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2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict (Arab-Israeli conflict)
Part of the 2006 Middle East conflict
File:An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Southern Lebanon.png An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Southern Lebanon
Date 12 July 2006 — ongoing (ceasefire started 05:00 UTC, 14 August 2006) Location Lebanon and northern Israel Result Ongoing
Belligerents
File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah	Israel
Commanders and leaders
Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General / Spiritual Leader)	Dan Halutz (CoS) Moshe Kaplinsky Udi Adam (Regional)
Strength
1,000-10,000	30,000 troops (plus IAF & ISC)
Casualties and losses
Hezbollah militia:  Dead:    Hezbollah: 74    IDF: 180 - 540  Captured: 21 Allied militias:   Amal: 17   LCP: 12   PFLP-GC: 2	Civilians:  Dead: 44  Injured: 1,350+    875 (shock)  DP: 500,000 Soldiers:  Dead: 120  Wounded: 400+  Captured: 2
1,140+ Lebanese civilians dead 4,054+ Lebanese civilians injured 1,000,000 Lebanese displaced 46 Lebanese soldiers/police killed 4 dead United Nations workers
For other casualties see Casualties of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

The 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict is a military conflict in Lebanon and northern Israel, primarily between Hezbollah and Israel, which started on 12 July 2006. A United Nations-brokered ceasefire went into effect on 14 August 2006. Since then, fighting has largely ceased.

The conflict began when a Hezbollah unit conducted a cross-border raid, capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing three. Israel responded with massive airstrikes across much of Lebanon, a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, and an air and naval blockade (which is still being enforced by Israel), while Hezbollah launched thousands of rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israeli Army on the ground by guerrilla warfare.

The conflict has killed over a thousand people, mostly Lebanese civilians, damaged infrastructure, displaced more than a million Lebanese and 500,000 Israelis, and disrupted normal life across all of Lebanon and northern Israel. Attacks by both sides on civilian population centers and infrastructure have drawn sharp criticism internationally.

On 11 August, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, in an effort to end the hostilities. On 12 August, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah approved the resolution, and on 13 August the Israeli government did the same.

On 17 August, the Lebanese army began deploying its forces in southern Lebanon as part of the agreement, and Israel began to withdraw some of its forces from the country. A full withdrawal is not expected until the enlarged UNIFIL force has arrived.

Beginning of conflict

At around 9:00 AM local time (06:00 UTC), on 12 July 2006, Hezbollah initiated a diversionary Katyusha rocket and mortar attack on Israeli military positions and border villages. At the same time, a ground contingent of Hezbollah crossed the border into Israeli territory and attacked two Israeli armoured Humvees patrolling on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, near the village of Zar'it, capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing three. Five others were killed later on the Lebanese side of the border during a mission to rescue the two captured soldiers. The UN, the EU, the G8, the US, and prominent news agencies, including Al Jazeera, have characterized the Hezbollah action as "cross-border", despite initial reports, the Lebanese police, and later Hezbollah, stated that the Israeli soldiers were captured on the Lebanese side of the border "during a mission to infiltrate the town of Ayta ash Shab". In an interview with The Times on 2 August, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: “The war started not only by killing eight Israeli soldiers and abducting two, but by shooting Katyusha and other rockets on the northern cities of Israel on that same morning. Indiscriminately.”

Hezbollah's attack was named "Operation Truthful Promise", after a "promise" by its leader Hassan Nasrallah to capture Israeli soldiers and swap them for Arab prisoners in Israeli jails. It also include some of the four Lebanese prisoners in Israel, including convicted murderer Samir Kuntar. Later on, Nasrallah declared: “No military operation will return the Israeli captured soldiers…The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade of prisoners.”

Israeli action

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". 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 that “f the soldiers are not returned, we will turn Lebanon’s clock back 20 years.” Retired Israeli army colonel Gal Luft explained the rationale behind the attack: “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.”

PM Olmert and other officials declared that Israel held the Beirut government responsible for the attack, as it was carried out from Lebanese territory. In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denied any knowledge of the raid and stated that he did not condone it. An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.

Early on 13 July 2006 Israel sent IAF jets to bomb Lebanon's international airport near Beirut, forcing that its closure and diverting its arriving flights to Cyprus. Israel subsequently imposed an air and sea blockade on Lebanon, and bombed the main Beirut–Damascus highway.

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

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 eight soldiers, though Israel says it also inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah.

On 1 August Israeli commandos landed in Baalbek, capturing five civilians including Hassan Nasrallah the plasterer in Operation Sharp and Smooth. All of the civilians were released after the ceasefire. Troops had landed near Dar al-Himkeh hospital west of Baalbeck as part of a 'widescale operation' in the area. On 5 August Israeli commandos carried out a raid in Tyre.

On 12 August, less than half day after United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 approved, the IDF established its hold in Lebanon, within a framework of broadened military operations. Over the weekend the Israeli forces nearly tripled in size in southern Lebanon, and were ordered to advance towards the Litani River.

On 14 August, moments before the ceasefire went into effect, the Israeli Air Force reported that they had killed the head of Hezbollah’s Special Forces, whom they identified as Sajed Dewayer, while Hezbollah has denied this claim.

As of 15 August 2006, according to the Israeli Defense Forces official website, the Israeli Air Force had 15,500 sorties flown over Lebanon, hitting 7,000 targets. The Israeli Sea Corps also conducted 2,500 bombardments of targets along the Lebanese coast "including missile launch sites, missile launchers, weapons storage sites", etc. There had been a focus on targeting transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges, as they were said to be essential for weakening Hezbollah's rocket-launching capability.

Hezbollah action

According to Haaretz, Hezbollah is "a trained, skilled, well-organized, highly motivated infantry that is equipped with the cream of the crop of modern weaponry from the arsenals of Syria, Iran, Russia, and China."

Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets, mostly hitting civilian targets throughout the conflict, landing in all major cities of northern Israel including Haifa, Hadera, Nazareth, Tiberias, Nahariya, Safed, Afula, Kiryat Shmona, Beit She'an, Karmiel, and Maalot, and dozens of kibbutzim, moshavim, and Druze and Arab villages, as well as the northern West Bank. It also hit a hospital in Safed in northern Galilee on 18 July, wounding eight.

On 14 July, following Israeli bombing raids on Lebanon that killed 60 civilians, Nasrallah addressed Israel, saying “You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war. We are ready for it.”

After the initial Israeli 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 were sent to bomb shelters or fled their homes to other parts of the country. 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.

Hezbollah attacks hit as far south as Hadera in central Israel, as well as Israel's third largest city, Haifa, and the Jezreel Valley cities of Nazareth and Afula. Al-Manar reported that the Hezbollah attack included a Fajr-3 and a Ra'ad 1, both liquid-fuel missiles developed by Iran. 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.

On 3 August, the same day eight Israeli civilians were killed by rocket attacks, Nasrallah warned Israel: “if you hit our capital we will hit your capital Tel Aviv”. Israel considers Jerusalem to be its capital.

In his 3 August speech, Nasrallah stated for the first time, that if Israel ceased aerial and artillery strikes of Lebanese towns and villages, Hezbollah would stop its rocket campaign. On 4 August Israel attacked the southern outskirts of Beirut, and later in the day, Hezbollah launched rockets at the Hadera region.

On 7 August the Israeli Air Force shot down an Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Lebanese territory, apparently launched by Hezbollah. According to IAF, the same type of UAV had twice before during the past two years been sent towards Israel, probably as a publicity stunt to showcase Hezbollah's capabilities. After the shoot-down it was recovered by the Israeli Navy.

On 12 August, 24 Israeli soldiers were killed; the worst Israeli loss in a single day. Out of those 24, five soldiers were killed when Hezbollah apparently shot down an Israeli helicopter, a first for the militia..

Hezbollah also engaged in ground combat with the IDF, especially guerilla-type hit-and-run tactics. These attacks by small, well-armed units created additional casualties for the IDF, but didn't pose a threat of military defeat.

Initial reviews of the conflict after the ceasefire

Following the UN-brokered ceasefire, there were mixed responses on who had gained most in the war. The vast majority of Middle East countries, especially Iran, Syria and Lebanon, proclaimed a victory for Hezbollah, while the Israeli and United States administrations declared that Hezbollah lost the conflict. In a poll by an Israeli radio station, Israelis were split on the outcome with the majority believing that no one was the victor. Some analysts, like The Economist, concluded that by surviving this unsymmetrical military conflict with Israel, Hezbollah effectively emerged with a military and political victory from this conflict. They cite the facts that Hezbollah was able to sustain defenses on Lebanese soil and inflict unmitigated rocket attacks on Israeli civilians in the face of a punishing air and land campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces. Furthermore, Hezbollah is also leading the rebuilding effort in south Beirut and Lebanon using "unlimited" support from Iran, thereby awarding Hezbollah further political clout.

In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert admitted to the Knesset that there were mistakes in the war in Lebanon, though he framed UN Security Council resolution 1701 as an accomplishment for Israel that it would bring home the captured soldiers, and said that the operations had altered the regional strategic balance vis-à-vis Hezbollah. Israeli government and defense officials have called for the resignation of Israeli army chief Dan Halutz following a stock scandal in which Halutz admitted selling stocks hours before the start of the Israeli offensive; the affair is viewed to be more about the lack of a "clearcut victory" for Israel.

US President George W. Bush has questioned Hezbollah's declarations of victory "when at one time were a state within a state, safe within southern Lebanon, and now going to be replaced by a Lebanese army and an international force." Economic aftermath indicate that the fighting had resulted in a huge financial setback for Lebanon, with estimates ranging from US$7 to US$10 billion in direct costs while the cost for Israel is put at US$1.6 - US$3 billion. This, and other factors has prompted a commentator in the London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat to question the claims of victory by Hezbollah. According to one analyst in the Associated Press, the main casualty was the fragile unity between Lebanon's sectarian and political groups.

But according to former senior CIA official Milt Bearden "Where it counts, Hezbollah is clearly the winner," Bearden says. "For Israel ... not winning is losing. And for an irregular force like Hezbollah, not losing is winning." according to this website "http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs8692 "

Targets in civilian areas

Each side has complained about the other's artillery and missiles being fired into civilian areas. Both sides have reported civilian casualties.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon's civilian areas and infrastructure included Beirut airport, bridges, roads, fuel containers and service stations, mostly empty residential buildings, ports, a lighthouse, grain silos, mobile telephone and television stations, factories, and the country’s largest dairy farm Liban Lait, all of which were said to have been used by Hezbollah to launch rockets or receive re-supplies from Iran and Syria.

Amnesty International published findings from a research mission that pointed to an Israeli policy of deliberate destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure during the conflict, which included war crimes. Their findings "indicate that such destruction was deliberate and part of a military strategy, rather than 'collateral damage."' Amnesty researcher Donatella Rovera, who visited Lebanon during the war and co-authored the report stated "There is clear evidence of disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks." The organisation nevertheless condemned both Hezbollah and Israel for attacks on civilians, in addition to the reported use of white phosphorus by the IDF. In the report Amnesty International presented facts suggesting that Israel deliberately attacked the civilian population and government of Lebanon in a conscious effort to turn them against Hizbullah. The report also stated the need for an independent and impartial inquiry appointed by UN, to investigate alleged war crimes by both Hizbullah and Israel.

Israeli officials accused Hezbollah of intentionally using the civilian population as human shields. They alleged that Hezbollah fired rockets from residential areas to draw Israeli fire on those areas, in an attempt to maximize civilian casualties and garner more sympathy. There were also reports that Hezbollah has blocked village exits to prevent residents from leaving the warzone, again in an attempt to maximize civilian casualties. Israel has further explained that the IAF drops leaflets warning civilians to leave the area before it attacks. Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon stated on 26 July stated that any civilians remaining in South Lebanon after being issued such leaflets should be considered “terrorists”. Israel asserted that its attacks on infrastructure such as the airport were justified, as such infrastructure was used to re-supply Hezbollah with missiles and other ordnance from Syria and Iran, and could have been used to smuggle the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers into Iran.

Hezbollah fired rockets, sometimes more than 200 per day throughout the conflict. These landed in all major cities of northern Israel including Haifa, Nazareth, Tiberias, Nahariya, Safed, Afula, Qiryat Shemona, Karmiel, and Maalot, and dozens of kibbutzim, moshavim, and Druze and Arab villages.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah defended their rocket attacks, saying “In the beginning, we started to act calmly, we focused on Israel 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”.

Jan Egeland, United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, while calling Hezbollah rocket attacks into northern Israel and Israeli aerial bombing of Beirut violations of humanitarian law, accused Hezbollah of “cowardly blending…among women and children” and condemned their rumored pride at "having many more children and women dead than armed men."

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. 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”.

The 34-day war cost the lives of nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Lebanon, as well as 157 Israelis, mainly soldiers.

Environmental consequences

An environmental disaster resulted from the Israeli Airforce bombing the Jiyeh power station, 30 km (19 mi) south of Beirut, on 13 July and 15 July. The plant's damaged storage tanks leaked 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes of oil into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, comparable in size to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. A 10km wide oil slick covers 170km of coastline, and was threatening Turkey and Cyprus. The slick was reportedly causing breathing problems, killing fish, and threatened the habitat of the endangered green sea turtle, as well as increasing the risk of cancer. It may take at least 10 years to recover from this spill.

Amnesty International called on Israel to consider refraining from the use of weapons with depleted uranium munitions, due to health risks. The effect of the radioactive dust created on impact is debated, though the weapon itself is considered "toxic and constitutes a health risk independent of any residual radioactivity" due to the nature of heavy metals.

Hezbollah rocket attacks caused numerous and fierce forest fires inside northern Israel, particularly on the Naftali mountain range near Kiryat Shmona. As of 8 August as many as 9,000 acres including 3,000 acres of Israel’s few forests, were damaged by fires caused by Hezbollah rockets, and at least one forest has lost nearly 75% of its trees. Estimates are that it will take at least 60 years to rehabilitate the forests.

Position of Lebanon

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 UN resolutions. An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position. 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.”

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.”

During Israeli raid on Tyre, it was reported that the Lebanese Army fired Surface-to-air missiles at the Israeli helicopters, which returned fire, hitting a Lebanese M113 Armored Personnel Carrier and destroying it.

Previous ceasefire attempts

Several ceasefire proposals made

Terms for a ceasefire had been drawn and revised several times over the course of the conflict, yet successful agreement between the two sides took several weeks. Hezbollah maintained the desire for an unconditional ceasefire, while Israel insisted upon a conditional ceasefire, including the return of the two captured soldiers. Lebanon frequently pled for the United Nations Security Council to call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Current ceasefire

On 11 August, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved UN Security Council Resolution 1701, in an effort to end the hostilities. It was accepted by the Lebanese government and Hezbollah on 12 August, and by the Israeli government on 13 August. The ceasefire took effect in the region at 8:00 AM (5:00 AM GMT) on 14 August 2006.

Before the ceasefire, two Hezbollah members said that their militia would not disarm south of the Litani River, according to a senior member of the Lebanese cabinet. Israel has said it will stop withdrawing from South Lebanon if Lebanese troops aren't deployed there within a matter of days.

Both sides promised to retaliate when placed on the defensive. On 15 August, the Associated Press reported that Hezbollah had fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets into southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that as none had crossed the border and there were no casualties, they did not respond. Earlier, skirmishes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah left six guerrillas dead. UNIFIL also reported that the IDF fired a tank shell at the Lebanese village of Markaba but that there was no response from the other side.

Violations of current ceasefire

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• On 14 August 2006, hours after the beginning of the ceasefire, about four mortars were fired inside southern Lebanon. An Israeli military spokesman said that Israel will not respond to their firing. On that day four more incidents were recorded when armed Hezbollah members allegedly approached Israeli positions. Four Hezbollah members were killed, all of which were armed and in the act of approaching Israeli troops.
• On 15 August 2006 "Israeli soldiers opened fire when four Hezbollah fighters came toward them," three of the Hezbollah fighters were killed. The same day, about 10 rockets were fired by Hezbollah inside southern Lebanon. Israel reiterated it wouldn't respond since the rockets did not cross border.
• On 18 August Lebanese police sources reported that Israeli Defense Force warplanes launched four missiles toward targets in an eastern Lebanese village of Baalbek. Israeli sources acknowledge that its air force performs sorties over Lebanese territory, but denied breaking the ceasefire. Lebanese officials later contradicted the police sources stating that no missiles were fired by the Israeli planes.
• On 19 August, six days after the beginning of the cease-fire, Israel launched a raid in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley it says was aimed to disrupt weapons supplies to Hezbollah from Syria and Iran..Attracting condemnation from the UN,lebanon and many other countries of world. Syria and Iran immediately denied supplying Hezbollah with weapons. Lebanese officials said the Israelis were apparently seeking a guerrilla target in a school.One Israeli soldier was killed, another mortally wounded, while 3 Hezbollah fighters were wounded.
• On 19 August Stephane Dujaric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said that “he secretary-general is deeply concerned about a violation by the Israeli side of the cessation of hostilities.” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told the Associated Press that “he cease-fire is based on (U.N. resolution) 1701 which calls for an international arms embargo against Hezbollah. In the absence of that presence, arms transfers to Hezbollah are a clear violation of 1701 and Israel is entitled to respond. When the international forces and the Lebanese Army are enforcing the embargo, Israeli action becomes superfluous.” Regev was referring to article 8 of the resolution which calls for an end to all weapons transfers to Hizbollah as well as the removal of all Israeli troops from Lebanese soil.

Italy threatened to withhold troops from the proposed expanded UN peacekeeping force if Israel "keeps shooting". The Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said "From Israel, we expect a renewed effort, this time truly binding, to respect the ceasefire."

International reaction

The conflict engendered worldwide concerns over infrastructure damage and the risks of escalation of the crisis, as well as mixed support and criticism of both Hezbollah and Israel. A number of governments, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Canada, asserted Israel's right to self-defense. The United States government further responded by authorizing Israel's request for expedited shipment of precision-guided bombs, but did not announce the decision publicly.

Spokespersons from the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and an assortment of human rights organizations condemned Israel for its disproportionate response to Hezbollah’s attacks.

Among neighboring Middle Eastern nations, Iran, Syria, and Yemen voiced strong support for Hezbollah, while the Arab League issued statements condemning both Hezbollah’s attack and Israel’s response.

Many worldwide protests and demonstrations appealed for an immediate ceasefire on both sides and expressed concern for the heavy loss of civilian life on all sides. Other demonstrations were held exclusively in favor of Lebanon or Israel. Numerous newspaper advertising campaigns, SMS and email appeals, and on-line petitions also occurred.

Various foreign governments assisted the evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon.

Historical background

Israel-Lebanon conflict

The history of conflict between the two countries began with the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After the 1967 Six Day War, and following the Black September in Jordan, over 110,000 Palestinian refugees migrated to Lebanon, making up, with their descendants, over 400,000 people today. 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.

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 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 Israel withdrew its troops from southern Lebanon.

The South Lebanon Army'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 activities). Most recently, on 26 May 2006, a car bomb in southern Lebanon killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Mahmoud Majzoub, and his brother Nidal. Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora declared Israel the primary suspect. Israel denied involvement, but two days later, a barrage of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel. Israel responded by bombing suspected militant targets inside Lebanon, and exchanging fire across the border. Before the end of the day, the UN negotiated a ceasefire.

On 2 September 2004, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1559 calling for the disbanding of all Lebanese militias, among other things, and an armed Hezbollah in South Lebanon is seen by many to be a contravention of the resolution. The Lebanese government differs from this interpretation, and the United Nations has not ruled on this matter.

In the August 2006 edition of The New Yorker, Pulitzer Prize winning invesigative journalist Seymour Hersh claimed that Israeli government officials travelled to the US in May to share plans for attacking Hizbullah . Quoting a US government consultant, Hersh said: "Earlier this summer ... several Israeli officials visited Washington, separately, 'to get a green light for the bombing operation and to find out how much the United States would bear'."

Previous 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 and 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. On 23 August 2006, one such a mine killed an Israeli soldier in South Lebanon.

References

1. "Two Northern Command chiefs?", Ynetnews, 8 August 2006; See also, "IDF officials: Maj. Gen. Adam must quit post after war"; "Israel swaps commanders"; "Impatient Israel appoints new battle chief"; "New Israeli General Oversees Lebanon "; "Israel names new commander to head offensive"; "Israel changes command structure"
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19. Wright, Robin (19 July 2006). "Bush Supports Israel's Move Against Hezbollah". Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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22. ^ Qawas, Nafez (July 13, 2006). "Simiora's Cabinet makes clear it had nothing to do with 'what happened'". Daily Star (Lebanon) (registration required). Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
23. ^ Hasson, Nir (July 14, 2006). "Israel targets Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut suburb". Haaretz. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
24. "Israel 'seizes' Hezbollah village". BBC News. 2006-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
25. "Bint Jbeil: Hezbollah heartland". BBC News. 2006-07-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. KIFNER, John (August 23, 2006). "What's in a Name? Not, It Seems, a Leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. Greenberg, Hanan (August 12, 2006). "Chief of staff: We tripled our forces in southern Lebanon". Haaretz. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. Katz, Yaakov (August 12, 2006). "IDF troops advancing to Litani River". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
29. Greenberg, Hanan (August 16, 2006). "IDF: Senior Hizbullah man killed before truce". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
30. "7,000 Targets in Lebanon". Israel Defense Force. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
31. "IDF Attacks Over 60 Targets in Lebanese Territory". Israeli Defense Forces. 29 July 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
32. Tal, Avraham (July 31, 2006). "Justified, essential and timely". Haaretz. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
33. ^ "Major Attacks in Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip". New York Times. August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
34. Greenberg, Hannan (14 July 2006). "Woman, grandson killed in Meron rocket attack". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
35. "Long-range rocket lands near Jenin". Ynetnews. 2006-08-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
36. Siegel-Itzkovich, Judy (2006). "Hizbollah rocket hits hospital" (Abstract). British Medical Journal. 333 (7561): 217-b-. doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7561.217-b. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |quotes= ignored (help)
37. "Hezbollah leader vows 'open war'". BBC News. 07-15-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
38. "Israeli Attacks Increase; Hezbollah Vows 'Open War'". NPR. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
39. "Israeli Couple Weds in Bomb Shelter". Associated Press. 2006-07-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
40. "Katyusha rockets hit Galilee". Ynetnews. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
41. "Hezbollah rockets kill 9 in Israeli city". Associated Press. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
42. "Hizbullah: One of the rockets is a Ra'ad 1". Ynet. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
43. "2 wounded in Hezbollah strike on Haifa". The News-Sentinel. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
44. "Israel hammers at Lebanese infrastructure". The Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Text "2006-07-17" ignored (help)
45. "Lebanese Hezbollah warns of rocket attacks at Tel Aviv if Beirut struck", People's Daily, 4 August 2005
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47. Raved, Ahiya (4 August 2006). "For first time: Hizbullah targets Hadera area". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2006-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
48. "Air Force Shoots Down Hezbollah UAV". Israel Defence Forces. August 8, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
49. Katz, Yaacov (August 8, 2006). "Hizbullah UAV shot down off Acre coast". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2006-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
50. "24 soldiers killed in South Lebanon Saturday". Jerusalem Post. 2006-08-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
51. "Hezbollah - a clever and determined enemy". Asia Times. 9 August2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
52. "Hizbullah's shallow victory". The Economist. 19 August 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
53. Syria and Iran claim victory over West
54. "With guns silent, wartime unity unravels in Israel". Herald Tribune. 18/08/2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
55. "Hizbullah's shallow victory". Economist. 19 August2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
56. "Hezbollah Leads Work to Rebuild, Gaining Stature". New York Times. 16 August 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
57. "Olmert: Mistakes made in Lebanon war". United Press International. 14 August 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
59. "Stocks scandal spells doom of embattled Israeli army chief". Agence France-Presse. 16 August 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
60. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060814-3.html
61. West Asia war by numbers
62. Bloomberg
63. Between Victory and Defeat
64. Lebanon's fragile unity shatters - Kuwaittimes.net
65. "CNN LIVE SATURDAY". CNN. July 22, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
66. Clements, Jon (July 20, 2006). "MAYHEM IN MIDDLE EAST: IT GETS WORSE". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2006-08-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
67. Finer, Jonathan (August 8, 2006). "Israeli Soldiers Find a Tenacious Foe in Hezbollah". Washington Post. p. A1. Retrieved 2006-08-23. Israeli commanders say Hezbollah has obtained its sophisticated weaponry from its main backers, Syria and Iran… Hezbollah chooses to fight in and among civilian centers, making it difficult to target its fighters without killing bystanders. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
68. Cody, Edward (August 5, 2006). "Israeli Warplanes Hit Lebanon's Christian Areas". Washington Post. p. A12. Retrieved 2006-08-23. An Israeli military spokesman, Capt. Jacob Dallal, said Israeli planes attacked a building in Qaa suspected of 'being used as a weapons depot of some sort'.…Israeli aircraft also hit Beirut's southern suburbs, at Ouzai near Beirut's international airport.…The targets were buildings with Hezbollah offices and other installations, they said. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
69. "Lebanon: Destruction of civilian infrastructure". Amnesty International. August 23, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
70. "Amnesty International Accuses Israel of War Crimes". Fox News.Com. 2006-08-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
71. "UN: Security Council must adopt urgent measures to protect civilians in Israel-Lebanon conflict". Amnesty International.
72. "Obligations under international humanitarian law of the parties to the conflict in Israel and Lebanon". Amnesty International. July 26, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
73. "Deliberate destruction or "collateral damage"? Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure". Amnesty International. 2006-08-23.
74. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3278026,00.html
75. de Quetteville, Harry (July 28, 2006). "You're all targets, Israel tells Lebanese in South". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
76. "Hizbullah attacks northern Israel and Israel's response". MFA. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
77. "Anxious northern Israel endures rocket fire". CNN. {{cite news}}: Text "date2006-07-14" ignored (help)
78. "Hizbullah leader promises enemy 'more surprises'". Islamic Resistance Lebanon. July 17 2006. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
79. "Condoleezza Rice meets with Mid-East leaders (transcript)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
80. "Israel bombing breaks humanitarian law - UN official". Reuters. 23 July2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
81. "UN warning on Mid-East war crimes". BBC News. 2006-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
82. "UN likely to cut request for Lebanon emergency aid". Reuters. 2006-07-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
83. "UN sounds Lebanon oil spill alarm". Al Jazeera. 2006-08-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
84. "Crisis talks on Lebanon oil spill". BBC News url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4798965.stm. 2006-08-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |publisher= (help)
85. "'Damage is done' to Lebanon coast". BBC News url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5255966.stm. 2006-08-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing pipe in: |publisher= (help)
86. "In pictures: Conflict enters fourth week: Picture 8: "Some Hezbollah rockets have started forest fires in Israel"". BBC News. 2006-08-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
87. Kraft, Dina (August 8, 2006). "Dry Forests in Northern Israel Are Damaged as Hezbollah's Rocket Attacks Ignite Fires". The Environment. New York Times. Retrieved 2006-08-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
88. "More Press for JNF's Work in the North" (Press release). Jewish National Fund. 2006-08-09. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
89. "Lebanon says Bush to press Israel to limit attacks". Reuters. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
90. "Lebanese PM demands ceasefire". ABC News. 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
91. "Hezbollah wants an unconditional ceasefire". CTV.ca. 2006-07-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
92. "Israel sends instructions to Lebanon through Italy". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
93. "U.N.: Cease-fire begins Monday". CNN. 2006-08-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
94. "U.N.: Cease-fire begins Monday". CNN. 12 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
95. "Israel to halt pullout unless Lebanon army deploys". Reuters. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
96. Cite error: The named reference RockhitLeb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
97. Four Hezbollah fighters killed in ceasefire breaches: UN - Agence France-Presse (via Yahoo!). 16 August 2006
98. "IDF: Hours after cease-fire, 4 clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli troops; 4 Hezbollah fighters killed". CNN.com. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
99. "IDF: Israeli soldiers kill 3 Hezbollah fighters". CNN.com. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
101. Janelle, Chantelle (18 August 2006). "Israel flies over Lebanon, but no airstrikes". WIS-TV. Retrieved 2006-08-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
102. ^ "Israel: Raid targets weapons transfer". CNN. 19 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
104. Morales, Alex (20 August 2006). "Israeli Raid Endangers `Calm,' Annan Spokesman Says". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2006-08-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
105. Shamir, Shlomo (22 August 2006). "Italy won't send troops to Lebanon force if Israel 'keeps shooting'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2006-08-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
106. "Developments in Israel-Lebanon Crisis". Forbes. 07-13-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
107. 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)
108. Reuters (2006-07-22). "US Rushes Precision-Guided Bombs to Israel". Reuters. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
109. "Malignant Neglect". Front Page Magazine. 7-24-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
110. Fattah, Hassan M. (17 July 2006). "Arab League criticizes Hezbollah for attacks". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
111. "Arab League declares support for Lebanon, calls on UN to step in". Haaretz. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
112. Press Association (28 July 2006). "Ads urge call for Lebanon ceasefire". The Guardian. Retrieved 206-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
113. "Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition". E-petitions.net. 15 July 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
114. "Lebanon evacuation gathers pace". BBC News. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
115. "Refugees and internally displaced persons". Lebanon. The World Factbook. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
116. "Lebanon – UNIFIL Background". United Nations. 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
117. Israel-Lebanon border, June 1982
118. "Israeli jets hit Lebanon targets". BBC News Online. 2004-01-20. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
119. Mroue, Bassem (26 May 2006). "Islamic Jihad leader killed in Lebanon". Boston Globe. Retrieved 14 August 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
120. Klein, Aaron (29 May 2006). "Syria, Iran directed rocket barrage against Israel". World News Daily. Retrieved 14 August 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
121. "Security Council Notes Significant Progress in Lebanon ..." United Nations Security Council. 01-23-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
122. "Hezbollah rejects call to disarm". ABC (AU). 2005-04-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
123. "Washington’s interests in Israel’s war", 14/08/06
124. "Factfile: Hezbollah". Aljazeera. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
125. "Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners". CNN. 2004-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
126. "IDF soldier killed, two officers hurt, in South Lebanon". Haaretz. 2004-08-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Media

• Iran, Syria, their Presidents, Hezbolla declare Victory
• United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon, including maps of the UN deployment
• CNN News Website - Special Reports - Crisis in the Middle East
• BBC News: Middle East Crisis in depth
• 'Lebanon War 2006' on UK Indymedia (Independent Media Centre)
• Human Rights Watch report: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon
• JURIST:
• Legal news and resources on the conflict
• Google Earth layer
• 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
• ABC News: The Middle East Conflict
• CTV News: Mideast Crisis
• MEMRI.ORG: Relevant Clips from Arab TV
• New York Times: Interactive map updated daily
• The Guardian - Israel & the Middle East
• Frontline Reporting from Cyprus Independent Media Centre
• video about photo fraud at the war
• Israel's & World Verdict: We lost the War
• UN Blasts Israel over killing of Abdel Saghir, UN Employee, 5th UN Casualty

• How did Hezzbollah remain in full control after 35 days of fighting?

Israeli media

• The Jerusalem Post
• Yedioth Ahronoth - Israel at War
• Israel Insider - Security
• JerusalemONLINE
• Haaretz - Lebanon crisis
• Artcle describing Hezbollah tactics in Lebanon

Lebanese media

• Lebanon under Siege - Lebanese government
• Roadmap to Victory - The Center for Democracy in Lebanon
• Lebanon Live News Minute by minute news, constantly updated
• Beirut Independent Media Centre

Hezbollah media

• Al-Manar TV - Hezbollah TV station.

War photography

• Video showing degree of structural damage in major Lebanese cities (no casualties)

Warning: Extremely graphic wartime imagery below

• Graphic photographs of Lebanese civilian casualties hosted at the Embassy of Lebanon in Washington, DC
• Graphic photographs of Lebanese civilian casualties from the 2006 Qana airstrike
• Graphic photographs of Israeli military and civilian casualties

Israeli blogs

• The Muqata جميل في المقاطعة — Israel@War: Special Edition at the Mukataa blog
• Israel North blog - A compilation of blogs of Russian-speaking residents of northern Israel, translated into English
• Israel Under Attack — Images and stories from the areas under attack.

Lebanese blogs

• Blog for Lebanon - The Center for Democracy in Lebanon
• BloggingBeirut.com — Finkployd's and other's regular war dispatches from Beirut, as featured in the New York Times
• Live from Lebanon Diaries — "Commentary, analysis, human rights and development information, and diaries from on the ground"
• Lebanese Political Journal — In-depth analysis on the political situation in Lebanon

Others

• Psychological warfare in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict

1. "ISRAELI AIR ATTACK KILLS CIVILIANS". CNN. 2006-07-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. 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)

• Current events
• 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
• Arab-Israeli conflict
• Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Battles of Israel
• Hezbollah
• History of Israel
• History of Lebanon
• Israel Defense Forces Operations
• Wars of Israel