Israeli Invasion of Lebanon

Hamed Malekpour | CC BY 4.0

ISRAELI INVASION OF LEBANON (September 2024 - Ongoing)

Uncover the complex realities of the Israeli war on Lebanon and learn how this ongoing conflict continues to destroy the lives of civilians.

Explore in-depth analysis of the deepening humanitarian crisis, including the widespread destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of over a million civilians. We analyse the repeated failure of diplomatic ceasefire agreements, alongside the dangerous role of Hezbollah.

Connect with vital news sources, expert insights, and human rights documentation—exploring serious allegations of war crimes and critical perspectives aimed at fostering accountability, humanitarian relief, and a pathway toward genuine stability and a sustainable peace.

Jump straight to our resources on the ➡️ Israeli Invasion of Lebanon

*****

General Information

Israel is currently engaged in a major ground invasion of Southern Lebanon, which escalated sharply in March 2026. This followed the collapse of a previously negotiated ceasefire, the U.S. - Israel attacks on Iran, and their assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The initial attacks struck more than 1,000 targets in Lebanon, which Israel claimed were Hezbollah strongholds. Hezbollah, a paramilitary group and a political party that wields tremendous power in Lebanon, launched retaliatory strikes, prompting Israel to begin its ground invasion.

Since March 2, Israeli forces have launched more than 1,840 attacks on Lebanon.

Israel claims their goal is to permanently demilitarise South Lebanon, create a buffer zone to protect Israeli border communities, and allow tens of thousands of displaced Israeli residents to return home.

This new escalation of the war on Gaza has expanded the war further into the Middle East. It has led to the deaths of more than 4,000 predominantly Lebanese civilians, injured more than 12,000, and displaced more than a million.

The British Red Cross reports that 4.3 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance in the country. This is particularly shocking when you consider the total population is 5 million.

Many Lebanese fear that Israel's ultimate goal is prolonged occupation and a redrawing of the border.

The current situation as of August 2026 -

Israel continues to occupy southern Lebanon despite a U.S. brokered ceasefire deal. They recently destroyed a tunnel system in the Beaufort area that they claim to be a key part of Hezbollah’s infrastructure.

Although full-scale combat has ceased, Lebanon is caught in a tentative, highly volatile ceasefire and struggling under a profound humanitarian and economic crisis.

محمد قليط | CC BY-SA 4.0

Who Are Hezbollah?

Hezbollah is both a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group. They operate from Lebanon and are backed heavily by Iran. They violently oppose both Israeli and Western powers operating in the Middle East.

They are the dominant military force in Lebanon and wield significant power over the country.

Hezbollah became involved in the Gaza War by launching a cross-border rocket campaign in solidarity with Hamas right at the start of events in 2023.

Since then, they have suffered severe blows to their leadership and infrastructure as the Israeli military began its retaliatory campaigns in late 2024.

Hezbollah entered the Iran War in March 2026, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They have a mutual alliance with Iran and have supported their war efforts against the U.S. and Israel.

In response, the IDF unleashed brutal air strikes across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut. They followed this with an expansion of their ground operations.

Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into yet another war. Their decision to become involved in the Iran war was met with swift backlash from many Lebanese. Public support for Hezbollah is waning as many blame the group for extensive damage, heavy casualties, the economic crisis, and serious hardships across the nation.

• Fewer than one-third of Lebanese citizens express confidence in the party.
• More than half explicitly say they do not trust it.
• 79% favour a national army monopoly on arms, meaning that only the official Lebanese Armed Forces should maintain weapons in the country.
• 58% explicitly favour disarming Hezbollah.
• Support within the Shia community remains high, with approximately 87.5% backing the group. Support from non-Shia communities remains below 10%.

Flickr | Paul Keller

History Of Lebanon - Israel Conflicts

The 2026 escalation is sadly the latest in a long list of cross-border conflicts spanning almost 5 decades:

• The South Lebanon Conflict (1978) - Also known as the ‘First Israeli invasion of Lebanon’, codenamed Operation Litani by Israel. The IDF defeated the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), forcing them to withdraw from southern Lebanon and thus preventing them from launching attacks on Israel from the Lebanese land border. The United Nations called on Israel to immediately withdraw its troops from Lebanon and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
• The Second Israeli Invasion of Lebanon (1982) - The invasion followed a series of attacks and retaliatory attacks between the PLO, who were back operating in southern Lebanon and the IDF. A full-scale invasion reached Beirut and led to an 18-year occupation of a "Security Zone" in the south. During this time, Hezbollah was established and waged a guerrilla war against the Israeli occupation until their withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
• The Third Israeli Invasion of Lebanon (2006) - A 34-day conflict against Hezbollah. Hezbollah were fighting for the release of Lebanese citizens held in Israeli prisons. On 11 August 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved Resolution 1701 to end the hostilities. It called for disarmament of Hezbollah, Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and an enlarged UNIFIL. Both sides claimed victory.

Megaphone | CC BY 4.0

Humanitarian Impact

• Israeli attacks have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon, the vast majority of them civilians.
• An estimated 1.2 million people, including 350,000 children, have been displaced. Israeli evacuation orders now cover more than 568 square miles, equating to 14% of the country's territory.
• The IDF has levelled entire border villages to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing attack launch sites.
• Over 37,000 housing units have been heavily damaged or completely flattened.
• Dozens of hospitals have been either forced to close or suspend operations due to direct damage or lack of resources. An estimated 200 medical facilities have faced targeted attacks.
• Israeli air strikes have killed at least 130 Lebanese first responders, including paramedics and ambulance drivers.
• Agricultural lands in the south and the Beqaa Valley in the north have been completely razed, preventing food production and destroying livelihoods.
• Poverty rates in heavily impacted southern states are projected to reach over 87-94%.
• Key bridges in southern Lebanon have been targeted to cut off and isolate communities, making it extremely difficult for them to access basic supplies and medical attention.

Megaphone | CC BY 4.0

War Crimes

There is extensive evidence of war crimes which have been committed by both sides during the Israeli military invasion.

Examples include the levelling of border towns, the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, targeting dense civilian zones, targeted attacks on medical personnel and services, use of white phosphorus in residential areas, and direct targeting of journalists.

These acts of war are clear violations of the UN Charter.

War crimes are being documented by the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. There are also reports based on evidence provided by Lebanese citizens which are to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Renewed interest in the pursuit of justice and accountability followed the new U.S. ceasefire proposal, which stated that both sides were prevented from taking political or legal action against one another while negotiations are underway.

Another point of interest is Lebanon's non-membership in the International Criminal Court. They are not a party to the Rome Statute and therefore are not under the jurisdiction of the ICC. This places serious roadblocks on the path to accountability.

Internal political divisions and fears of exposing Hezbollah to the laws of the ICC have previously prevented them from pursuing membership. Calls for them to join are growing louder from both civilians and political groups.

In April 2024, they almost granted the court jurisdiction, but later revoked the decision.

IDF Spokesperson's Unit | CC BY-SA 3.0

Attempts At Peace & Ceasefire In Lebanon

On 14 April 2026, talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials took place in Washington, D.C. This marked the first direct negotiations between the two nations since 1993.

The Washington Peace Proposals were hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and are U.S. brokered initiatives aimed at ending the conflict. The result was a 14-point trilateral framework agreement focused on the IDF's withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. Units of the Lebanese Armed Forces would replace them and would oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah.

On 26 June 2026, Lebanon and Israel signed the framework. It has been designated as a first step and not a final peace treaty. The framework does not include a full IDF withdrawal. Hezbollah rejected the agreement.

Israel has refused to agree to a ceasefire. Their primary goal is the complete disarmament of Hezbollah and a long-term ‘security zone’ along the border.

Lebanon meanwhile has prioritised an immediate ceasefire. They have proposed a full withdrawal of Israeli troops to within their own borders.

The current proposal is based on a three-zone plan where Southern Lebanon is divided into zones to facilitate a phased Israeli withdrawal.

Hezbollah, which rejects all Western influence in the Middle East have warned that attempts to disarm them could spark a civil war.

Follow-up talks have struggled to align the framework to any binding timeline for a ceasefire.

Lebanon is still enduring daily strikes, demolition operations, reconnaissance overflights, and limited humanitarian assistance.

Netanyahu is insistent that the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon (where it occupies roughly one-fifth of the country) until it has fully dismantled Hezbollah's infrastructure.

*****

Achieving lasting peace in Lebanon demands an immediate end to military action from all sides and comprehensive disarmament across all non-state armed groups. We must respect Lebanon’s right to sovereignty and security.

True stability must be built on accountability, deep governmental reforms, and justice for war crimes and international law violations.

Robust humanitarian aid to restore healthcare and basic infrastructure, fund economic recovery, and enable a safe, dignified return for uprooted families is essential.

“Stop the fighting. Stop the bombing. There is no military solution. Only diplomacy, dialogue and the full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council Resolutions” - UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Author: Rachael Mellor, 04.08.26, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0