooses Too Late and Pays Dearly|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/24/world/middleeast/24tyre.html?pagewanted=all|publisher=[[New York Times]]|date=[[2006-07-24]]}}</ref> and [[Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict|United Nations posts and personnel]],<ref name="BBC 726">{{cite news|title=Israel troops 'ignored' UN plea |publisher=BBC |date=07-26-06 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5217176.stm}}</ref>. The Israeli government insists these attacks are accidental.

On [[30 July]] [[2006]] an [[2006 Qana airstrike|Israeli airstrike]] hit next to a residential building in [[Qana]] housing refugees which subsequently collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel suspends bombings after deadly strike |date=[[2006-07-30]]|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]]|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/31/africa/web.0731mideast.php}}</ref>
28 people died, 16 of which were children, and 13 are missing according to Human Rights Watch<ref>[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02345278.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02345278.htm], ''Reuters'', August 2, 2006</ref>. Israel said it was near Hezbollah rocket launching sites and raised questions about a nearly eight hour gap between the bombing and the building's collapse;<ref>{{cite news|title=IDF: Qana building fell hours after strike|date=[[2006-07-30]]|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3283816,00.html}}</ref>
Senior Emergencies Researcher for Human Rights Watch, Peter Bouckaert, states that "Not only has Israel failed to distinguish between military and civilian targets; its own officials suggest that they have decided any civilian still in the south is fair game."<ref name="International Herald Tribune">{{cite news|title=For Israel, innocent civilians are fair game|date=[[2006-08-3]]|publisher=[[Herald Tribune]]|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/03/opinion/edbouck.php}}</ref>

{{main|2006 Qana airstrike}}

On [[4 August]] [[2006]], at least 30 farm workers were killed and 30 more injured in an Israeli airstrike on the village of Qaa, in the northeast Bekaa valley near the Syrian border. The casualties, mostly Syrian, were evacuated to hospitals in Syria, since the roads within Lebanon have been closed as a result of Israeli bombing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli air raids kill 40 in Lebanon|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-04T170201Z_01_L30823603_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST1.xml|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=[2006-08-04]]}}</ref>

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]]<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/07/19/world/middleeast/20060719_MIDEAST_GRAPHIC.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1153331904-rs3WIKv7XWZoOl6M03+JNA Major Attacks in Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip], ''[[New York Times]]</ref> [[Qiryat Shemona|Kiryat Shmona]], [[Beit She'an]], [[Karmiel]], and [[Maalot]], and dozens of [[kibbutz|kibbutzim]], [[moshav|moshavim]], and [[Arab citizens of Israel#Druze|Druze]] and [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab]] villages, as well as the northern [[West Bank]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Safed: Man seriously injured in Katyusha attack|date=[[2006-07-14]]|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275609,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Long-range rocket lands near Jenin|date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3285259,00.html}}</ref> It also hit a hospital in [[Safed]] in northern [[Galilee]] on the 18th of July, wounding 8.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/333/7561/217-b [[British Medical Journal]] |title=Hizbollah rocket hits hospital|date=[[2006-07-29]]}}</ref>
Hezbollah leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] defended the rocket attacks, saying "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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alghaliboun.net/english/_previousinterv.php?filename=20060716194337|title=Hizbullah leader promises enemy 'more surprises'|date=[[July 17]] [[2006]]|publisher=Islamic Resistance Lebanon}}</ref>

===Advance warnings of attacks by Israel===
[[Image:QanaLeaflet.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A leaflet (authored by the IDF's [[Centre for Consciousness Operations|psychological warfare unit]]) dropped by the IAF on [[Southern Lebanon]]. It reads: <u>"To all citizens south of the [[Litani River]]:</u> Due to the terror activities being carried out against the State of Israel from within your villages and homes, the IDF was forced to respond immediately against these activities, even within your villages. For your safety! <u>We call upon you to evacuate your villages immediately and move north of the Litani River.</u> “The State of Israel”]]

Israel has defended its bombing raids, pointing out that it drops leaflets warning civilians to leave the area before it attacks. However, these advance warnings have come under criticism for being used as an excuse to kill citizens who didn't leave. It was claimed by the Israeli Justice Minister [[Haim Ramon]] on [[26 July]] that any civilians remaining in South Lebanon after being issued such leaflets should be considered "terrorists".<ref>{{cite news|title=You're all targets, Israel tells Lebanese in South |publisher=Telegraph |date=07-28-06 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/28/wmid28.xml}}</ref>

The [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] said in a [[30 July]] statement on the IDF's attack on Qana: "Issuing advance warning to the civilian population of impending attacks in no way relieves a warring party of its obligations under the rules and principles of international humanitarian law. In particular, the principles of distinction and proportionality must be respected at all times..."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/Lebanon-news-300706!OpenDocument |title=Lebanon/Israel: ICRC alarmed by high number of civilian casualties and disrespect for international humanitarian law |date=[[2006-07-30]] |accessdate=2006-08-02}}</ref>

==Environmental consequences of attacks==
*IDF strikes on the [[Jiyeh]] power plant on [[13 July]] and [[15 July]] caused 25,000 tonnes of oil to spill into the Mediterranean and constitutes an environmental disaster for the region. At present a 10km wide oil slick covers 80km of Lebanon's and 10km of Syria's coastline, moving north towards towards Turkey and Cyprus. The slick is reportedly causing breathing problems, killing fish, and threatening the habitat of the endangered green sea turtle. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060728.woil0728/BNStory/Front |publisher=[[Globe and Mail]] |title=Amid the fighting in Lebanon, a budding ecological disaster |date=[[2006-07-28]]}}</ref>
{{seealso|Jiyeh power station oil spill}}
*[[The Jerusalem Post]] reported that [[depleted uranium]] GBU-28 "bunker buster" munitions are in use by the IDF against civilian infrastructure which the IDF claim houses Hezbollah.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886004129&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |publisher=[[Jerusalem Post]] |title=Hizbullah chain of command still intact |date=[[2006-07-15]]}}</ref> The use of these munitions has been criticised by [[Amnesty International]] because of their toxic legacy of contamination which affects all those who come into contact with the pollution indiscriminately.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE150702006 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |title=Obligations under international humanitarian law of the parties to the conflict in Israel and Lebanon |date=[[2006-07-26]]}}</ref>

*Hezbollah rockets have caused numerous forest fires inside Northern Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/5238936.stm [[BBC News]] |title=In pictures: Conflict enters fourth week: Picture 8: "Some Hezbollah rockets have started forest fires in Israel"|date=[[2006-08-02]]}}</ref>

== Historical background ==
{{seealso|2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict#More background}}
{{seealso|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 the disintegrating [[British Mandate of 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]].

After the war, and following the [[Black September in Jordan]], over 110,000<!--per [[1982 Lebanon War]]--> Palestinian refugees migrated to Lebanon, making up over 400,000 refugees today. <!--read the CIA source--><ref>[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ CIA Factbook]</ref>. By 1975, they numbered more than 300,000, creating an informal state-within-a-state in South Lebanon. The [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] became a powerful force and played an important role in the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. In response to numerous attacks launched from southern Lebanon, [[Operation Litani|Israel invaded in 1978]] in an attempt to rout out Palestinian militants. As a result the [[United Nations]] passed [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 425|UN Resolutions 425]] and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 426|426]], which called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces and an end to military action in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/background.html|title=Lebanon – UNIFIL Background|date=2005|publisher=United Nations|accessdate= 2006-07-14}}</ref>

At the end of the operation, Israeli forces withdrew from Lebanon, leaving behind a [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] force. Israel invaded again four years later in [[1982 Lebanon War|1982]], forcing PLO forces out of Lebanon (mostly to [[Tunisia]]), and Israel occupied the southern part of the country. A US brokered [[May 17 Agreement|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&ndash;3.75&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) deep<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/images/maps/lebanon_82.gif Israel-Lebanon border, June 1982]</ref> strip of southern Lebanon, described by Israel as a "security zone" which it justified as a protective measure to defend its northern towns against Hezbollah attacks. This occupation lasted until 2000. On [[24 May]][[2000]] after the collapse of the [[South Lebanon Army]] and the rapid advance of Hezbollah forces, Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon.

The SLA's equipment and positions in South Lebanon largely fell into the hands of Hezbollah, which has put considerable effort into fortifying the former security zone and establishing new firing positions. Since then, Hezbollah has repeatedly attacked Israeli military positions, whilst Israel has carried out numerous attacks aimed at striking Hezbollah bases (see [[Hezbollah#Hezbollah activities following the .22Cedar Revolution.22|Hezbollah activities]]).<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3414431.stm|title=Israeli jets hit Lebanon targets| publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|date=[[2004-01-20]]|accessdate= 2006-07-13}}</ref>

===Previous prisoner exchanges===
{{seealso|Israeli MIA prisoner exchanges}}
Over the last 30 years, Israel has released about 7,000 prisoners to secure freedom for 19 Israelis and to retrieve the bodies of eight others. In October 2000, Hezbollah captured three IDF soldiers who were killed either during the operation or in its immediate aftermath at [[Shebaa Farms]], and kidnapped an Israeli businessman who was a former army colonel [[Elchanan Tenenbaum]] in [[Kuwait]]. 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 for Tenenbaum and the remains of the three soldiers. Hezbollah requested that maps showing Israeli mines in South Lebanon be included as part of the exchange. <ref>{{cite news|title=Factfile: Hezbollah|publisher=[[Aljazeera]]|url= http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/27EDF072-1581-48CE-812D-A34D7C89A333.htm |date=[[2006-07-12]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners|url= http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/29/prisoner.exchange/ |publisher=[[CNN]]|date=[[2004-01-29]]}}</ref>

===Hezbollah===
{{main|Hezbollah}}
Hezbollah is a Lebanese [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] [[Muslim]] [[Islamist]] organization formed in 1982 "primarily to offer resistance to the Israeli occupation."<ref name="BBC 07-15">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1908671.stm|title=Who are Hezbollah?|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|date=[[2002-04-04]]|accessdate=2006-07-15}}</ref> Hezbollah's political rhetoric has consistently called for the destruction of Israel.<ref name="BBC 07-15" /> Hezbollah is considered by many western countries to be a terrorist organization.

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 [[Voting bloc|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 [[Lebanese government of July 2005|current Cabinet]].

==Casualties==
{{main|Casualties of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
{{seealso|Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" class="wikitable"
! style="background:#B0C4DE; color:black"| Entity !!style="background:#B0C4DE; color:black"| Civilian !!style="background:#B0C4DE; color:blck"| Military
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Lebanon}}
| 828-833 dead,<ref>{{cite news|title='You go a bit crazy when you see little body after little body coming up out of the ground'|date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,1835307,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1}}</ref><ref name=CBS02>{{cite news|title=Israel Bombards Beirut|date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/02/world/main1858131.shtml}}</ref> 2,145-3,200 wounded.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel resumes airstrikes on Beirut|date=[[2006-08-02]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/02/mideast.main/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Casualties in Lebanon estimated as 833 killed, 3,220 injured|publisher=ITAR-TASS|date=[[2006-08-02]]|url=http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10673391&PageNum=0 }}</ref><br>1,000,000 displaced<ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-08-04T031103Z_01_L30823603_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST1.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1|title=
Israel readies for deeper push into Lebanon|publisher=Reuters|date=[[August 3]] [[2006]]}}</ref> || 27 dead,<br>70 wounded{{fact}}
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Israel}}
| 35 dead, over 600 wounded,<ref name=ynetcasual1>{{cite news|title=Some 1,300 Israelis hurt since fighting began|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|date=[[2006-07-23]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279994,00.html}}</ref> <br>300,000 displaced<ref>{{cite news | title= Israelis rally to aid displaced|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/31/news/displace.php}}</ref>|| 45 dead [http://www.newsru.co.il/israel/05aug2006/shem.html]<br>136 wounded.<ref name="AP 07-18">{{cite news | title=Mideast Casualties at a Glance| date=[[2006-07-18]]| publisher= [[Associated Press]] | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071800730.html}}</ref><ref name="KBCI2">{{cite news | title=Israel says soldiers killed in clash with Hezbollah| date=[[2006-07-21]]| publisher= [[KBCI 2]] | url = http://www.kbcitv.com/x51828.xml?URL=http://10.56.1.26/APWIREFEED/d8j07fso1.xml&NewsSection=InternationalHeadlines}}</ref>
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | [[Image:Flag of Hezbollah.svg|20px]] [[Hezbollah]]
| || 47 dead confirmed by Hezbollah
|-
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | [[Image:Amal_movement.jpg|18px]] [[Amal Movement|Amal]]
| || 8 dead confirmed by [[Amal Movement|Amal]]
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Syria}}
| 17 dead <ref>{{cite news|title=Israel kills 33 farm workers in Lebanon air strike|date=[[2006-08-04]]|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L04814952.htm}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Argentina}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{es icon}} {{cite news|title=Naharía, la ciudad del norte israelí donde una argentina murió bajo fuego de Hezbollah |date=[[2006-07-13]]|publisher=[[Clarín (newspaper)|Clarín]]|url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/07/13/um/m-01232996.htm}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Australia}}
| || 1 dead. <ref>{{cite news|title=Australian Dual Citizen Killed in Israel|date=[[2006-07-27]]|publisher=The Age|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Australian-fighter-killed-in-Lebanon/2006/07/27/1153816288309.html}}</ref> <small>''Dual citizen, serving as Israeli soldier''</small>
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Austria}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{es icon}} {{cite news|title=Vermisster Soldat identifiziert |date=[[2006-08-04]]|publisher=[[Kurier(newspaper)|Kurier]]|url=http://www.kurier.at/nachrichten/burgenland/21917.php}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Brazil}}
| 6 dead.<ref>{{pt icon}} {{cite news|title=Itamaraty confirma morte de brasileiros no Líbano|date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[Globo]]|url=http://oglobo.globo.com/online/mundo/mat/2006/07/13/284847957.asp}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Two more Brazilians killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon |date=[[2006-07-19]]|publisher=[[People's Daily]]|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200607/19/eng20060719_284529.html}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Canada}}
| 8 dead, 6 wounded.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eight Canadians killed in Lebanon: Ottawa|date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=Reuters|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-16T190610Z_01_N16250641_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-LEBANON-CANADA.xml}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Germany}}
| 4 dead.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite news|title=Deutsch-libanesische Familie umgekommen|date=[[2006-07-14]]| publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/ausland/artikel/706/80626/}}</ref><ref>{{de icon}} {{cite news|title=Urlauber getötet|date=[[2006-07-15]]| publisher=n-tv.de|url=http://www.n-tv.de/689175.html}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|India}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{cite news|title=First Indian casualty in Lebanon |date=[[2006-07-21]]|publisher=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060722/main5.htm}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Indonesia}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{id icon}} {{cite news|title=Seorang WNI Tewas Kena Rudal |date=[[2006-07-26]]|publisher=[[Suara Merdeka (newspaper)|Suara Merdeka]]|url=http://www.suaramerdeka.com/harian/0607/26/nas01.htm}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Iraq}}
| 1 dead.<ref name="AP 07-18" /> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Jordan}}
| 1 dead.<ref name="AP 07-18" /> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Kuwait}}
| 2 dead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel targets Lebanese air bases, Kuwaiti nationals among dead and UN prepares envoy to Region|date=[[2006-07-13]]| publisher=[[The Daily Star]]|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73939}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Nigeria}}
| 1 dead. <ref>{{cite news|title=Israel decides not to expand Lebanon offensive (Roundup) |date=[[2006-07-27]]|publisher=[[Monsters & Critics]]|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1184504.php/Israel_decides_not_to_expand_Lebanon_offensive__Roundup_}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Palestine}}
| 1 dead{{fact}}
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Philippines}}
| 2 dead, 6 wounded.<ref> {{cite news|title=Two Filipinos die in Lebanon|date=[[2006-08-04]]|publisher=[[GMA 7|Inq7.net]]|url=http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=13378}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
| 1 dead.<ref name="AP 07-18" /> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{cite news | title=
Ukraine man in Lebanon feared killed in bombings | date=[[2006-07-19]]| publisher=[[Kanal 5 (Ukraine)]]|url=http://5tv.com.ua/newsline/188/0/28422/}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagcountry|United States}}
| 1 dead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli civilian casualty was originally from Boston
|date=[[2006-08-2]]|publisher=AP, Boston, USA|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/02/israeli_civilian_casualty_was_originally_from_boston/}}</ref> ||
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" | {{flagicon|United Nations}} [[United Nations]]
| 2 dead
| 4 dead, 8 wounded. <small>''See [[Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict|main article]]''</small>
|-
!align="left" style="background:#B0C4DE; color:black"| Total
| style="background:#B0C4DE; color:black"|'''900+ dead, 3600+ wounded.''' || style="background:#B0C4DE; color:black"|'''150+ dead, 200+ wounded.'''
|}

{{selfref|N.B. The ongoing nature of the conflict does not permit an accurate assessment of the precise number of casualties.}}

==Position of Lebanon==
{{main|Position of Lebanon in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
While Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the Hezbollah attacks due to Lebanon’s failure to implement [[Resolution 1559]] calling on it to disarm Hezbollah, Lebanon disavows the raids, stating that the government of Lebanon does not condone them, and that in any case Israel has its own history of disregarding inconvenient (or impossible) UN resolutions.<ref name=Lebanon2>{{cite news|title= Statement by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora|date=[[2006-06-17]]|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74027}}</ref> An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.<ref name=Lebanon1>{{cite news|title= Siniora’s Cabinet makes clear it had nothing to do with “what happened”|date=[[2006-06-13]]| publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73930}}</ref> 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 [[George W. Bush|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.”<ref>{{cite news | title = Lebanon says Bush to press Israel to limit attacks | date=[[2006-07-14]]| publisher=[[Reuters]]|url= http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-07-14T112125Z_01_L14740154_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-LEBANON-SINIORA.xml}}</ref>

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.”<ref name="ABC News">{{cite news | title = Lebanese PM demands ceasefire| date=[[2006-07-15]]| publisher=[[ABC News]]|url= http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2196324}}</ref>
<!--In order to resolve article size issues, this entire section and subsections has been moved to [[Position of Lebanon in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], please read the talk page of this article, and please visit the main page for this section.-->

==Negotiations for ceasefire==
{{main|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 <ref>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah wants an unconditional ceasefire |date=[[2006-07-17]] |publisher=CTV.ca |url= http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060716/mideast_template_060717/20060717?hub=CTVNewsAt11}}</ref>, while Israel has insisted that it will agree to a ceasefire only under certain conditions, including the return of two captured Israeli soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel sends instructions to Lebanon through Italy|date=[[2006-07-16]]|publisher=Jerusalem Post|url= http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886016168&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull}}</ref>

The [[United Nations Security Council]] frequently rejected pleas from Lebanon that it call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli newspaper ''Haaretz'' reported the U.S. was the sole member of the 15-nation UN body to oppose any council action at all at this time.<ref name="DN 2006-07-17">{{cite news|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/17/1423239 |publisher=Democracy Now!|title=Headlines for July 17, 2006}}</ref>
<!--In order to resolve article size issues, this entire section and subsections has been moved to[[Negotiations for ceasefire in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]],please read the talk page of this article, and please visit the main page for this section.-->

==International reaction==
{{main|International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
{{Seealso|International reactions to the 2006 Qana airstrike}}
[[Image:Sydprot.JPG|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Developments in Israel-Lebanon Crisis |publisher=Forbes |date=07-13-06 |url=http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/07/13/ap2877289.html}}</ref> A number of nations, including the [[United States]],<ref>{{cite news|title=President Bush and German Chancellor Merkel Participate in Press Availability|date=[[2006-07-13]]|accessdate=2006-07-15|publisher=[[The White House]]|author=[[White House Press Secretary|Office of the Press Secretary]]|url= http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060713-4.html}}</ref> [[United Kingdom]], [[Germany]], [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], have asserted Israel's right to [[self-defense]]. Further, the United States authorized Israel's request for the expedited processing and shipment of precision-guided bombs to Israel. The United States did not announce the shipment publicly.<ref>{{cite news|title=US Rushes Precision-Guided Bombs to Israel|date=[[2006-07-22]]|publisher=[[Reuters]]|author=[[Reuters]]|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-07-22T050649Z_01_N21268027_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-BUSH-WEAPONS.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C1-topNews-2}}</ref> 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 ([[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Peru]], [[Slovakia]], [[Denmark]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=United States Vetoes Security Council Draft Resolution on Events in Gaza(.doc) |publisher=United Nations |date=07-13-06 |url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/sc8775.doc.html}}</ref>

The EU has warned Israel about disproportionate attacks against Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|title=EU concerned over Israel's 'disproportionate' force |publisher=Monsters and Critics |date= 7-13-06 |url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1180594.php}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Malignant Neglect |publisher=Front Page Magazine |date= 7-24-06 |url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=23490}}</ref>

Neighboring Middle Eastern nations have been split in their response. [[Iran]], [[Syria]] and [[Yemen]] have voiced strong support for Hezbollah,<ref>{{cite news|title=Arabs divided over Hezbollah's role in Lebanon crisis |publisher=Deutsche Presse-Agentur |date=07-15-06 |url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1181183.php/%A0Arabs_divided_over_Hezbollahs_role_in_Lebanon_crisis}}</ref> and the [[Arab League]] has issued a statement condemning Israel's response. Iran has been reported as promising to supply a steady supply of weapons `"for the next stage of the confrontation". <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_hezbollah_s_missiles</ref> In addition, Tehran reportedly sends Hezbollah $60-100 million per year. <ref> http://www.meib.org/articles/0201_l2.htm </ref> In contrast, [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Egypt]], and [[Jordan]] criticized Hezbollah's actions,<ref>{{cite news|title=Militia Rebuked by Some Arab Countries |publisher=The New York Times |date=07-17-06 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/world/middleeast/17arab.html&OQ=_rQ3D1&OP=51537df4Q2F9F4)9TQ7BQ5B-Q5EQ7BQ7BkQ3B9Q3BCCn9CQ259mQ259FQ7BQ5EQ7DT9hbTTQ7D44x-k9mQ25xQ5Ex),qkhQ7D}}</ref> as well as Iran and Syria for extending support to the organization,<ref>{{cite news|title=Arab world fed up with Hizbullah |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=07-17-06 |url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1150886029284&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull}}</ref> although they are under pressure to change their stance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Public Challenges Arab Leaders on Lebanon Conflict |publisher=NPR |date=07-28-06 |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5588672}}</ref>

Protests and demonstrations have been held worldwide, and there have been numerous newspaper advertising campaigns, text and email appeals<ref>{{cite news|title=Ads urge call for Lebanon ceasefire|date=2006-07-28|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5978797,00.html|accessdate=2006-07-30}}</ref> and on-line petitions <ref>{{cite web|title=Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition|publisher=epetitions.net|url=http://epetitions.net/julywar/index.php|accessdate=2006-08-02}}</ref>. [[Naveed Afzal Haq]] reportedly cited the conflict as the reason for his alleged shooting at the Jewish Federation building in [[Seattle]].<ref>Smith, Carol; Cat le, Phuong; & Rolph, Amy. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/279410_shootmain29.html "I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel"], ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', [[July 29]], [[2006]].</ref>

Various foreign governments have stepped in to assist in the evacuation of civilians<ref>{{cite news|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5189988.stm|date = [[2006-07-18]]|title = Lebanon evacuation gathers pace|publisher = BBC News}}</ref> ; of their citizens from Lebanon.

The Israeli [[2006 Qana airstrike|bombing of an apartment building]] in Qana on [[30 July]] has led to widespread condemnation from around the world. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed the Unites States' desire for a mutually acceptable ceasefire as soon as possible but declined to call for an immediate halt to hostilities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rice says 'time to get to a ceasefire' in Lebanon - UPDATE|date=[[2006-07-30]]|publisher=[[Forbes]]|url=http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/07/30/afx2913808.html}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Campaignbox Lebanon 2006}}
{{Campaignbox Arab-Israeli conflict}}
* [[2006 Israel-Gaza conflict]]
* [[Israel-United States relations]]
* [[History of Lebanon]]
* [[History of Israel]]
* [[May 17 Agreement]] 1980s prospective peace agreement
* [[Arab-Israeli conflict]]
* [[Multinational Force in Lebanon]] in 1982
* [[History of the Middle East]]
* [[Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict]]
* [[International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict]]
* [[Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics]]
* [[July 2006 Seattle Jewish Federation shooting]]

{{Israel-Lebanon conflict}}

==External links==
===Independent media===
* [http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/index.html United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon], including [http://www.un.org/Depts/DPKO/Missions/unifil/unifilMaps.htm maps] of the UN deployment
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2001/israel_and_the_palestinians/default.stm BBC News: Middle East Crisis in depth]
* [http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/ Human Rights Watch report: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon]
* [[JURIST]]: [http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/currentawareness/mideastconflict.php Legal news and resources on the conflict]
* [http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/900/910/912/maps/Lebanon_July_2006.kmz Google Earth layer]
* [http://www.worldlinktv.org/mosaic/streamsArchive/ MOSAIC: World News from the Middle East], [[Peabody Award]]-winning site that provides a daily compilation of news broadcasts (translated and dubbed where needed) from news agencies throughout the Middle East
* [http://abcnews.go.com/International/Mideast/ ABC News: The Middle East Conflict]
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060727/mideast_analysis_060725/20060731/ CTV News: Mideast Crisis]
* [http://www.memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S5&P1=12 MEMRI.ORG: Relevant Clips from Arab TV]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/07/19/world/middleeast/20060719_MIDEAST_GRAPHIC.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1153331904-rs3WIKv7XWZoOl6M03+JNA New York Times: Interactive map updated daily]
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/0,,377264,00.html The Guardian - Israel & the Middle East]
*[http://www.tayyar.org/tayyar/articles.php?article_id=16171&type=GMA History Will Judge Us All On Our Actions]

===Pro-Israeli media===
*[http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-4289,00.html Yedioth Ahronoth - Israel at War]
*[http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Security/channel.htm Israel Insider - Security]

===Pro-Lebanese media===
*[http://www.lebanonundersiege.gov.lb Lebanon under Siege] - Lebanese government
*[http://www.democracyinlebanon.org/Documents/CDL-Exclusives/DonQuixote(08-03-06).htm Roadmap to Victory] - The Center for Democracy in Lebanon

===Pro-Hezbollah media===
*[http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/News.aspx?language=en Al-Manar TV] - Hezbollah TV station.

===Blog Reporting===
====Israeli blogs====
* [http://muqata.blogspot.com/ The Muqata جميل في المقاطعة] — Israel@War: Special Edition at the [[Mukataa|Mukataa blog]]
* [http://kishkushim.blogspot.com/ Kishkushim] — Written mainly by Carmia, a resident of [[Haifa]]
* [http://pixane.net/blog/ Idan Gazit] — A New York born Israeli immigrant

====Lebanese blogs====
* [http://bloggingbeirut.com/ BloggingBeirut.com] — Finkployd's and other's regular war dispatches from [[Beirut]], as featured in the ''New York Times''<ref>{{cite news|title=Anne Frank 2006: War Diaries Online|date=[[2006-07-24]]|accessdate=2006-07-28|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|author=Tom Zeller Jr.|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/24/technology/24link.html?_r=1&oref=slogin}}</ref>
* [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/live-from-lebanon.shtml Live from Lebanon Diaries] — "Commentary, analysis, human rights and development information, and diaries from on the ground"
* [http://lebop.blogspot.com/ Lebanese Political Journal] — In-depth analysis on the political situation in Lebanon
* [http://beirutspring.blogspot.com Beirut Spring] — Personal commentary on the conflict, "trying to understand post-Syrian Lebanese politics and society"

===Front-line photographs===
''Warning: Extremely graphic wartime imagery''
* [http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/world/0607/gallery.israeli.airstrike/frameset.pics.exclude.html CNN Photographs of the Israel Airstrike on Qana] — Graphic photographs<ref>{{cite news|title=ISRAELI AIR ATTACK KILLS CIVILIANS|date=[[2006-07-30]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/world/0607/gallery.israeli.airstrike/frameset.pics.exclude.html}}</ref> of Lebanese civilian casualties at the [[2006 Qana airstrike]]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=33.853346,35.508993&spn=0.010425,0.021415 Google map of Haret Hreik] — Satellite photograph of the [[Haret Hreik]] neighborhood in the [[Daheih]] district of [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]], ''before'' the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.
* [http://www.digitalglobe.com/images/qb/beirut_harat_july22_2006_dgwm.jpg DigitalGlobe photograph of Haret Hreik] — Satellite photograph of the [[Haret Hreik]] neighborhood, [[22 July]] [[2006]].
* [http://fromisraeltolebanon.info/index2.php From Israel To Lebanon] — Photographs of Lebanese civilian targets and casualties.
* [http://abaleboosteh.blogspot.com/ Images of war in Israel] — Graphic photographs of Israeli military and civilian casualties.
* [http://informationclearinghouse.info/article14273.htm Pictures From Qana] — Graphic photographs of Lebanese civilian casualties at the [[2006 Qana airstrike]].

==References==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references /></div>

==More background==
{{Arab-Israeli Conflict}}

[[Category:2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict| ]]
[[Category:2006]]
[[Category:Arab-Israeli conflict]]
[[Category:Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:Battles of Israel]]
[[Category:Hezbollah]]
[[Category:History of Israel]]
[[Category:History of Lebanon]]
[[Category:Israel Defense Forces Operations|Just Reward]]

[[ar:الأزمة اللبنانية الإسرائيلية 2006]]
[[bg:Израелско-ливанска криза (2006)]]
[[da:Israelsk-libanesiske krise 2006]]
[[de:Israel-Libanon-Krise 2006]]
[[fi:Israelin–Libanonin konflikti 2006]]
[[fr:Conflit israélo-libanais de 2006]]
[[he:מבצע שינוי כיוון]]
[[hr:Izraelsko-libanonski sukob 2006.]]
[[ko:2006년 이스라엘-레바논 위기]]
[[nl:Israëlisch-Libanese crisis van 2006]]
[[no:Israel–Libanon-krisen 2006]]
[[pl:Kryzys izraelsko-libański 2006]]
[[pt:Guerra Israelo-Libanesa 2006]]
[[ru:Вторая ливано-израильская война]]
[[sr:Izraelsko-libanski sukob (2006)]]
[[sv:Israel-Libanon-konflikten 2006]]
[[th:วิกฤตการณ์อิสราเอล-เลบานอน พ.ศ. 2549]]
[[tr:2006 İsrail-Lübnan Krizi]]
[[yi:שינוי כיוון]]
[[zh:2006年以黎危機]]

Latest revision as of 22:06, 19 June 2024

Redirect to:

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict&oldid=1229989090"