Link to article: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-853164
On Thursday afternoon, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the south of Lebanon, including individuals, military resources, and tunnels. Israeli forces state that their counter-terrorism efforts have rendered Hezbollah’s underground projects inoperable. Since November, Israel conducted 14 strikes on Lebanon in the most intense bombardment on Lebanon since the November ceasefire brokered by the US. Israel has been aiming to take down Hezbollah strategists and military leaders, and on May 6th, the IDF stated Unit Commander Adnan Muhammad Sadiq Harb was killed by their strikes. Harb was in charge of the rehabilitation of Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, including weapons distribution. The November ceasefire has all but fallen through.
This article is important because it demonstrates the longevity of Israel’s military efforts in the region, expanding beyond the conflict in Gaza. With US support and resources, Israel is able to further its role as the Western world’s watchdog in the Middle East by also acting as a front line force against terrorist groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has further increased its influence in the region by carrying out strikes on Houthi forces in Yemen. Lebanon may respond to the increased quantity of Israeli airstrikes through diplomatic negotiations; a ceasefire has been agreed upon within the last 6-7 months, it is possible for it to be carried out again. Even as Israeli forces continue to strike within Lebanon, the IDF has made it mostly clear that their main targets are infrastructure and resources belonging to Hezbollah, not to the national government of Lebanon itself. However, since the November ceasefire between Hezbollah and Lebanon, there has been a reduction in conflict between Lebanese forces and the terrorist organization.
In class, we have been discussing the different types of human rights violations and why they earn the classifications that they do. Most human rights can be divided into one of two categories: economic, cultural, or social, and political/civil. Human rights violations can also be indirect or direct by a government towards its citizens, or if a government cannot protect its citizens from humanitarian crises or the aggressive actions of another state. Israel in past years has been committing brutal atrocities against the citizens of other states, specifically in Gaza, but also in Lebanon and Yemen. In terms of Gaza, the blockade of ports and access to supplies led to a severe humanitarian crisis rife with malnutrition, starvation, and dehydration. That is defined as a war crime, as it occurs during conflict, but could also be categorized as an act of aggression. Israel’s violent actions against unique groups including Houthis of Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon are destructive, but not quite human rights violations at the level they are currently occuring at. If Israel were to send troops into Lebanon, blockade ports, or militarily occupy Lebanese territory, these would all be examples of a crime of aggression.