2006 Lebanon War | Summary, Casualties, & Israel (2024)

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Article History

Bombing of Beirut, July 2006

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Date:
2006
Location:
Israel
Lebanon
Participants:
Hezbollah
Israel Defense Forces

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2006 Lebanon War, a war between Israel and Hezbollah that began on July 12, 2006, and ended on August 14. Its proximate cause was a cross-border attack by Hezbollah fighters that culminated with the kidnapping of a pair of Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others.

Background: Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah emerged in southern Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–90) to resist the entrance of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into the war and its invasion of Lebanon from the south. It consisted of militia fighters from southern Lebanon’s predominantly Shiʿi Muslim population, who drew inspiration from the religious populism of the Iranian Revolution just a few years earlier in 1979. When the civil war ended, Hezbollah continued to press the IDF, which remained in southern Lebanon as an occupying force, and positioned itself as the champion of Lebanese causes against Israeli aggression. After the withdrawal of Israeli forces in May 2000, land disputes and Israel’s detention of Lebanese nationals were among the issues that led to cross-border skirmishes between Hezbollah and the IDF. In January 2004 Israel released hundreds of mostly Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners in exchange for an Israeli businessman and the remains of three Israeli soldiers, who had been captured by Hezbollah in October 2000.

Abduction of Israeli soldiers and the 34-day war

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On the morning of July 12, 2006, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel, diverting the IDF’s attention as Hezbollah militants infiltrated the border. Eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two others were kidnapped during the campaign. Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, had hoped the abduction would open negotiations for another prisoner exchange, but he had underestimated Israel’s resolve to disabuse the militant group of the notion that it could attack soldiers with impunity.

Israel launched a massive air operation, bombing Hezbollah headquarters and rocket stockpiles in Beirut and militia positions and rocket launchers in the south as well as strategic targets, such as the Beirut airport, roads, and bridges, to prevent the abducted soldiers from being spirited out of the country and fresh military supplies from reaching Hezbollah.

The initial air strikes were extremely effective. In just 39 minutes on the night of July 12, the Israeli air force destroyed most of Hezbollah’s Iranian-made Zelzal long-range rockets, the militia’s prized strategic weapon. The intensive air campaign forced Hezbollah leaders underground and took a toll on its elite militia fighters. The strikes also caused hundreds of civilian deaths; however, they failed to stop the relentless rocket attacks on northern Israel. A sweeping ground offensive began on July 22 to push Hezbollah north of the Līṭāni River and away from the Israeli border, but the high cost of life and the IDF’s inability to subdue Hezbollah led to considerable criticism within Israel over the handling of the war.

Cessation of violence and aftermath

Hostilities came to an end on August 14 after Israel, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government accepted the conditions of United Nations (UN) Resolution 1701. The resolution called for an immediate cease-fire, the deployment of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers to southern Lebanon, the withdrawal of the IDF and Hezbollah from that same area, and the disarmament of Hezbollah. Israeli officials believed the resolution met most of its objectives, although the soldiers abducted on July 12 remained in Hezbollah’s custody. Hezbollah’s ability to fight the IDF to a standstill—a feat no other Arab militia had accomplished—allowed it to claim victory at home and emerge as heroes throughout much of the Arab world.

2006 Lebanon War | Summary, Casualties, & Israel (3)

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In the course of the war, about 120 IDF soldiers and more than 40 Israeli civilians were killed. More than 1,100 Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah combatants died, and the war caused massive displacement and damage to infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The Winograd Commission, convened in Israel to investigate conduct during the campaign, issued a report in January 2008 that was highly critical of the wartime decision-making of Israel’s leadership. In July 2008, following UN-brokered negotiations, the bodies of the abducted soldiers were returned to Israel in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners and the bodies of about 200 others.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.

2006 Lebanon War | Summary, Casualties, & Israel (2024)

FAQs

2006 Lebanon War | Summary, Casualties, & Israel? ›

In the course of the war, about 120 IDF

IDF
Recent News. Israel Defense Forces (IDF), armed forces of Israel, comprising the Israeli army, navy, and air force. The order to create the IDF was issued on May 26, 1948, and went into effect on May 31, 1948, just two weeks after Israel's declaration of independence.
https://www.britannica.com › topic › Israel-Defense-Forces
soldiers and more than 40 Israeli civilians were killed. More than 1,100 Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah
Hezbollah
Hezbollah (/ˌhɛzbəˈlɑː/; Arabic: حزب الله, romanized: Ḥizbu 'llāh, lit. 'Party of God') is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group, led since 1992 by its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Hezbollah
combatants died, and the war caused massive displacement and damage to infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

What happened between Lebanon and Israel in 2006? ›

On 12 July 2006, Hezbollah fighters fired rockets at Israeli border towns as a diversion for an anti-tank missile attack on two armored Humvees patrolling the Israeli side of the border fence. The ambush left three soldiers dead. Two Israeli soldiers were captured and taken by Hezbollah to Lebanon.

How many Lebanese people were killed by Israel? ›

The Israeli army laid siege to Beirut. During the conflict, according to Lebanese sources, between 15,000 and 20,000 people were killed, mostly civilians. According to American military analyst Richard Gabriel, between 5,000 and 8,000 civilians were killed. Fighting also occurred between Israel and Syria.

How many Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah? ›

Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)
Casualties and losses
878+ militants, soldiers and medics killed 476+ Hezbollah membersPer Israel: 23 soldiers (3 non-combat) and 1 security officer killed Per Hezbollah: 2,000+ casualties
10 more rows

Why did Israel and Lebanon fight? ›

In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in response to a spate of attacks carried out from Lebanese territory by Palestinian militants, triggering the 1982 Lebanon War.

Who won Israel vs Hezbollah in 2006? ›

Battle of Bint Jbeil
Date23 July – 11 August 2006 (2 weeks and 5 days)
LocationBint Jbeil, Southern Lebanon
ResultHezbollah victory IDF failed to captured the town

Is Hezbollah stronger than Israel? ›

The terrain and climate negated Israel's advantages in armored and maneuver warfare and tested infantry skills, where Hezbollah was strongest. Hezbollah's tactics, including light infantry, anti-tank weapons, and rocket fire onto Israel, were continuations of 1990s-era tactics.

Are there Lebanese living in Israel? ›

Lebanese in Israel (Hebrew: לבנונים בישראל) are Lebanese people living in Israel. Most of them are former members of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) and their families.

What was the biggest massacre in Lebanon? ›

The Sabra and Shatila massacre was the 16–18 September 1982 killing of between 1,300 and 3,500 civilians—mostly Palestinians and Lebanese Shias—in the city of Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War.

What did the Palestinians do to Lebanon? ›

The Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon was a multi-sided armed conflict initiated by Palestinian militants against Israel in 1968 and against Lebanese Christian militias in the mid-1970s. It served as a major catalyst for the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975.

Why is the Israeli army so powerful? ›

Israel's Defense Forces are known to be one of the most equipped militaries across the globe. Its annual budget exceeds $20 billion and Israel also has access to America's high-tech equipment. Moreover, the cyber capabilities of Israel's military is also commendable.

How many Palestinians were killed by Israel in total in 2024? ›

As of 8 September 2024, over 42,000 people (40,972 Palestinian and 1,478 Israeli) have been reported as killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 116 journalists according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (111 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese), 134 journalists and media workers according to the ...

Why is Hezbollah allowed in Lebanon? ›

At the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990, despite the Taif Agreement asking for the "disbanding of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias", Syria, which controlled Lebanon at that time, allowed Hezbollah to maintain their arsenal and control Shia areas along the border with Israel.

How do Lebanese feel about Israel? ›

In 2008, a Pew Research Center survey found that negative views concerning Jews were most common in Lebanon, with 97% of Lebanese having unfavorable opinion of Jews. In a 2011 survey again by the Pew Research Center on the Muslim-majority Middle Eastern countries polled held strongly negative views of Jews.

What started the Lebanon war? ›

The 1982 Lebanon War began on 6 June 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon. The invasion followed a series of attacks and counter-attacks between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operating in southern Lebanon and the Israeli military that had caused civilian casualties on both sides of the border.

Who did Israel support in the Lebanese Civil War? ›

Even during the civil war, Israel had been one of the Lebanese Front's supporters (along with, among others, Egypt and Saudi Arabia).

What happened between Israel and Palestine in 2006? ›

Large-scale conventional warfare occurred in the Gaza Strip, starting on 28 June 2006, which was the first major ground operation in the Gaza Strip since Israel's unilateral disengagement plan was implemented between August and September 2005. Palestinian Authority forces deploy to stop rocket launches until June 2007.

Who did Israel go to war with in 2006? ›

From 13 July 2006, the IDF attacked Lebanon by air, sea and land. Israeli ground forces carried out a number of incursions on Lebanese territory.

When was the last time Lebanon attacked Israel? ›

April 6, 2023. In the early afternoon of April 6, 34 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into Israel in the largest rocket attack since the 2006 Lebanon War.

When did Lebanon gain independence from Israel? ›

22 November 1943

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