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2006 Lebanon War

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2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
(Arab-Israeli conflict)
Part of the 2006 Middle East conflict
File:An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Southern Lebanon.png
An IDF M109 self-propelled howitzer fires into Southern Lebanon
Date12 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)
 Dan Halutz (CoS)
Moshe Kaplinsky[1]
Udi Adam (Regional)
Strength
1,000-10,000[2] militants 30,000 ground troops [3]
(plus IAF & ISC)
Casualties and losses

Hezbollah militia:
 Dead:
   Hezbollah: 74[4]
   IDF: 540[5]
 Captured: 21

Allied militia:
  Amal: 17[4]
  LCP: 12
  PFLP-GC: 2[4]

Civilians:
 Dead: 44[6]
   19 Israeli Arabs[7][8]  Injured: 381
   875 had shock[9]
 Displaced persons: 500,000[10][citation needed]

Soldiers:
 Dead: 119 [6]
 Wounded: 400+
 Captured: 2
1,140+ Lebanese civilians dead [3]
4,054+ Lebanese civilians injured [4]
1,000,000 Lebanese displaced [5]
46 Lebanese soldiers/police killed
5 dead United Nations workers[6]
See also: 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.

The conflict began when a Hezbollah unit conducted a cross-border raid, capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing three. Israel responded with airstrikes across Lebanon, during which more than 7,000 targets were struck, a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, and an air and naval blockade (which is still enforced[11]), while Hezbollah launched thousands of rockets into Israel and engaged the Israeli Army on the ground in guerrilla warfare. The conflict has killed over a thousand people, mostly Lebanese civilians, damaged Lebanese infrastructure, displaced about a million Lebanese and 500,000 Israelis, and disrupted normal life across all of Lebanon and northern Israel.

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, it was approved by the Lebanese government, and approved by the Israeli government the following day.

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.

Historical background

Israel-Lebanon conflict

The history of conflict between the two countries began with the 1948 Arab-Israeli Warand the expulsion of thousands of Palestinians (called Al Naqba) from the new state of Israel, after which they became refugees in neighbouring arab countries. 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.[12] 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.[13]

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[14] 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).[15] 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,[16] 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.[17]

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.[18][19]


Beginning of conflict

Main article: Zar'it-Shtula incident
See also: Timeline of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
See also: Military operations of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon 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.[20] The UN, the EU, the G8, the US, and prominent news agencies,[21] including Al Jazeera,[22] have characterized the Hezbollah action as "cross-border".[23] 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.”[24]

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.[25] 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.”[26]


Israeli action

Main article: Israeli military action in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, 12 July to 13 August 2006.

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".[27] CNN reported that "The Israeli Cabinet authorized 'severe and harsh' retaliation on Lebanon.”[28] Israel’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, told Israel's Channel 10 that “[i]f the soldiers are not returned, we will turn Lebanon’s clock back 20 years.”[28] 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.”[29]

PM Olmert and other officials declared that Israel held the Beirut government responsible for the attack, as it was carried out from Lebanese territory and Hezbollah has two ministers serving in the Lebanese cabinet.[30] In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denied any knowledge of the raid and stated that he did not condone it.[31] An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.[32]

Satellite photographs of the Haret Hreik a Hezbollah dominated neighborhood [Dahieh district] of southern Beirut, Lebanon, before and after 22 July 2006. The neighbourhood is home to Hezbollah's headquarters. See also high resolution photographs before and after.

Early on 13 July 2006 Israel sent IAF jets to bomb Lebanon's international airport near Beirut, forcing its closure and diversion of incoming flights to Cyprus.[33] Israel subsequently imposed an air and sea blockade on Lebanon, and bombed the main Beirut–Damascus highway.[33]

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.[34]

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.[35]

On 1 August Israeli commandos landed in Baalbek in Operation Sharp and Smooth, and captured five civilians including one named Hassan Nasrallah, the same name as the head of Hezbollah. All of the civilians were released after the ceasefire.[36] 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,[37] and were ordered to advance towards the Litani River.[38]

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.[39] On the same day, the IDF targeted what it said was a Palestinian faction in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in Saida. Two missiles were fired into a civilian residential area and killed UNRWA staff member Mr. Abdel Saghir. Two civilians were killed in this camp few days ago.[citation needed]

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. [40] 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.[41] Over 7,000 targets had been struck, and over 100,000 artillery shells had been fired. [42]

Hezbollah action

Main article: Hezbollah rocket campaign in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
See also: Hezbollah rocket force
File:Haifa apartment building after attack July 17 2006.jpg
A Haifa street following rocket attack 17 July 2006

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."[43]

Hezbollah fired at least 3,970 rockets, [42] mostly hitting civilian targets throughout the conflict. Cities targeted included 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.[44][45][46] It also hit a hospital in Safed in northern Galilee on 18 July, wounding eight.[47]

On 14 July, following Israeli bombing raids on Lebanon that killed 60 civilians,[48] Nasrallah addressed Israel, saying “You wanted an open war, and we are heading for an open war. We are ready for it.”[49]

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.[50] 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.[51]

Map showing some of the Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil as of Monday 7 August.

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.[52][53] 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.[54] [55]

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".[56] 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.[57] On 4 August Israel attacked the southern outskirts of Beirut, and later in the day, Hezbollah launched rockets at the Hadera region.[58]

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 the 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.[59][60]

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.[61].

Hezbollah also engaged in ground combat with the IDF, especially guerilla-type hit-and-run tactics. These attacks by small, well-armed units caused serious problems for the IDF, especially where hundreds of sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) were used. They enabled Hezbollah to destroy 14 Israeli Merkava main battle tanks; another six were destroyed by anti-tank mines. Additional casualties were caused by Hezbollah using ATGMs to collapse buildings onto Israeli troops sheltering inside. [42]

On 27 August, the day before UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah apologised to the Lebanese people for the incident that sparked the war, saying "Had we known that the kidnapping of the soldiers would have led to this, we would definitely not have done it."[62]

Initial reviews of the conflict after the ceasefire

File:Economist Cover 20060819.jpg
The Economist magazine cover declaring Hezbollah de facto winners of the war.[63]

Following the UN-brokered ceasefire, there were mixed responses on who had gained most in the war. Iran and Syria proclaimed a victory for Hezbollah[64] while the Israeli and United States administrations declared that Hezbollah lost the conflict. Initially, in a poll by an Israeli radio station, Israelis were split on the outcome with the majority believing that no one won.[65]. By 25 August 63% of Israelis polled wanted Olmert to resign due to his handling of the war.[66] 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.[67] 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 IDF. Also, Israel's stated goals entering the conflict were to retrieve its captured soldiers and destroy the military capability of Hezbollah - neither goal was accomplished. Furthermore, Hezbollah is also leading the rebuilding effort in south Beirut and Lebanon using "unlimited" support from Iran, thereby awarding Hezbollah further political clout.[68]

In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert admitted to the Knesset that there were mistakes in the war in Lebanon,[69] 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.[70] Israeli chief of staff, Lt Gen Dan Halutz, has publicly admitted to failings in the conflict. [71] On 15 August Israeli government and defense officials have called for the resignation of Halutz following a stock scandal in which he admitted selling stocks hours before the start of the Israeli offensive; the magnitude of the affair is considered linked to the lack of a "clearcut victory" for Israel.[72]

On 21 August a group of demobolized Israel reserve soldiers and parents of soldiers killed in the fighting started a movement calling for the resignation of Ehud Olmert and the establishment of a national commission of inquiry. They have set up a protest tent opposite the Knesset and have grown significantly in numbers, reaching over 2,000 by 25 August [73] and including support from the influential Movement for Quality Government. [74][73] On 28 August Olmert announced that there will be no independent national or governmental commission of inquiry. Instead, there will be two internal inspection commissions, one to investigate the political echelon and one to examine IDF, and likely a third commission to examine the Home Front, to be announced at a later date. These will have a far more limited mandate and authority than a single inquiry commission headed by a retired judge. [75] The political and military committees are to be headed by former director of Mossad, Nahum Admoni, and former Chief of Staff, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, respectively. Critics argued that these committees amount to a whitewash, due to their limited authority, limited investigatory scope, their self-appointed basis, and that neither will be headed by a retired judge. [76]

US President George W. Bush has questioned Hezbollah's declarations of victory "when at one time [they] were a state within a state, safe within southern Lebanon, and now [they're] going to be replaced by a Lebanese army and an international force."[77] It seems unlikely, however, that the army or the international force will attempt to disarm Hezbollah.[78][79] 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[80] in direct costs while the cost for Israel is put at US$1.6 - US$3 billion.[81] 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.[82] According to one analyst in the Associated Press, the main casualty was the fragile unity between Lebanon's sectarian and political groups.[83] The American and Lebanese relationship has been strained by the war. After the attack on Qana, the typically pro-American Lebanese prime minister Fuad Seniora snubbed Condoleeza Rice by cancelling a meeting with her and thanked Hezbollah for its "sacrifices for the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon." [84] Many in Lebanon viewed the US harshly in the conflict for stalling the cease-fire resolution in the UN and for its support of Israel. On 28 July only 8% of Lebanese felt that the US supports Lebanon, while 87% supported Hezbollah's fight with Israel.[85]

Targets in civilian areas

Main article: Targeting of civilian areas in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
File:Tyre Mass Graves (PBS NewsHour).png
Mass graves for civilians following Israeli airstrikes in Tyre, Lebanon, 21 July 2006. The half-length coffins are for children. About one third of the Lebanese casualties of the war are children under 13 years of age.
A car in Haifa following rocket attack 17 July 2006 showing result of anti personnel shrapnel

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

The UN Development Program (UNDP) initially estimated about 35,000 homes and businesses in Lebanon were destroyed in the conflict, while a quarter of the country's road bridges or overpasses were damaged. Jean Fabre, a UNDP spokesman, estimated that overall economic losses for Lebanon from the month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah totaled "at least $15 billion, if not more." [86] Israel says that it attacked buildings and infrastructure used by Hezbollah to launch rockets or receive re-supply from Iran and Syria.[87][88]

Hezbollah fired hundreds of 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.[89][44][90]

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah defended their 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”.[91]

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."' [92] 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." [93] The organisation nevertheless condemned both Hezbollah and Israel for attacks on civilians, in addition to the reported use of white phosphorus by the IDF.[94][95] 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 Hezbollah. [96] The report also stated the need for an independent and impartial inquiry appointed by UN, to investigate alleged war crimes by both Hezbollah and Israel.

Human Rights Watch issued many reports documenting indiscriminate use of force against civilians by both Israel and Hezbollah. They blamed Israel for systematically failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians, which may constitute a war crime, and have accused Hezbollah of committing war crimes by the deliberate and indiscriminate killing of civilians by firing rockets into populated areas. The organization has also strongly criticized Israel for using cluster bombs too close to civilians because of their inaccuracy and unreliability, and Hezbollah for filling its rockets with ball bearings, which "suggests a desire to maximize harm to civilians."[97][98][99] The US government is investigating whether Israel's use of American-made cluster bombs in southern Lebanon violated secret agreements that restrict when it can employ such weapons. [100] Unexploded cluster bombs dropped by Israeli warplanes or duds fired by artillery remain in much of South Lebanon, and have killed 12 people and wounded 39, according to Chris Clarke, head of the U.N. Mine Action Coordination Center attached to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. [101]

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.[102] 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”.[103] 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.

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,[104][105] 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”.[106]

The 34-day war cost the lives of nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Lebanon, as well as 157 Israelis, mainly soldiers.[107]. Of the lebanese civilian casualties almost one third were children under 13 years of age. [108][109]


Environmental consequences

See also: Jiyeh power station oil spill
The oil spill caused by the Jiyeh bombings in mid July, had by 29 July coated the water's surface in Byblos harbour, some 60 km north of Jiyeh.

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.[110] A 10km wide oil slick covers 170km of coastline,[111][112] 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.

File:Israeli Forest Fire (2006).png
A forest fire caused by Hezbollah rockets in mid July.

Hezbollah rocket attacks caused numerous and fierce forest fires inside northern Israel, particularly on the Naftali mountain range near Kiryat Shmona.[113] 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.[114] Estimates are that it will take at least 60 years to rehabilitate the forests.[115]

Amnesty International called on Israel to consider refraining from the use of 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.[116]

Position of Lebanon

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

While Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the Hezbollah attacks due to 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.[31] An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.[32] 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.”[117]

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.”[118]

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.[citation needed]

Previous ceasefire attempts

Main article: Ceasefire attempts during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

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,[119] while Israel insisted upon a conditional ceasefire, including the return of the two captured soldiers.[120] 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. [121]

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,[122] while a top Hezbollah official has similarly denied any intention of disarming in the south. Israel has said it will stop withdrawing from Southern Lebanon if Lebanese troops aren't deployed there within a matter of days.[123]

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.[124] 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.[125]

Post-ceasefire conflict

  • 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 said to have approached Israeli positions were killed.[126]
  • On 15 August 2006 "Israeli soldiers opened fire when four Hezbollah fighters came toward them," three of the Hezbollah fighters were killed.[127] 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. [128]
  • 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.[129]
  • 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.[130]. Syria and Iran immediately denied supplying Hezbollah with weapons.[citation needed] Lebanese officials "said the Israelis were apparently seeking a guerrilla target in a school."[131] One Israeli soldier was killed, another mortally wounded, while 3 Hezbollah fighters were wounded.
  • On 19 August U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was "deeply concerned" about an Israeli commando raid in eastern Lebanon Saturday, calling it a violation of a U.N.-backed ceasefire. [132] Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told the Associated Press that “[t]he cease-fire is based on (U.N. resolution) 1701 which calls for an international arms embargo against Hezbollah.”[130] Regev was referring to article 8 of the resolution which calls for an end to all weapons transfers to Hezbollah.
  • On 27 August The U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that U.N. troops would not intercept Syrian arms shipments to Hizbollah unless requested to do so by the Lebanese Government. [133]
  • On 29 August U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that Israel had committed most of the truce violations and described Israel's continuing embargo as "a humiliation and an infringement on [Lebanese] sovereignty".[134]

International reaction

A Lebanese protest in Sydney
Main article: International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
See also: International reactions to the 2006 Qana airstrike
See also: Military and economic aid in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

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.[135] A number of governments, including the United States,[136] 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.[137]

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.[138]

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[139] and Israel’s response.[140]

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.[141][142]

Various foreign governments assisted the evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon.[143]

Previous prisoner exchanges

See also: 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 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. [144][145] On 23 August 2006, one such a mine killed an Israeli soldier in South Lebanon. [146]

See also

Template:Campaignbox Arab-Israeli conflict

References

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  143. ^ "Lebanon evacuation gathers pace". BBC News. 2006-07-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  144. ^ "Factfile: Hezbollah". Aljazeera. 2006-07-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  145. ^ "Israel, Hezbollah swap prisoners". CNN. 2004-01-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  146. ^ "IDF soldier killed, two officers hurt, in South Lebanon". Haaretz. 2004-08-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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  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)
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