The Lebanon - Israel Conflict of 2006
The Global Effects and its
Aftermath
Colonel (Dr) Emmanuel Kotia
Visiting Lecturer, International Conflict Management
Kennesaw State University
Introduction
Aims and Objectives
• To give a brief background of the crisis between Israel
and Lebanon with timelines since 1967
• To highlight the immediate causes of the 33-day war in
Lebanon which started on 12 July 2006
• To outline the Hezbollah weaponry and Israeli tactics
during the height of the 33 day war
• To examine the Global Effects of the crisis in Lebanon
and the way forward for the international community
• To briefly highlight the UN Peace Efforts in Lebanon
• To make some conclusions
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Background of the Conflict
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Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• Palestinians used Lebanon as a base for
activities against Israel since 1967
• Israel raided Beirut airport on 28 December
1968 in retaliation after the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) attack on an
Israeli plane in Athens – 13 civilians planes
destroyed
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Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• On 14/15 March 1978 Israel launched a major
invasion of Lebanon in reprisal for a Palestinian
attack into its territory. Israel occupied Lebanese
land as far as the Litani River
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Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• UNSC passed Resolution 425 and 426 calling on
Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territory and
established UNIFIL in 1978
• By 13 June 1978 Israel handed over the occupied
territory in South Lebanon not to UNIFIL but to its
proxy mainly Christian Lebanon
• In 1982 following the attempted assassination of
the Israeli Ambassador to United Kingdom (Shlomo
Argov), Israel launched a full scale invasion of
Lebanon (Operation Peace for Galilee)
Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• Hezbollah militia group formed in Lebanon in 1982
aimed at pursuing Israel to withdraw from Lebanese
territory
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Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• On 14 September 1982 Israeli forces occupied West
Beirut
• On 24 September 1982 a MNF from US, France and
Italy arrived in Beirut at the request of
Lebanon and created a Buffer Zone – Israel
withdrew from Beirut
• On 23 October 1983, 241 US Marines and 56 French
paratroopers were killed in two bomb explosions in
Beirut claimed by Shia groups – withdrawal of MNF
• On 28 July 1989 Hezbollah leader in Jibshit is
abducted by Israeli forces
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Background of Conflict
Timeline Notes
• Israel and Lebanon signed an agreement on
Israeli withdrawal, ending hostilities and
establishing a security zone in South Lebanon
on 17 May 1983
Background of Conflict -Timeline Notes
• In 1991 the National Assembly of Lebanon ordered the
dissolution of all militias but Hezbollah was allowed to
remain active and the South Lebanese Army refused to
disband
• On 16 February 1992, Shaykh Abbas al-Musawi Secretary
General of Hezbollah is killed by Israeli helicopter gunship
attack in Sidon
• On 11 April 1996 Israel bombed Hezbollah bases in South
Lebanon, South Beirut and Biqa (Operation Grapes of
Wrath)
• The US negotiates a truce and an understanding under
which Hezbollah and Palestinian guerrillas agreed not to
attack civilians in Northern Israel and recognized Israel’s
right to self defense but also Hezbollah’s right to resist
Israeli occupation
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Background of Conflict
• Israel withdraws from South Lebanon in May 2000
• Hezbollah raises Shebaa Farms issue
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Immediate Causes of War
• Hezbollah stepped up demands for Israel to
withdraw from Shebaa Farms
• Linkage of the capture of an Israeli soldier at Gaza
• Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli Defense Forces
(IDF) positions along the Blue Line on 28 May 2006
• A major counter attack by IDF destroying major
Hezbollah positions along the Blue Line
• Capture of two Israeli soldiers in an ambush and
subsequent Israeli attacks on 12 July 2006
• An immediate Israeli response with artillery and air
raids on all Hezbollah positions followed leading to
outbreak of war
The Hezbollah Militia
• Began as a guerrilla force in South Lebanon in
1982
• Over the years evolved a complex military
infrastructure
• Long range arsenal comes from assorted
missiles
• Holds in stock short range Katyushas capable
of striking targets of about 25 km (16 miles)
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Ra-ad 1 Missile
333 m – Diameter, 100 KG warheads
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Hezbollah Weapons
-Fajr 3 – 45 Km
-Fajr 5 – 75 Km
-Zelzal 2 – 200 Km
-Radar guided C802 missile
(Chinese made)
Katysusha
Zelzal – 2 Rockets Launchers
Hezbollah Rocket Arsenal
Hezbollah Potential Targets in Israel
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Israeli Attacks and Tactics
• Air raids on Hezbollah Targets/Supply Points
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Israeli Attacks and Tactics
• Use of Jet Fighters, Helicopters. Artillery, Tanks to
weaken Hezbollah infrastructure and strong points
• Blockade of Lebanon by Land, Air and Sea
Effects of Israeli Attacks
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Effects of
Israeli
Attacks
Qana Attack
on School
Children by
Israeli Air
Raids
Cross Border Attacks
• Major casualties on Israelis by Hezbollah
MEDEVAC at Haifa
Global Effects of the War
• Emergence of the devastating effect of long range
missiles in urban areas
• Attacks on airport and economic infrastructure –
airline business was affected seriously
Global Effects of the Conflict
• Political and military successes of a militia group in
public opinion- Hezbollah
Provision of social services/popularity in elections/
served as inspiration to Palestinian factions in Gaza
Global Effects of the Conflict
• Traditional and Human Security Issues
Refugees to Syria
Displaced Persons
Food/Shelter/Health
Global Effects of the Conflict
• Oil prices hike above $78 per barrel
• Definition of self defense and proportionality
– UN Charter
• The limitations of air war experienced by the
Israelis – unable to stop firing of missiles and
movement by Hezbollah forces
• The use of tunnels in asymmetric warfare –
Hezbollah and Hamas
• Created political tension in the Middle East
vis-à-vis USA Foreign Policy
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Global Effects of the Conflict
• International attention shifted swiftly to Lebanon
and Israel at the expense of other conflict areas
Global Effects of the Conflict
• Anguish and anger in the Muslim world
Global Effects of the Conflict
• Created international media attention with
imbedded journalist
Images from the media in Lebanon
The UN Peace Plan for
Lebanon
UN Mandate - UNSCR 1701
• Monitor the cessation of hostilities
• Accompany and support the LAF as they deploy throughout
South Lebanon
• Coordinate its activities related to the preceding task with
the Governments of Lebanon and Israel
• Extend assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to
civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of
displaced persons
• Assist the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders
and other entry points to prevent entry into Lebanon
without its consent arms or related material
• Assist LAF in taking steps towards establishment between
the Blue Line and Litani River area of free armed personnel,
assets and weapons
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Strategic End state of UNIFIL
• The government of Lebanon exercises its sovereign
authority within its internationally recognized
borders. Full implementation of the relevant
provisions of the Taif Accords. No weapons or
authority in Lebanon other than of the Lebanese
State – Conditions are established to support a
lasting peace in the region
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Main Phases of UN Peace Plan
• Phase 1 – Cessation of hostilities
• Phase 2 – IDF Disengagement
• Phase 3 – Transitional Phase, Assistance to the
LAF in the achievement of its full operational
capacity
• Phase 4 – Stabilization Phase (verification and
monitoring)
• Phase 5 – UN Military draw down
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Mission with UNIFIL
Cross Boundary Operations
Mission with UNIFIL
Protection of Engineers - Border Marking
Mission with UNIFIL
Protection for Border Marking Teams
along the Blue Line
Mission with UNIFIL
8 March 2007
MASCAL EXERCISE at Position 5-66
40
Mission with UNIFIL
Started Joint Patrols and Training with LAF
Mission with UNIFIL
Liaison Visits
Mission with UNIFIL
New GHANBATT HQ Complex
Mission with UNIFIL
Medal Day
Conclusion
Ghana Army Mission with UNIFIL
Conclusion
• Israeli raids in Lebanon can be traced as far back as 1968 when
the Palestinians used Lebanon as a base to attack Israel
• Hezbollah was formed as a militia group in 1982 with the aim of
forcing Israel to withdraw from the occupied territory in South
Lebanon in which Israel eventually withdrew under pressure in
2000
• The immediate causes of the war was as a result of the capture
of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah on the 12 July 2006. This was
followed by air, artillery and Katyusha attacks by both sides
causing panic and humanitarian problems
• The main global effects created by the conflict was the general
economic devastation created, humanitarian crisis, creation of a
refugee situation due to the unlimited air raids and the political
tension created in the Middle East with fury from Muslims
countries
Questions/Contributions
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References
• Erskine Emmanuel, (1989), Mission with UNIFIL, Hurst and Company: London.
• Robert Fisk, (2001) Pity the Nation – Lebanon at War, 3rd ed., Oxford, Oxford
University Press
• Kotia, Emmanuel W. "Understanding the Geopolitics of the War in Southern
Lebanon." KAIPTC Occasional Paper No. 35. Accra, Ghana: Kofi Annan International
Peacekeeping Training Centre, 2013
• Ozlem, Tur, The Lebanese War of 2006, (2007), Reasons and Consequences,
Perceptions, Spring, 2007
• Helena Cobban, “The 33-Day War: Hizbullah’s victory, Israel’s choice” , Boston
Review, November/December 2006, http://bostonreview.net/BR31.6/cobban.html
• 15 Robert Blecher, “Converging upon War”, Middle East Report Online, July 18,
2006,www.merip.org/mero/mero071806.html
• Gilbert Achcar, “Lebanon: The 33-Day War and UNSC Resolution 1701”, Online
Magazine: IV380 - July-August 2006,
http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1101
• Dov Waxman, “Between Victory and Defeat: Israel after the War with Hizballah”, p.
33
• UN Security Council, S/RES/1701 (2006), 11 August 2006
• Shibley Telhami, “Lebanese Identity and Israeli Security in the Shadows of the 2006
War”, Current History, January 2007
• Morten Valbjorn and André Bank, “Signs of a New Arab Cold War – The 2006
Lebanon War and the Sunni-Shi’i Divide”, Middle East Report, No. 242 (Spring 2007)
The Lebanon - Israel Conflict
The Global Effects and its
Aftermath
Colonel (Dr) Emmanuel Kotia
Visiting Lecturer, International Conflict Management
Kennesaw State University