2006 Lebanon War

The 2006 Lebanon War (Arabic:حرب تموز) also called the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War and the 33-Day War was a conflict between Israeli regime and Hezbollah that unfolded in 2006. The tensions leading up to the war began in 2004 when Israeli regime failed to release three Lebanese prisoners, breaking a previous agreement with Hezbollah. In July 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers during Operation "the True Promise" as a means to negotiate their release.

2006 Lebanon War

A picture of the destroyed residential areas in Dahiya, south of Beirut during the 33-day war
Date	12 July to 14 August, 2006
Place	Lebanon, northern Israel
Result	Ceasefire and acceptance of Security Council Resolution 1701
Belligerents
Hezbollah (Lebanon) • Amal Movement Israeli regime
Commanders
Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah • Imad Mughniyeh • Khalid Ahmad Bazzi Ehud Olmert • Amir Peretz • Dan Halutz
Casualties and losses
Martyrdom of 180 soldiers and 1183 civilians, the complete destruction of 15,000 houses, and thousands of factories, institutions and welfare and entertainment centers. 165 people were killed

In response, Israel declared war on Lebanon. War experts believe that Israel had already planned to launch an offensive, and Hezbollah’s actions accelerated this timeline. Israel's official demands included the disarmament of Hezbollah and the return of its soldiers, but these goals were not achieved by the war's end.

The conflict resulted in extensive destruction on both sides; however, the impact on Lebanon was far more severe. Leveraging its military superiority, Israel inflicted significant damage, destroying around 15,000 homes and devastating vital infrastructure, including power plants, ports, and bridges.

The war lasted for 33 days, and on the morning of the 34th day, August 14, 2006, a ceasefire was established in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Prisoner Exchange in 2004

In 2004, Hezbollah and Israel committed to a prisoner exchange following indirect negotiations. In this exchange, 436 Muslim prisoners from various countries were released along with the remains of 59 Hezbollahs' forces in return for one living prisoner and the remains of three Israelis.

Contrary to the agreement, Israel did not release three of the prisoners, including Samir Qantar. On the day of the prisoners' release, Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah announced that the way to free those three individuals was to capture more prisoners from Israel.

Al-Wa'd al-Sadiq Operation

On the morning of July 12, 2006, Hezbollah launched an attack on an Israeli military vehicle, capturing two soldiers. In an effort to prevent the transfer of the captives, several Israeli troops intervened, but the military vehicle exploded, resulting in additional casualties. Overall, eight people were killed and two were taken captive during this operation.

Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah stated that the release of the captives could only be achieved through indirect negotiations and a prisoner exchange. In response to this operation, Israel declared war on Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Subsequently, American and Israeli sources revealed that Israel had planned a surprise attack to occupy the Litani River, set for October—just two months after the "al-Wa'd al-Sadiq Operation". However, this operation accelerated their timeline.

Outbreak of War

The bombed areas of Lebanon in the 33-day war of 2006

On July 12, 2006, Israel declared war on Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Israel entered the conflict with over 40,000 troops, boasting a significant advantage in air, naval, and armored capabilities, with its military often cited as the sixth largest in the world.

In response to Israel’s advanced weaponry, Hezbollah utilized guerrilla warfare tactics. The group had constructed an extensive network of tunnels in southern Lebanon, which they effectively used for command operations and munitions storage throughout the conflict.

Many Arab nations took a negative stance toward Hezbollah during the war. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations claimed that several foreign ministers and ambassadors from Arab countries expressed a desire for Israel to eliminate Hezbollah.

In Lebanon, high-ranking officials were divided in their responses. While Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned Israel's attacks, he also called for Hezbollah's disarmament. In contrast, other officials, such as President Emile Lahoud and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, expressed their support for Hezbollah. Iran, Syria, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimin) also backed the group. On the tenth day of the conflict, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei sent a verbal message through Qasem Soleimani to Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, promising victory and encouraging fighters to recite the Supplication of Jawshan al-Saghir. Following the war, he wrote an official message to Nasrallah.

Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, traveled to Lebanon on the first day of the war. After a week, he returned to Iran to report back before going back to Lebanon, where he remained for the duration of the conflict.

This war is known as the "33-Day War," the "July War," and the "Sixth War" by Arab nations, while the Israeli regime refers to it as the "Second War."

Objectives of the War

At the beginning of the war, Israeli officials laid out their goals in official statements:

• Disarmament and Destruction of Hezbollah: Israel aimed to disarm and eliminate Hezbollah. As the conflict dragged on without achieving this objective, Israel shifted its focus to occupying parts of Lebanon up to the Litani River. However, this too proved unsuccessful, and Israel ultimately accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which mandated the deployment of the Lebanese army and UN forces along the border and up to the Litani River.

• Release of Captured Soldiers: Israeli regime also demanded the return of its two captured soldiers.
• Creation of a New Middle East: Condoleezza Rice, then U.S. Secretary of State, described the 33-day war as the beginning of a New Middle East. experts suggest that both Israel and the U.S. sought to shape a region that would be compliant and effectively serve as a U.S. sphere of influence.

Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah argued that if Lebanon had fallen during the 2006 conflict, the U.S.-Israeli agenda would have extended the war into Syria and targeted Palestinian resistance, ultimately encircling Iran.

By the end of the war, Israel had retreated from all its initial objectives and achieved none of its stated goals. experts generally view Hezbollah as having emerged victorious in fulfilling its aims.

Qana Massacre

Main article: Qana Massacre

The second Qana massacre took place during the 33-day war, perpetrated by Israeli forces. On July 30, Israeli fighter jets conducted an airstrike on a three-story building at midnight, resulting in around 50 casualties, the majority of whom were children.

In response to the deaths of 28 civilians in Qana, Israel agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire.

Hezbollah's Surprises

Experts agree that Israel's military power was, and still is, unmatched by Hezbollah. However, Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah warned in a speech after the al-Wa'd al-Sadiq operation that if Israel chose to confront Hezbollah, it should expect significant surprises.

Hezbollah delivered several key military surprises during the conflict:

• In the early days of the war, Hezbollah launched a successful missile attack on the advanced Israeli corvette Saar 5. Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah announced this achievement live during a speech, confirming the strike. This success dealt a serious blow to the morale of Israeli forces while energizing Hezbollah forces.
• Hezbollah also targeted a sophisticated military boat with missile strikes. Furthermore, the group managed to hit the strategic port city of Haifa and later extended its attacks to areas and settlements even farther away.
• Israeli forces, equipped with Merkava tanks, considered them a stronghold. However, Hezbollah effectively destroyed these tanks with its missiles, inflicting significant casualties on the enemy.
• In addition, Hezbollah succeeded in downing an Israeli helicopter.

Damage and Casualties

Seyyid Hasan Nasrallah in the victory celebration:

"How can the human mind imagine how many thousands of resistant sons from Lebanon will stand for 33 days against the most powerful air force in the Middle East... in front of 40,000 officers and soldiers, and the most powerful tank in the world and the most powerful army in the region? How can these fighters defeat such an army except with God's help, God's cooperation and God's approval".

The scale of material and human losses on both sides was vastly different. Israel, utilizing its military superiority, dealt severe blows and significant casualties to Lebanon and its people. The destruction was so extensive that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah remarked in an interview that they never expected the capture of these two soldiers would lead to such widespread devastation, implying that the war's consequences had been planned from the outset.

Casualties and Damage in Lebanon

During the war, Israel dropped approximately 4.8 million cluster bombs. On average, there were 270 air sorties each day, resulting in widespread destruction. Experts have identified two main objectives behind these attacks:

• Conducting airstrikes across various areas to eliminate Hezbollah's capabilities and facilitate the entry of Israeli ground forces into Lebanon.
• Applying pressure on the Lebanese government and people to turn public opinion against Hezbollah, compelling the group to comply with Israel's demands.

The airstrikes particularly targeted Shiite-populated areas. As a result, 15,000 homes were completely destroyed. Thirty-one critical infrastructures, including airports, commercial and fishing ports, hydraulic stations, an oil refinery, and a power plant, were entirely wiped out. Additionally, 80 bridges and around 90 businesses sustained severe damage. Two hospitals were completely destroyed, while three others were significantly impacted.

In total, 1,183 Lebanese civilians lost their lives in the conflict, with one-third of them being children. Hezbollah has not released official casualty figures, but some experts estimate that approximately 180 of its members were killed, based on the number of funerals held for its members.

Casualties and Damage in Israel

During the war, Hezbollah launched approximately 4,000 missiles at Israel, resulting in 165 Israeli fatalities. Throughout the conflict, 56 Merkava IV tanks were targeted, some of which were later repaired. Additionally, a Saar 5-class corvette, a Super Dvora patrol boat, and one helicopter were also hit.

Some military experts argue that this war, unlike previous conflicts, not only engaged the Israeli military but also deeply affected the Israeli public. Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli territory underscored the harsh reality that war could directly impact civilians, delivering a significant blow to national morale and shifting public perceptions of security in Israel.

Seyyid Hasan Nasrallah:

"They did not stop this war neither for Lebanon, nor for Lebanese children or women, nor for beautiful Lebanon itself, but they only ended this war for Israel."

Ceasefire

In the final days of the 33-day war, Israel aimed to secure a new resolution to bring the conflict to a close. Throughout the war, Israel dropped approximately 4.8 million cluster bombs, with 1.1 million of those used in just the last 72 hours.

Ultimately, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 was unanimously adopted on August 12, 2006, to end the hostilities. The draft resolution was prepared by the United States and France, and military experts have noted that its content and tone were favorable to Israel. The resolution called for the establishment of a zone from the Israeli border to the Litani River, where both the Lebanese army and UN forces would be deployed.

The war lasted 33 days, and after both sides accepted the resolution, it was agreed that a ceasefire would take effect at 8 a.m. on August 14, 2006, marking the 34th day of the conflict.

Comparison with the Six-Day War

In 1967, the Israeli army successfully occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights in Syria, and the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt within just six days, defeating the armed forces of several Arab countries. While the Arab armies faced defeat during that brief conflict, Hezbollah emerged victorious after 33 days of fighting.

Researchers argue that Hezbollah's victory helped to counterbalance the earlier defeats of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in 1967, which had shifted the political landscape in the region. This comparison between the two wars resonated deeply among ordinary people. In cities like Cairo and Amman, many citizens not only followed the developments of the 33-day war but also paid close attention to how long Hezbollah was able to resist against Israel.