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2006 Israel-Lebanon crisis
Part of the 2006 Arab-Israeli conflict
File:54240.jpg The Israeli Air Force strikes a position in Lebanon.
Date July 12, 2006 – Location Lebanon and Israel Result Conflict ongoing
Belligerents
Israel	File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah, Lebanon
Commanders and leaders
Dan Halutz (Chief of Staff), Udi Adam (Regional)	Hassan Nasrallah, Michel Sulaiman
Strength
70 000 - 90 000	Lebanese army 35,000 - 40,000 Hezbollah 3,000 - 10,000
Casualties and losses
2 civilians killed, 120 civilians injured, 8 soldiers killed, 5 soldiers wounded, 2 soldiers captured (Israeli government account)	55 civilians killed 2 Lebanese soldiers killed, 1 Hezbollah militant killed (Lebanese government account)

The 2006 Israel-Lebanon crisis is a series of military incidents, predominantly in south Lebanon and northern Israel. The major hostilities began on July 12, 2006, when Hezbollah staged a cross border attack on Israel (Operation True Promise). Three Israeli soldiers were killed, and two were captured and taken into Lebanon. In an operation to free the captured soldiers, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched an offensive (Operation Just Reward) into Lebanon. In the following days hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated, while Lebanon has taken no action either against Hezbollah or Israel.

There is concern that the situation may deteriorate further with the possibility of Syrian or Iranian governments, which have strong ties to Hezbollah, becoming involved.

Historical background

Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim organisation. It is supported by Syria, funded and armed by Iran, and was set up in emulation of the Iranian Revolution.

Israel has a long history with Lebanon. It attacked the airport on December 28 1968, destroying most of the National Airline in response to the attack on an El Al passenger jet in Athens, Greece by two Palestinian gunmen two days earlier, one of whom lived in Refugee camp in Lebanon. It invaded briefly in 1978, and then again in 1982, all with the intention of seeking to destroy the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) who were able to operate within the sprawling Lebanese refugee camps. In the spring of 2000, Israel, under Prime Minister Ehud Barak, withdrew from Southern Lebanon after 22 years of military presence . On 18 June 2000, the UN confirmed that Israel had withdrawn all forces from Lebanon in accordance with Security Council resolution 425 signed 21 years earlier.

Since that time, Hezbollah set up bases of operation in the area in contravention of the Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the disbanding of any armed militias operating in the area. On numerous occasions Hezbollah has fired mortar rockets into Israel, while Israel has carried out numerous air assaults aimed at striking the militants. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government cited the constant violation of Lebanese air space by Israeli planes, and the occupation of Shebaa Farms, a territory which they and Syria consider Lebanese although the United Nations has ruled that it is an occupied territory of Syria, and not part of Lebanon.

Conflict

Hezbollah raid

The fighting began at around 8 AM Local Time on July 12, 2006 when Hezbollah launched a barrage of 9K51 Grad rockets and mortars on Israeli towns and military positions along the Lebanese border, apparently as a diversion. A force of infiltrators then attacked two armoured IDF Humvees patrolling the border near the Israeli village of Zar'it with anti-tank rockets. Hezbollah has named this operation "True Promise".

The IDF confirmed that two Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah, and named them as Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. An Israeli Merkava Mk. II tank was damaged by a 300 kg improvised explosive device, as it attempted to pursue Hezbollah into Lebanon. All four of the crew-members were killed. Another Israeli soldier was killed when he came under heavy fire during an attempted recovery of the bodies from the tank.

Israeli response

Israel retaliated with air strikes, carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), destroying bridges and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's television channel al-Manar claimed a total 55 civilians were killed.

An unnamed 'senior IDF officer' was quoted as saying that the strike was targeted against rocket launch sites and rocket storerooms, although many of them were intentionally located in population centers. An unnamed Lebanese official responded that "Hezbollah did not store arms in civilian areas.” Airstrikes were also carried out against outposts of Hezbollah. Israel has named the overall operation "Just Reward."

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

Israel called up reserve troops, signaling a large-scale campaign, as operations continue in an attempt to free a soldier captured by Palestinians in Gaza. Israel sent troops and tanks into southern Lebanon, and the Israeli cabinet met at 7 PM Local Time, 4 PM UTC, Noon Eastern Time, July 12, 2006.

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, Amir Peretz, Israel's defence minister, told commanders to prepare civil defense plans.

Early on July 13, 2006, Israel sent IDF jets to bomb Lebanon's international airport near Beirut, forcing its closure and diverting its arriving flights to Cyprus. Israel also targeted Hezbollah's al-Manar television, but Hezbollah continued transmission from another location. Hezbollah retaliated by bombarding the Israeli towns of Nahariya and Safed, as well as villages nearby, with 9K51 Grad rockets. The attacks killed two civilians and wounded 29 more. Nahariya residents began leaving the city en masse in fear of further Katyusha attacks.Israel is now imposing an air and sea blockade on Lebanon, and has bombed the main Beirut-Damascus highway.

Israel's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mark Regev claims the Hezbollah militants that captured the two soldiers are trying to transfer them to Iran. However the spokesman did not disclose his source.

Lt.-Gen. Udi Adam of the Northern Command, says Israel has not ruled out sending ground forces into Lebanon.

There is a report that residents of Haifa, Israel are being ordered into bomb shelters.

Attacks on Lebanon

According to the Lebanese government, the majority of casualties caused by the Israeli attacks have been civilians. The Lebanese security officials say Israeli attacks have killed 55 people and wounded 110. They claim that twelve members of one Lebanese family died when Israeli planes bombed their home in the Lebanese village of Zibqine, near Tyre, and that seven from another family were killed in Baflay. Israel intensified its response on Lebanon by attacking the Beirut International Airport and damaging three runways. Israel announced that it imposed an air, land and naval blockade on Lebanon. Israel attacked Hezbollah's TV station Al-Manar and Radio station Al-Nour in Haret Hreyk, a southern suburb of Beirut and in Baalbeck. On July 13, Israeli warplanes bombed the road to Damascus, Syria.

Israeli jets attacked two Lebanese military air bases, destroying runways. Attacks against the Rayak air base in the eastern Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border and the Qulayaat military airport in northern Lebanon were the first attacks against Lebanon's army in the conflict.

Israel has now attacked Beirut's international airport three times and have destroyed the airport fuel depots. Israel has also neutralised the third and final military airport by bombing its runways.

Israeli planes have struck a bridge in a suburb south of Beirut, a place highly held by Hezbollah. They also struck a power plant's fuel storage south of Beirut. The Lebanese army then retaliated with anti-aircraft fire. People living in this region heard at least three strikes. No casualties have been reported yet.

According to the BBC, Lebanese police also reported an Israeli air strike early on Friday on a pro-Syrian Palestinian group in eastern Lebanon. The base of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command is less than two kilometres from the Syrian border.

News services report that three explosions have been heard in Beirut.

Attacks on Israel

Besides the initial raid, Hezbollah militants targeted several Israeli towns with 9K51 Grad rockets and there have been numerous civilian injuries, including a 47 year old woman who was killed in Nahariya, and a 37-year old man who died of his wounds in Safed.

Hezbollah has threatened to hit the city Haifa, "if the southern suburbs and the city of Beirut are subjected to any direct Israeli aggression". Two rockets hit the city, hours after the threat. Hezbollah denied firing any rockets at the city. IDF sources have reported that two rockets were fired from inside Lebanon. The attack is the first time rockets have hit so far south into Israel, since World War II. One shock injury has been reported.

There have been reports that the missile fired at Haifa was a Fajr-7, supplied by Iran, and possibly even launched by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. These missiles have a range of approximately 75 km. Another source has confirmed , that Israeli military sources say, that the rockets fired into Israel were at least made in Iran.

The Jerusalem Post reported that an attempt by a group of Hezbollah members to enter Israel was stopped by IDF on the 14th of July.

Some 220,000 Israeli civilians spent Thursday night in bomb shelters, after two civilians were killed in rocket attacks. 14 Israelis remain hospitalized following Thursday's rocket attacks.

On July 14th, Hezbollah has launched about 100 Katyusha rockets on Israeli towns of Nahariya, Safed, Hatzor, Rosh Pina, Kiryat Shmona, Karmiel, Matat, Sasa, Pki'in, Beit Jan, Biria, Biranit, Cabri, Gesher Haziv, Saar and Ban Ami, resulting in 30 injuries.

Casualties

Israeli: Eight Israeli soldiers were killed, 2 captured and 5 more wounded. Two civilians have been killed, and 120 civilians were wounded.

Lebanese:One Hezbollah member has been killed as well as two soldiers in the Lebanese army.. An unknown number of Lebanese civilians have also been killed.

Foreign Nationals: The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry has reported that two Kuwaiti nationals have been killed. . Also a complete family of four Brazilians, including two children were killed in the Israeli bombings, drawing condemnation from foreign relations minister Celso Amorim

Possible escalation

There are concerns of escalation. According to Professor Gerald Steinberg, a Senior Research Associate at the pro-Israeli Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA), "Israel may have to take alarming force as an outcome of the latest attacks, which may even result in the disarming of the Hezbollah," and that "Lebanon continues to allow these terrorist activities to take place within her borders and therefore the Lebanese government plays a key role in the reoccurrence of these events."

The pro-Israeli website DEBKAfile reported that Iranian national security advisor and senior nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani flew to Damascus. According to the report, he will remain there for the duration of the crisis in line with an Iranian-Syrian mutual defense pact, and would deem any attack on Syria an assault on Iran. DEBKAfile also reported that Hezbollah "acted on orders from Tehran to open a second front against Israel, partly to ease IDF military pressure on the Hamas in the Gaza Strip". According to DEBKAfile, Iran is also taking up this action to divert attention at the upcoming G8 summit away from the Iranian Nuclear Crisis, and onto this flare-up instead. Finally, they report that both Syrian and Iranian armed forces have been brought to a state of high alert.

Meanwhile, Israel has issued a warning to people living in a neighbourhood in southern Beirut, the Lebanese capital, telling them to leave.

As Hezbollah operates freely in Lebanon and is a member of the ruling government, Israel held the whole Lebanese government accountable and targeted strategic locations throughout the country.

According to Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev Hezbollah is attempting to transfer the captured soldiers to Iran. Regev has not disclosed the source of this information. But an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman denied the accusation, calling it "simply nonsense."

The situation is further complicated by the thousands of foreign nationals who are stranded in the country. Although at least 15,000 tourists and Lebanese citizens fled via road into Syria on July 13, an Israeli strike on that road has now made travel into or out of the country virtually impossible.

On July 14, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert outlined three conditions for the Israeli operation to end:

1. Full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 calling for the disarming of Hezbollah
2. An end to rocket attacks from Lebanon on Israeli towns
3. The return of the two abducted soldiers

Worst case scenario (speculation/what some of us fear)

Worst Case Scenario: Syria and/or Iran turns out to have obviously been up to no good, along with Pakistan (which may have sponsored terrorism in Mumbai). Israel sends troops down the Damascus Road. Ferocious fighting ensues. Rockets fly from mid-Lebanon into south Lebanon and north Israel (with Israeli troops coming back into south Lebanon). Lebanon officially declares war on Israel and Syria follows suit. The US prepares for war with Syria, and Jordan and Egypt withdraw their ambassadors. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan go back to arguing. Ahmadinijad and the other Iranis call for the vanquishment of Israel, and declare war themselves. American troops are next door in Iraq. Dubya calls for new troops to go into the Mideast, as oil prices soar through the roof, sending the pump to $5 and even $6 a gallon. A massive bombardment campaign breaks out over the mountains of Iran, as paratroops and ground forces begin a fierce, deadly, and slow-moving invasion of that country. Meanwhile, Israeli troops occupy Beirut and Damascus, and Jerusalem threatens to annex territory it already took. Iran asks Pakistan for nukes. Pakistan refuses at first, claiming that its nukes are needed against India, and then gives two nukes to Iran. Jerusalem is nuked. The Israeli government retreats to Eilat, and soon nuclear fire blossoms over Tehran, Damascus, Beirut, and even Mecca. Pakistan takes this as an opportunity to hit India, and India fires back. World War III is well underway by this point, and several countries - China, Russia, European Union, and even more of the US - step into the fray and begin quarreling. Within a few years, mankind is extinct, along with a good many life-forms. DON'T LET IT GET THAT FAR, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND AND WOMANKIND.

International reaction

The international reaction to the crisis has mostly been a general condemnation of what the leaders consider to be a harsh response by Israel. At the same time, many leaders have stated that Hezbollah initiated the crisis and Lebanon shares responsibility for letting Hezbollah operate within her jurisdiction.

See also

• Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990
• Operation Accountability, 1993
• Operation Grapes of Wrath, 1996
• Operation Summer Rains

References

1. ^ "Two killed, dozens hurt as Katyushas rain down on northern Israel". Haaretz. 2006-07-14.
2. ^ "Hezbollah kills 8 soldiers, captures two in offensive on northern border". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. "Israel calls Hizbollah capture of soldiers act of war". Reuters. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "8 Israeli soldiers killed in attack". Drudge Report. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. "Israel strikes Beirut suburb". Reuters. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. "Israel strikes Lebanon over seized soldiers, dozens killed". AFP. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. "Who are Hezbollah?". BBC News Online. Thursday, 4 April, 2002. Retrieved 2006-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. "UN Security Council Press Release". SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSES SECRETARY-GENERAL’S CONCLUSION ON ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON AS OF 16 JUNE. 2000-06-18. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
9. "Israeli jets hit Lebanon targets". BBC News Online. 2004-01-20. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. "Israeli jets attack south Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. "Israel hits back at Hezbollah". BBC News Online. 2005-04-05. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. "Israeli jets hit deep in Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2004-06-07. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. "Israeli planes attack in Lebanon". BBC News Online. 2005-12-28. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. "Press Release SC/6878". United Nations Security Council. 2000-06-18. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. "Press Release SC/8299". United Nations Security Council. 2005-01-28. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel". The New York Times. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. "IDF releases names of two reserve soldiers captured by Hezbollah". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
18. "Roundup: Israel intensifies attacks on Lebanon, world calls for restraint". People's Daily Online. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
19. "IDF: If Hadera is hit we'll destroy Beirut buildings". Ynet. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
20. ^ "IDF strikes Lebanon airfields". Ynet. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
21. ^ "Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions". CNN. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
22. "US blames Iran, Syria for Hizbollah capture". Reuters. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
23. "Israel battles militants on two fronts". Reuters. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. "Woman killed in Hizbullah attack in Nahariya". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
25. "haaretz.com News Flash". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. "Israel Imposing Blockade on Lebanon". Associated Press. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. "Israeli woman killed in a 9K51 Grad rocket attack on Nahariya; IAF attacks Beirut airport, Hezbollah TV station". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. "Hizbullah wants soldiers moved to Iran". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
29. "Iran denies Hizbullah moving captives". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
30. "(none headline)". Fox News. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
31. "Haifa residents told to remain in protected areas". yNet. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
32. Ghattas, Sam F. (2006-07-13). "Israeli warplanes attack Beirut airport". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
33. "Brink of War: Lebanon Launches Retaliatory Assault on Israel". Fox News. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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35. "Israeli Warplanes Attack Beirut Airport". Associated Press. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
36. ^ "IDF hits Lebanese army bases, won't rule out ground invasion". Haaretz. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
37. "Rockets Hit Southern Israeli City in 'Major Escalation'". Fox News. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
38. ^ "Israel attacks Beirut airport after rockets hit Haifa". CNN. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
39. "Israeli planes strike southern suburb of Beirut". MSNBC. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
40. "Israeli ships, planes renew Beirut airport attacks". CNN. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
41. "(none, headline)". Fox News. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
42. "Anxious northern Israel endures rocket fire". CNN. {{cite news}}: Text "date2006-07-14" ignored (help)
43. ^ "Katyusha rockets hit Galilee". Ynet. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
44. "Northern Israel under attack; missile fired at Haifa". Ynet. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
45. "An Israeli sapper lifts the remains of a rocket that landed on mount Carmel in Israel's third largest city Haifa". Getty Images. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
46. ^ "Rockets hit Israeli city of Haifa". BBC News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
47. "Israel Wages War on Hezbollah as Jets Strike Airbase". Fox News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
48. "Brink of War: Lebanon Launches Retaliatory Assault on Israel". Fox News. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
49. "Israel says Haifa attack was staged … by Iran". Hotair. 2006-07-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
50. "Israeli ships, planes renew Beirut airport attacks". . 2006-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
51. "IDF forces foil infiltration attempt on northern border". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
52. "Hezbollah renews rocket fire, hitting Safed and Kibbutz Baram". Haaretz. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
53. "14 people remain hospitalized in Ziv hospital in Safed". Ynet. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
54. "Safed: Man seriously injured in Katyusha attack". Ynet. 2006-07-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
55. "Israeli reprisals hit Lebanon". Reuters. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
56. "Israel targets Lebanese air bases, Kuwaiti nationals among dead and UN prepares envoy to Region". The Daily Star. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
57. "Itamaraty confirma morte de brasileiros no Líbano". Globo. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
58. "IBrasil consternado por ataque que mató a cuatro brasileños en el Líbano". La Tercera. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
59. "'Israel may have to take alarming force'". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
60. "'Iran's national security adviser Ali Larijani flies to Damascus aboad special military plane Wednesday night as war tension builds up around Hizballah capture of 2 Israeli soldiers'". DEBKAfile. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
61. "Israel Claims Hundreds of Hits in Lebanon". Associated Press. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
62. "Israel hits Hezbollah stronghold". BBC. 2006-07-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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