View source for Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War

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This is a '''[[Chronology|timeline]]''' of events related to the '''[[2006 Lebanon War]]'''.

{{Campaignbox Lebanon 2006}}

==July 12–19==
{{further|Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War (July)}}

===Wednesday, July 12===
The conflict began on July 12 when 8 Israeli soldiers were killed and a further two were captured during a cross-border attack. At approximately 9 am local time,<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2007-08-28|title=Civilians under Assault|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/08/28/civilians-under-assault/hezbollahs-rocket-attacks-israel-2006-war|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}</ref> Hezbollah's military wing launched a barrage of rockets and mortars on the northern Israeli town of [[Shlomi, Israel|Shlomi]], apparently as a diversion.<ref>{{cite news | title=Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel | date=July 13, 2006|work=The New York Times| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?hp&ex=1152849600&en=7c501785edb16cc8&ei=5094&partner=homepage | first1=Greg | last1=Myre | first2=Steven | last2=Erlanger | accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref>
{{main|Zar'it-Shtula incident}}

An Israeli border patrol consisting of two armored [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[Humvee]]s patrolling on the Israeli side of the border near the village of Zar'it was attacked with [[anti-tank rocket]]s killing three soldiers, wounding three, and abducting two into Lebanon's territory. Hezbollah has named this operation "True Promise.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyguy.com/israel-lebanon_war_2006.html |title=Israel-Lebanon/Hezbollah War (2006) |publisher=The History Guy |accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref> The IDF confirmed that two Israeli troops were abducted from Israeli territory by Hezbollah, and identified them as [[Ehud Goldwasser]] and [[Eldad Regev]]. An [[Israel]]i [[Merkava]] Mark II [[tank]] was damaged by a 300&nbsp;kg [[improvised explosive device]] as it crossed the border in Lebanon, attempting to pursue Hezbollah. All four of the crew members were killed. Another Israeli soldier was killed when he came under heavy fire during an attempted recovery of the bodies from the tank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid%3D1150885976658%26pagename%3DJPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |title=Eight IDF soldiers killed, 2 kidnapped on northern frontier &#124; Israel &#124; Jerusalem Post |accessdate=2011-02-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118071058/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885976658&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=November 18, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref>  In all, 8 soldiers were killed, 2 captured and 6 wounded.<ref name="Haaretz3">{{cite news | title = Three IDF soldiers killed by anti-tank fire in village of Ayta a-Shab| date=August 2, 2006| work=[[Haaretz]]|url= http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/745277.html}}</ref> Israel's Foreign Ministry Spokesman [[Mark Regev]] claims the Hezbollah unit that captured the two soldiers is trying to transfer them to [[Iran]]. However, the spokesman did not disclose his source.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hizbullah wants soldiers moved to Iran|date=July 13, 2006|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885988710&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Israel attacked Hezbollah's TV station [[Al-Manar]] and radio station [[Al-Nour]] in [[Haret Hreyk]] (Harat Hurayk), a southern suburb of Beirut, and in [[Baalbeck]].

[[Hezbollah]] leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] later declared that "No military operation will return them [the captured soldiers]... The prisoners will not be returned except through one way: indirect negotiations and a trade [of prisoners]."<ref>[http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711 Hizbullah leader calls for prisoner exchange] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214090717/http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/200711 |date=December 14, 2006 }} – Al Bawaba – July 12, 2006</ref>

The attacks came two weeks after the beginning of the [[Gaza Strip]]-focused [[Operation Summer Rains]] by the [[Israel Defense Forces]] whose objective was to free the Israeli soldier [[Gilad Shalit]] captured on June 25, 2006, by [[Hamas]] militants in an earlier cross-border attack organized by Hamas that left two Israeli soldiers dead.

In negotiations for the 2004 prisoner exchange, Hezbollah had sought the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. While many were released, Hezbollah failed to achieve the release of [[Samir Kuntar]]. Having failed to achieve this objective, Hassan Nasrallah declared that the organization would carry out further operations at a later date to gain the release of the remaining prisoners.<ref name="China1">{{cite news|title= Hezbollah: Group may kidnap more Israelis|date=January 30, 2004|work=China Daily|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2004-01/30/content_301587.htm}}</ref> The Hezbollah leader later called for talks on prisoner exchange which was officially rejected by Olmert.<ref name="Reuters1">{{cite news|title=Israel rejects militants' demands over kidnapping|date=June 26, 2006|publisher=Reuters|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-06-26T175855Z_01_SCH354578_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However it was widely believed that negotiations were underway with [[Egypt]] as mediator.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|date=2007-10-16|title=Olmert defends Israel's swap of bodies with Hezbollah|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/world/africa/16iht-mideast.4.7914769.html|access-date=2021-07-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Israel called together an emergency cabinet meeting, during which Prime Minister Olmert said that it held the [[Beirut]] government responsible for the attack, vowing that it would pay a "heavy price" for the attacks, adding "The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake regional stability".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Myre|first1=Greg|last2=Erlanger|first2=Steven|date=2006-07-12|title=Clashes spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah raids Israel - Africa & Middle East - International Herald Tribune|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/africa/13iht-web.0713mideast.2188501.html|access-date=2021-07-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Plans to locate "thousands" of [[Israel Defense Forces#Reserve service|reserve]] troops were also announced. Israeli [[Defence Minister]] [[Amir Peretz]] also said<ref name="cnn1" /> that  "the State of Israel sees itself free to use all measures that it finds it needs, and the [Israeli Forces] have been given orders in that direction." The United Nations envoy to the region, Geir Pedrson, condemned the Hezbollah action and called on Hezbollah to release the soldiers.<ref name="cnn1" />

Lebanese Prime Minister [[Fuad Siniora]] denied any knowledge of the raid and stated that he did not condone it.<ref name="Lebanon2">{{cite news|title=Statement by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora|date=June 17, 2006|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74027|access-date=August 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811001008/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74027|archive-date=August 11, 2006|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>  An emergency meeting of the Lebanese government reaffirmed this position.<ref name="Lebanon1">{{cite news|title=Siniora's Cabinet makes clear it had nothing to do with 'what happened'|date=June 13, 2006|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)]]|url=http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73930|access-date=August 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714183432/http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73930|archive-date=July 14, 2006|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Hezbollah's action aroused varying reactions among Lebanese political forces. It was harshly criticised by many members of the largely anti-Syrian parliamentary majority,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel/Lebanon/Hezbollah Conflict in 2006 {{!}} How does law protect in war? - Online casebook|url=https://casebook.icrc.org/case-study/israellebanonhezbollah-conflict-2006|access-date=2021-07-02|website=casebook.icrc.org}}</ref> while [[Michel Aoun]], despite his understanding with the party, declared that he supported the government's position.<ref>{{Cite web|title=It's complicated: The Aoun-Hezbollah relationship|url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/its-complicated-aoun-hezbollah-relationship|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Middle East Institute|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Michel Aoun {{!}} Biography, History, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michel-Aoun|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>

In response, the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] (IDF) launched a series of air and artillery strikes at positions in southern Lebanon, generally seen as the support base for Hezbollah. Israeli General Dan Halutz threatened to "turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast/ |title=Israel Authorizes 'Severe' Response to Abductions |publisher=CNN |date=July 12, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060921125544/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast/ |archivedate=September 21, 2006 }}</ref> in a reference to the destruction Lebanon suffered in its bloody civil war. Israeli troops later bombed a main road in the south of Lebanon leaving two civilians dead, and a series of air-raids followed during the night which also targeted the civilian infrastructure. Israel said that they were trying to prevent the captured soldiers from being removed to Iran.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lebanon: The Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah Conflict|url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33566.html|access-date=2021-07-02|website=www.everycrsreport.com|language=en}}</ref>

===Thursday, July 13===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:54368.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Israel]]i [[Israeli Sea Corps|Navy]] sailors survey the coast of [[Lebanon]] from the Israeli naval blockade.]] -->
On Thursday, July 13, Israel began implementing a land and sea blockade on Lebanon.  The [[Beirut International Airport]] (the sole international airport in Lebanon) was bombed, forcing all international flights to be diverted to [[Cyprus]].  The Israeli army said the airport had been used to smuggle in weapons to Hezbollah.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/13/mideast/index.html | work=CNN | title=CNN.com – Israeli warplanes hit Beirut suburb – Jul 13, 2006}}</ref>

Many roads and bridges were struck by Israel, essentially cutting off the predominantly Shia southern Lebanon from the Capital in [[Beirut]].Warplanes also bombed the road to [[Damascus]], the capital of Syria,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275366,00.html|title=IDF bombs Hizbollah stronghold in Beirut|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|date=July 14, 2006|accessdate=July 14, 2006|author=Greenberg, Hanan}}</ref> and struck a bridge in a suburb south of [[Beirut]], a place highly valued by [[Hezbollah]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Myre|first1=Greg|last2=Erlanger|first2=Steven|date=2006-07-13|title=Israelis Enter Lebanon After Attacks|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html|access-date=2021-07-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> They also struck a power plant's fuel storage south of Beirut (but did not destroy the plant itself). People living in this region heard at least three strikes. No casualties were reported.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli planes strike southern suburb of Beirut|date=July 13, 2006|access-date=July 13, 2006|publisher=[[NBC News]]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13823680}}</ref> However, the strike eventually resulted in the spilling of over 15,000 tons of heavy fuel oil, affecting {{convert|50|mi|km}} of coastline and threatening aquatic life and fishing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Power Plant Airstrike Leaves a Noxious Mess|date=August 1, 2006|accessdate=October 14, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/31/AR2006073101086.html | first=Nora | last=Boustany}}</ref> Israeli jets attacked two Lebanese military air bases, destroying runways which Israel claims were used by the Hezbollah to transfer supplies. Attacks against the [[Rayak]] air base in the eastern [[Bekaa Valley]] near the [[Syria]]n border and the [[Rene Mouawad Air Base|Qulayaat military airport]] (also known as Kleyate or Rene Mouawad airport) in northern Lebanon were the first attacks against Lebanon's army in the conflict.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brink of War: Lebanon Launches Retaliatory Assault on Israel|accessdate=July 13, 2006|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715050624/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=IAF strikes Lebanese Air Force base |date=July 13, 2006 |accessdate=July 13, 2006 |work=[[Jerusalem Post]] |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885985413&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916122533/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885985413&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=September 16, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="haaretz">{{cite news|title=IDF hits Lebanese army bases, won't rule out ground invasion|date=July 13, 2006|accessdate=July 13, 2006|work=[[Haaretz]]|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=737860&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0}}</ref>

An unnamed senior IDF officer stated that the strikes were targeted against rocket launch sites and rocket storerooms, although, he said, many of them were intentionally located by Hezbollah in civilian population centers.<ref name="Ynetnews">{{cite news|title=IDF: If Hadera is hit we'll destroy Beirut buildings|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3274939,00.html}}</ref><ref name="Ynetnews1">{{cite news|title=IDF strikes Lebanon airfields|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275180,00.html}}</ref> An unnamed Lebanese official responded that "Hezbollah did not store arms in civilian areas."<ref name="Ynetnews1" /> Air strikes were also carried out against outposts of Hezbollah.<ref name="cnn1">{{cite news|title=Israel authorizes 'severe' response to abductions |date=July 12, 2006 |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast/index.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819032730/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast/index.html |archivedate=August 19, 2006 }}</ref> Israel had named the overall operation "Just Reward", and Maj.-Gen. [[Udi Adam]] of the Northern Command, says [[Israel]] has not ruled out sending ground forces into [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Iran denies Hizbullah moving captives|date=July 13, 2006|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885988710&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Hezbollah declared an all-out military alert, and said it had 13,000 rockets capable of hitting towns and installations far into northern [[Israel]]. As a result, Defense Minister Peretz told commanders to prepare civil defense plans, and some 220,000 Israeli civilians spent the night in bomb shelters.<ref name="reuters2">{{cite news|title=US blames Iran, Syria for Hizbollah capture|date=July 12, 2006|publisher=Reuters|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-07-12T180458Z_01_LA622138_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-USA-capturINGS.xml|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060601030620/http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews|archivedate=June 1, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="reuters3">{{cite news|title=Israel battles militants on two fronts |date=July 12, 2006 |publisher=Reuters |url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-07-13T005819Z_01_L11538533_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml |df=mdy }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="foxopen" /><ref>{{cite news|title=14 people remain hospitalized in Ziv hospital in Safed|date=July 14, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0,2297,L-3275530_3089,00.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122043409/http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0%2C2297%2CL-3275530_3089%2C00.html|archivedate=November 22, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel, killing one Israeli civilian, a 40-year-old in [[Nahariya]], and wounding 14 others. Another Israeli civilian, a 33-year-old man in [[Safed]], later died from the wounds inflicted.

Hezbollah had threatened to hit the city [[Haifa]], "if the southern suburbs and the city of Beirut are subjected to any direct Israeli aggression". Two rockets hit Haifa, hours after the threat.<ref name="Getty">{{cite news|title=An Israeli sapper lifts the remains of a rocket that landed on mount Carmel in Israel's third largest city Haifa|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=[[Getty Images]]|url=http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=71432630}}</ref> Hezbollah denied firing any rockets at the city.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|title=Rockets hit Israeli city of Haifa |date=July 13, 2006|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5178058.stm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Israel Wages War on Hezbollah as Jets Strike Airbase|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715050624/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2006}}</ref> Israeli sources later reported that two rockets were fired from inside Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brink of War: Lebanon Launches Retaliatory Assault on Israel|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715050624/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203253,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2006}}</ref><ref name="bbc" /> The attack is the first time rockets have hit so far south into Israel. One shock injury had been reported from these initial attacks on Haifa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Woman killed in Hizbullah attack in Nahariya|date=July 13, 2006|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885985131&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120708205443/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885985131&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|archivedate=July 8, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Twelve members of one Lebanese family were reported by Lebanese authorities to have been killed when Israeli planes bombed their home in the Lebanese village of Zibqine, near [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]]. According to the Lebanese government, in Dweir, a small village near [[Nabatiye]], Israeli planes dropped a bomb onto the home of a local Shia Muslim cleric, killing him, his wife and eight of his children. Another family from that same village was also reported to have lost seven members following Israeli bombing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1653097&issue_id=14347|title=Slaughter of the innocent children|date=July 14, 2006|accessdate=July 14, 2006|author=Fisk, Robert|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117085711/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1653097&issue_id=14347|archive-date=January 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} (requires registration)</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73960|title=50 more civilians die as leaflets warn residents to avoid areas 'frequented by Hizbullah'|date=July 14, 2006|accessdate=July 14, 2006|author=El Rafei, Raed}}</ref> Israel intensified its response on Lebanon by attacking the [[Rafik Hariri International Airport|Beirut International Airport]] and damaging three runways.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli warplanes attack Beirut airport|date=July 13, 2006|agency=Associated Press|author=Ghattas, Sam F|url= https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060713/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_lebanon}}</ref>

The Lebanese government called for a Cease-fire, claiming the Israeli response was "disproportionate", a view echoed by France and Russia. 35 Lebanese civilians are believed to have been killed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5175160.stm Israel imposes Lebanon blockade] – [[BBC News]] – Thursday, July 13, 2006</ref>

===Friday, July 14===
[[File:Lebmap02.jpg|300px|thumb|Map of conflict as of July 14, 2006. In yellow is the Israeli blockade, in the red area regions of active conflict.]]
The Israeli offensive into Lebanon continues, and for the first time the offices of Hezbollah are bombed. Hezbollah declares "open war".<ref name="foxopen">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203453,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717051126/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203453,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2006|title=Hezbollah: We're Ready for 'Open War' With Israel|date= July 14, 2006|publisher=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5557835 | title = Israeli Attacks Increase; Hezbollah Vows 'Open War' | last = Ludden | first = Jennifer | date = July 14, 2006 | accessdate =July 17, 2006 | publisher = [[National Public Radio]] }}</ref>

The Israeli [[Sa'ar 5-class missile boat]] ''[[INS Hanit]]'' that was blockading the waters {{convert|10|nmi|km}} off of the Lebanese coast was damaged in the stern after being hit by a [[C-802]] [[anti-ship missile]]. Various sources are reporting that the missile is Chinese-made while others report that it was Iranian-made or procured from Iran, a charge which Iran denies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5155694|title=Israel Bombs Beirut in Night Attacks|publisher=[[KLTV]]|date=June 15, 2006|accessdate=June 17, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051755/http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5155694|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275923,00.html|title=Missing sailor's body recovered|publisher=[[ynet]]|date=June 15, 2006|accessdate=June 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/16/mideast/index.html|title=Hezbollah rockets kill 8 in Haifa|publisher=CNN|date=June 16, 2006|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060717235837/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/16/mideast/index.html |archivedate = July 17, 2006}}</ref>  It is known that China has provided Iran with this type of missile in the past.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/hy-1.htm|title=Federation of American Scientists Missile Datasheet|publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]]|date=August 10, 1999|accessdate=June 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.meib.org/articles/0203_irn1.htm|title=Iran's Burgeoning WMD Programs|publisher=[[Middle East Intelligence Bulletin]]|date=April 2002|accessdate=June 17, 2006|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818063306/http://www.meib.org/articles/0203_irn1.htm|archivedate=August 18, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004221531 Israeli Ship Struck By Missile Returning To Port; Israeli Offensive Continues] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223926/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004221531 |date=September 26, 2007 }} – All Headline news – July 14, 2006</ref> Early on there were mistaken reports that it had been hit by an [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] packed with explosives, and that there was no serious damage to the ship.<ref name="JP_ship">{{cite news|title=IDF confirms warship hit by explosive-laden UAV|date=July 14, 2006|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885994586&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524091645/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885994586&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2006/07/14/ap2880516.html ''Israel Says Warship Attacked by Drone'']{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, AP, July 14, 2006</ref> Israel immediately recovered one sailor's body, and three more were found two days later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Day-by-day: Lebanon crisis'|date=July 15, 2006|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5179434.stm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=4 Israelis Missing After Warship Hit|date=July 14, 2006|agency=Associated Press|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MIDEAST_FIGHTING_WARSHIP?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-14-16-17-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224640/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MIDEAST_FIGHTING_WARSHIP?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-14-16-17-05|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref>

An Egyptian civilian merchant ship, the Moonlight,<ref>[http://www.thenewanatolian.com/ap-133856.html Hezbollah guerrillas hit Egyptian merchant ship, AP, July 15, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235313/http://www.thenewanatolian.com/ap-133856.html |date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref> was hit by a Hezbollah rocket, caught in the cross-fire as Hezbollah was firing on the Israelis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Egypt confirms ship hit off Lebanon, crew safe|date=July 15, 2006|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500593.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024215949/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/15/AR2006071500593.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> The ship was registered in [[Cambodia]], but sailing under Egyptian flag, carrying several hundred tons of cement. The ship sank in minutes, but the Egyptian crew managed to board [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboats]] and was picked up by another civilian vessel.  One crewman, however, was seriously injured.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120904212430/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19806456-23109,00.html Merchant vessel hit by rockets] – [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] – July 16, 2006</ref>

Hezbollah launched about 100 [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha]] rockets on Israeli towns of [[Nahariya]], [[Safed]], [[Hazor HaGelilit|Hatzor HaGlilit]], [[Rosh Pina]], [[Qiryat Shemona|Kiryat Shmona]], and [[Karmiel]], and in the agricultural settlements [[Mattat]], [[Sasa (kibbutz)|Sasa]], [[Peki'in]], [[Beit Jan]], [[Birya|Biria]], [[Biranit]], [[Kabri, Israel|Kabri]], [[Gesher Haziv]], [[Sa'ar]] and [[Ben Ami]], resulting in 30 injuries.<ref name="ynet4" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Safed: Man seriously injured in Katyusha attack |date=July 14, 2006 |publisher=[[Ynet]] |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275609,00.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725161517/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275609,00.html |archivedate=July 25, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref>
Late the same day, a Katyusha in [[Meron (Israel)|Meron]] killed two people, a grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson, and residents of [[Haifa]] are reportedly being ordered into [[bomb shelter]]s.<ref name="ynet4">{{cite news|title=Katyusha rockets hit Galilee|date=July 13, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275440,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Haifa residents told to remain in protected areas|date= July 14, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275577,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Anxious northern Israel endures rocket fire |date=July 14, 2006 |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/14/israel.anxiety.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719150003/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/14/israel.anxiety.ap/index.html |archivedate=July 19, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Northern Israel under attack; missile fired at Haifa|date=July 14, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275229,00.html}}</ref>

The Jerusalem Post reported that an attempt by a group of Hezbollah members to enter Israel was stopped by IDF.<ref>{{cite news|title=IDF forces foil infiltration attempt on northern border|date=July 14, 2006|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref>

The number of Lebanese civilians killed in the Israeli strikes rises above 50, and the United Nations convened an emergency meeting of the [[Security Council]] where Lebanon accused Israel of launching "''a widespread barbaric aggression''".<ref>[http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/International/2006/07/15/1686055-sun.html Lebanon hammers Israeli 'aggression'] – London Free Press, Can. – Sat, July 15, 2006</ref>

===Saturday, July 15===
[[File:2006crisis lebanon israel.png|left|thumb|300px|Map showing Israeli localities attacked by rockets fired from Lebanese soil]]
Three [[Patriot missile|Patriot]] anti-ballistic missile batteries were deployed in [[Haifa]]. These are aimed at intercepting missiles launched at Haifa. The last time Patriot missiles were deployed to the region was in 2003, during the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite news|title=3 Patriot batteries stationed in Haifa|date= July 15, 2006|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276133,00.html}}</ref>

Israeli [[Defence Minister]] [[Amir Peretz]] has declared [[martial law]] throughout north Israel.<ref>{{cite news|title=Martial law declared in the North |date=July 15, 2006 |work=[[Jerusalem Post]] |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886008109&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708024148/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886008109&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 }}</ref>

On July 15, Israel attacked commercial ports in the towns of Beirut and Tripoli, as well as ports in [[Jounieh]] and [[Amsheet]], two predominantly Christian towns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel kills 35 civilians in strikes on Lebanon|date=July 15, 2006<!-- 6:02&nbsp;pm ET-->|publisher=Reuters|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060715/wl_nm/mideast_dc_361}}</ref>

A witness reported that at least 15 Lebanese villagers were killed on July 15 in an Israeli air strike on vehicles fleeing a village in southern Lebanon. The convoy left the border village of [[Marwahin]], was refused asylum in a U.N. base and afterwards it was attacked.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stern.de/politik/ausland/:Nahost-Krise-Neue-Angriffe-Beirut/565731.html|title=Zwölf Tote bei Angriff im Süden Libanons|accessdate=July 15, 2006|publisher=[[Stern Online]]|language=de}}</ref> It is also reported that some hours before the strike, Israeli forces had told the inhabitants of the village to evacuate by loudspeaker.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&7A36B5C335B9F6BAC22571AC003AE7A3|title=Bloodiest Day in Israel's War on Lebanon Kills Over a Dozen Civilians|accessdate=July 15, 2006|publisher=Naharnet}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L1553110|title=Fleeing Lebanon villagers caught in Israeli inferno|date=July 15, 2006|accessdate=July 15, 2006|publisher=Reuters}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Sunday, July 16===
On the morning of July 16, several barrages of Katyusha rockets hit the northern cities of Haifa, Acre, and Nahariya, and explosions were also heard in [[Rosh HaNikra (kibbutz)|Rosh HaNikra]]. Eight were killed in Haifa, and several were seriously wounded when unguided rockets hit a railway maintenance depot. [[Al-Manar]] has reported that the Hezbollah attack included a [[Fajr-3 (rocket)|Fajr-3]] and a [[RAAD (anti-tank guided missile)|Ra'ad 1]] liquid-fuel missiles, developed by Iran.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hezbollah rockets kill 9 in Israeli city |date=July 16, 2006|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060716/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel}}</ref><ref name="Manar">{{cite news|title=Hizbullah: One of the rockets is a Ra'ad 1|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276411,00.html}}</ref> Hezbollah said the attack was aimed at a large Israeli fuel storage plant adjacent to the railway facility. [http://index.hu/cikkepek/0607/kulfold/lebanon0716//.gdata/gp_11.jpg Photo] of the area, with oil drums and smoke rising from the railway depot. Rockets also hit the villages of [[Shtula]] and [[Zar'it]], the site of the original Hezbollah attack. Additional barrages hit the [[Israeli Arab]] town of Ghajar and [[kibbutz]] Ma'ayan Baruch as well as striking Meron and Safed again, all with no injuries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Katyusha barrages hit Rajar village and Ma'ayan Baruch; no injuries|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276779,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rockets fired at Meron, Safed; no injuries|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=[[Ynet]]|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276843,00.html}}</ref>
On Sunday evening Hezbollah militants attempted to infiltrate an [[Israel Defense Forces]] post on the Lebanese Border.

On July 16, [[Lebanese President]] [[Émile Lahoud]] and Lebanese military sources stated that Israeli forces had used [[white phosphorus]] [[incendiary bombs]] against civilian targets on villages in the Arqoub area in the South<ref>{{cite news|title=Lebanon under Israeli attack: Sunday Roundup|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=[[Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=73994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Assault on Lebanon makes mockery of Geneva Conventions|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=The Daily Star|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74043}}</ref> accusing Israel of using banned weapons against Lebanese civilians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/11438.asp |title=IndiaDaily |publisher=IndiaDaily |accessdate=July 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619000426/http://indiadaily.com/editorial/11438.asp |archivedate=June 19, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Israel using banned weapons |url=https://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&q=Israel+using+banned+weapons+&btnG=Search+News |title=Israel using banned weapons |accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref>
This claim has not been verified. (However, according to several sources, mainly UN, Israel artillery sprayed the entire Southern Lebanon with cluster bombs, mostly outdated surplus from previous wars, some as old as 1982. As much as 2/3 of the explosives was reported unexploded, and according to UN mine clearing units as of March 2008 still on average killing or wounding one Lebanese every second day. UN has to date disarmed 160.000 hidden bomb units but believes to have another million to go.)

On July 16, [[Sky News]] reported that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was wounded in a morning air strike on his Beirut compound, though Hezbollah affiliated sources have denied the reports as propaganda.<ref>{{cite news|title=Report: Nasrallah wounded; Hizbullah denies report|date=July 16, 2006|publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150886011769&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> News services report that three explosions have been heard in [[Beirut]]. Hezbollah TV reports that the air strike destroyed a building containing the headquarters of Hezbollah, with Hezbollah's chief, [[Hassan Nasrallah]], likely inside. He was not harmed, however, and has since released a videotape.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli ships, planes renew Beirut airport attacks|date=July 14, 2006|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/14/mideast/index.html |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060715170013/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/14/mideast/index.html |archivedate = July 15, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Israel Strikes Beirut; Hezbollah Barrages N. Israel With Rockets|date=July 14, 2006|accessdate=July 14, 2006|publisher=Fox News|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203453,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717051126/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203453,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Israel destroys Hezbollah headquarters in south Beirut |date=July 14, 2006 |accessdate=July 14, 2006 |publisher=[[Drudge Report]] |url=http://www.drudgereport.com/flash7hb.htm }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> <!--briefly searched and couldn't find any reference to Lebanese shelters "An estimated 680,000 people across southern Lebanon have gone into shelters.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}:-->

===Monday, July 17===
The Hezbollah leader, Nasrallah, said in his third televised speech since the conflict began that "In the beginning, we started to act calmly, we focused on Israel military bases and we didn't attack any settlement, Hizbullah militants had destroyed military bases, while the Israelis killed civilians and targeted Lebanon's infrastructure." He added that Hezbollah's arsenal had yet to take a direct hit "and so far we have used a small portion of our weaponry."<ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74020 Hizbullah leader promises enemy 'more surprises'] – [[Daily Star (Lebanon)]] – Monday, July 17, 2006.</ref>

On July 17, 2006, three rounds of Hezbollah rockets struck the port city of Haifa, wounding two people and partially destroying a three-story residential building.<ref>{{cite news|title=2 wounded in Hezbollah strike on Haifa|date=July 17, 2006|publisher=[[The News-Sentinel]]|url=http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/15056871.htm}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Rockets were also reported to have hit the town of Atlit, 56&nbsp;km south of the border and 8&nbsp;km south of Haifa. No injuries were reported.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel hammers at Lebanese infrastructure|date=July 17, 2006|agency=Associated Press|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LEBANON_ISRAEL?SITE=NYPLA&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122939/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LEBANON_ISRAEL?SITE=NYPLA&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref>
Hezbollah reportedly struck a hospital in the Northern Israel town of [[Safed]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio Broadcast on ABC Radio Network |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
The Israeli army says that 15 cities were hit by rockets in a late night raid injuring 5 people when a rocket hit a synagogue.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5189726.stm Israeli jets in new Lebanon raids] – [[BBC News]] – Tuesday, July 18, 2006</ref>

Some Israeli ground troops briefly advanced approximately 1&nbsp;km into Lebanon and leveled Hezbollah border outposts with bulldozers in an effort to make it difficult for Hezbollah to reestablish its border presence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wral.com/apworldnews/9526076/detail.html |title=Israel Briefly Sends Troops Into Lebanon |date=July 17, 2006 |accessdate=July 17, 2006 |publisher=[[WRAL-TV]] }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Tuesday, July 18===
On July 18, 13 civilians from two families were killed in an air raid on the southern town of Aytaroun, reports indicates that the dead included nine children, taking the death toll to more than 200.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0529EDB8-8164-470C-BBB8-72734692D22C.htm|title=Lebanon toll passes 200|date=July 17, 2006|accessdate=July 17, 2006|publisher=Al Jazeera|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818061111/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0529EDB8-8164-470C-BBB8-72734692D22C.htm|archivedate=August 18, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The UAE Red Crescent Society condemned Israel's attack on medical and relief convoy in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wam.ae/en/details/1395227686254|title=UAE's RCS condemns Israel's attack on relief convoy in Lebanon|date=July 18, 2006|accessdate=July 18, 2006|publisher=WAM}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19840483-1702,00.html|title=Bombed trucks were 'carrying food'|date=July 19, 2006|accessdate=July 19, 2006|work=The Australian}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Wednesday, July 19===
On July 19, the Israeli military said aircraft dropped 23 tons of explosives on what it believed was a bunker for senior Hezbollah leaders in the Bourj al-Barajneh neighborhood of Beirut between 8&nbsp;pm and 9&nbsp;pm. Hezbollah said none of its members were hurt and denied a leadership bunker was in the area, saying a mosque under construction was hit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2006/07/20/ap2893194.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407071534/https://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2006/07/20/ap2893194.html/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |title=Archived |archive-date=2020-04-07 }}{{dl|date=May 2023}}</ref>

According to CNN, Israel made an incursion into Southern Lebanon to destroy outposts of the militant group Hezbollah. An [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] spokesman said the troops are "close to the border" however no further details were given as to the success of the operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/18/mideast/index.html|title=Israel enter southern Lebanon|date=July 19, 2006|publisher=CNN|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060718203513/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/18/mideast/index.html |archivedate = July 18, 2006}}</ref> Israeli leadership denies these claims.

Fighting with Hezbollah fighters took place. 2 Israeli soldiers and at least 4 Hezbollah fighters were killed and 9 Israeli soldiers were wounded. One Israeli Merkava Mark II tank was damaged by a mortar round.

Two [[Israeli Arab]] children were killed in [[Nazareth]] as a result of a Hezbollah rocket attack.

By July 19, heavy damage to Lebanon's infrastructure had been reported, with a total of 42 bridges destroyed and 38 roads damaged. and extensive damage to telecommunications, electricity, ports, airports, and even private sector facilities, including a milk factory and food warehouses.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3d4f89d2-168d-11db-8b7b-0000779e2340.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221212001204/https://www.ft.com/content/3d4f89d2-168d-11db-8b7b-0000779e2340|archive-date=December 12, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Lebanon puts costs of raids at $2bn|date=July 19, 2006|accessdate=July 17, 2006|work=Financial Times}}</ref>
Damage to fuel containers in Jiyye and 12 service stations in Bir Abed, Khiam, Ain Ibl, Moseileh, [[Rmeileh]], Houla, Hesbe, Tyre, Kfar Kila, and Douris
raised the likelihood of fuel shortages.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_ID=1&article_ID=74049&categ_id=2|title=By the numbers: heavy damage to infrastructure|date=July 18, 2006|accessdate=July 19, 2006|work=Financial Times}}</ref>

==July 20–31==
{{further|Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War (July)}}

===Thursday, July 20===
On July 20, there was further fighting inside the Lebanese border between [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers and [[Hezbollah]] militants. According to Captain Eric Scheider from the IDF, there had been heavy fighting in two places inside the Lebanese border. At least, 5 Israeli soldiers and 2 Hezbollah militants were killed and 11 Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fighting. In one clash, just across the border from the Israeli town of Avivim, guerrillas fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank, destroying it and seriously wounding one soldier. Hezbollah claims to have shot down an Israeli helicopter and destroyed two tanks during the encounter. It was also reported that an Israeli army armored bulldozer was destroyed by an anti-tank missile.  Separately, two Israeli Apache helicopters crashed into each other over northern Israel, leaving one soldier dead and three wounded.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1107AP_Israel_Helicopters.html |title=4 hurt when 2 Israeli helicopters collide |date=July 20, 2006 |accessdate=July 20, 2006 |agency=Associated Press }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>  This comes as Israel claims it has carried out 80 air strikes in Lebanon early on Thursday.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5197186.stm|title=Israeli incursion continues|date=July 20, 2006|accessdate=July 20, 2006|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

===Friday, July 21===
On July 21, Israel continued airstrikes against Lebanon while massing troops on the border and calling up five battalions of army reservists (3000 reserves) for a possible ground invasion.  Between 300 and 500 Israeli soldiers backed by 30 tanks were already believed to be over the border.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20774981.htm |title=Israel calls up reservists, Rice announces trip |date=July 21, 2006 |accessdate=July 21, 2006 |publisher=[[Reuters Alertnet]] }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>  Roughly 70 percent of Lebanese civilians living in south Lebanon fled north, and the Lebanese defense minister stated that in the event of an Israeli ground invasion that the Lebanese army would fight alongside Hezbollah.  Hezbollah continued firing rockets at the Israeli town of Haifa injuring 20 Israelis while Israeli jets hit Shiite districts in Beirut's southern suburbs, the eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon around sunrise, killing 12 Lebanese.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/21/world/middleeast/21cnd-mide.html|title=Israel Calls Up Reserves, a Sign of Wider Ground Raids|date=July 21, 2006|accessdate=July 21, 2006|work=New York Times | first1=Greg | last1=Myre | first2=Jad | last2=Mouawad}}</ref>  German and Russian intelligence were reportedly seeking the release of the captured IDF soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2106057,00.html|title=Paper: German Intelligence Seeks Release of Israeli Hostages|date=July 21, 2006|accessdate=July 21, 2006|publisher=[[Deutsche-Welle]]}}</ref>

===Saturday, July 22===
On July 22, close to 2,000 troops entered southern Lebanon, though some returned to Israel during the day. IDF forces seized the Lebanese village of [[Maroun al-Ras]], a village reputed to be a staging area for Hezbollah<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/07/22/ap/headlines/d8j1875g1.txt|title=Israeli Army Continues Lebanon Offensive|date=July 22, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-22|publisher=[[WCFCourier]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and targeted a religious complex in [[Sidon]]. Hezbollah said that two fighters were killed. Israeli jets bombed television and cellphone transmission towers in Christian areas north of Beirut killing one person. Israeli airstrikes also targeted sites around the southern Lebanese village of [[Khiyam]], seeking out Hezbollah positions and rocket launchers, and blasted road traffic around the coastal city of Tyre.  Beirut was struck as were roads connecting Lebanon and Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/world/middleeast/23mideast.html|title=Israel Presses Air Raids on Lebanon|date=July 22, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-22|work=New York Times | first1=Greg | last1=Myre | first2=Craig S. | last2=Smith}}</ref> A total of 124 targets deep inside Lebanon were targeted, killing 5 Lebanese. Israeli officials stated that no full-scale invasion of Lebanon was planned, but warned villagers in fourteen south Lebanon villages to leave and thousands of Lebanese fled to the north to the port city of [[Sidon]]. American officials said that deliveries of precision guided bombs were being expedited to Israel due to an Israeli request. Over 160 rockets were fired by Hezbollah, hitting towns across northern Israel and injuring 16 people. An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Saturday when Hezbollah fired on an outpost near the Lebanese border.

===Sunday, July 23===
On July 23, Israeli air raids hit [[Beirut]] and east and south Lebanon, killing eight civilians and wounding 100, many of them in Tyre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22849465.htm|title=Israel and Lebanon under fire, civilians bear brunt|date=July 23, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-23|publisher=Reuters}}</ref>  Six Israeli bombs fell on the coastal city of Tyre in a 20-minute span, killing one civilian and wounding about 45. Three civilians were killed by an Israeli bombing as they were evacuating south Lebanon. A textile factory in the border town of [[Manara, Western Beqaa|al-Manara]] was struck, killing one person and injuring two. In [[Baalbek]], strikes leveled an agricultural compound and wounded five. A factory producing prefab houses near the highway linking Beirut to Damascus was targeted and a transmission factory in Fatqa was also leveled. About 270 airstrikes were conducted throughout Lebanon. Meanwhile, roughly 90 rockets struck northern Israel killing two people in [[Haifa]] and wounding 70. Meanwhile, fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters took place. Hezbollah said 3 of its guerrillas were killed in fighting. Israel accuses Hezbollah of vastly underreporting casualties.

Israeli officials stated they would accept an international force led by [[NATO]] to keep Hezbollah guerrillas away from the border. The Syrian Information Minister stated that Syria would enter the war if IDF forces threatened Syria as the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister indicated a willingness to engage American officials in dialogue and pressed for a ceasefire.  U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said it was "hard to see" benefits from a Syrian-American dialogue but was open to a NATO-led force in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23408783.htm|title=US open to NATO-led force in Lebanon – Bolton|date=July 23, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-23|publisher=Reuters}}</ref>  Regarding any multinational presence, Lebanese Prime Minister [[Fuad Saniora]] told [[CNN]] "it's very early to talk about this matter".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/world/23cnd-policy.html|title=U.S. Open to NATO Force in Lebanon, Bolton Says|date=July 23, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-23|work=New York Times | first1=Brian | last1=Knowlton}}</ref>

===Monday, July 24===
On July 24, Israeli troops advanced further into southern Lebanon where they encountered heavy resistance.  IDF forces engaged Hezbollah guerrillas in Bint Jbail, the largest Lebanese town near the border.  IDF sources reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed and 20 were wounded. Hezbollah reported that three of their fighters were killed, while Israel said there were larger casualties. Two tanks were also damaged.  An Apache helicopter on its way to support the ground force in [[Bint Jbeil]] crashed in Northern Israel, killing two IAF pilots.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153291986984&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|title=Division commander: Cause of Apache crash still unclear|date=July 24, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-24|work=[[Jerusalem Post]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  Hezbollah stated that it shot down the helicopter; however, the IDF said the cause was under investigation and was possibly due to [[friendly fire]]. Near the end of fighting Monday, the IDF forces controlled a hilltop in Bint Jbail while Hezbollah remained in control of the rest of the city. Israel halted airstrikes in Beirut due to a surprise visit by US Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]].  Airstrikes continued in south Lebanon, killing seven near Tyre.  Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into Northern Israel, wounding 13 with roughly 100 rockets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/24/AR2006072400597_2.html
|title=Israeli Forces Push Deeper Into Lebanon|date=July 24, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-24|newspaper=Washington Post|first=Kathy|last=Gannon}}</ref>

===Tuesday, July 25===
On July 25, the IDF intensified its operations in Lebanon with over 100 strikes in southern Lebanon and fresh assaults on Beirut.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14021722|title=Israeli forces resume strikes on Beirut|date=July 25, 2006|access-date=2006-07-25|publisher=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>  Seven were killed in Nabatieh when an Israeli shell struck a house, and twelve were killed Tuesday evening in the  Dahiya quarter of Beirut.  Two houses were also destroyed east of Tyre.  Fighting continued between IDF forces and Lebanese guerrillas near Bint Jbeil with IDF forces surrounding the town.  Eight IDF soldiers were lightly wounded.  Hezbollah said seven of its fighters were killed, and fellow Shiite group [[Amal Movement|Amal]] said four of its fighters had been killed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74247|title=Fighting rages as Israel besieges Hezbollah border HQ|date=July 25, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-25|publisher=The Daily Star}}</ref>  During the course of the day, Hezbollah fired over 100 rockets into northern Israel.  In Haifa, one civilian died of a heart attack during rocket fire as 20 more were injured.  Rockets also killed one and injured three in Maghar.

Israeli officials indicated that they planned to maintain a ground presence in south Lebanon until a multinational peacekeeping force was deployed there, preferably NATO.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74263|title=Israel says ground forces will stay in South|date=July 25, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-25|publisher=The Daily Star|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129014553/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74263 |archive-date=January 29, 2007 }}</ref>

===Wednesday, July 26===
{{see also|Battle of Bint Jbail}}

On July 26, the IDF continued operations in Lebanon with 60 strikes primarily on military targets.  During the raids, 13 civilians in Tyre were injured.  Two truck drivers were killed when the IAF fired missiles at supply vehicles.  One aid worker and three wounded near the Syrian border.  Air strikes also killed four unarmed UN observers with artillery strikes and precision guided munitions, in what UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called a deliberate strike.  Their position was well known, and repeated calls were made to request that Israel stop the attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14034540 |title=Israel: 'Deep regret' over U.N. strike - Mideast/N. Africa |publisher=NBC News |date=July 26, 2006 |access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref>

In south Lebanon, nine IDF soldiers were killed and 27 wounded as they battled Hezbollah guerrillas near the border.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/743027.html|title=Nine IDF soldiers killed in bitter south Lebanon fighting|date=July 26, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-26|work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref> The casualties sustained by the Israelis were the highest since the initiation of conflict.  Hezbollah fired 151 rockets into northern Israel, injuring 31.  Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] said that Israel planned to maintain a 2&nbsp;km security zone from the border free of Hezbollah as talks continued in Rome for an international peacekeeping force.  Lebanese officials arrested 50 on charges of spying for Israel.

===Thursday, July 27===
The IDF carried out over 120 air strikes in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa valley and Beirut.  At least 11 were killed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74322|title=Israel readies more troops for Lebanon conflict|date=July 28, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-28|publisher=The Daily Star}}</ref>  Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon fired over 100 Katyusha rockets at targets in northern Israel landing across the Galilee and Hula Valley. Thirteen were lightly injured.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/743555.html|title=Katyushas hit communities across north; 20 lightly wounded|date=July 28, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-28|work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref>  Israeli officials indicated that they planned not to expand ground operations from their current scope despite pressure from the military.  The decision was made, however, to intensify air strikes. In addition, three divisions of reservists (15,000 troops) were mobilized.

===Friday, July 28===
Lebanese officials reported that Israel conducted over 130 air raids (killing 13) while an Israeli police spokesman said that Hezbollah fired 97 rockets into Northern Israel (wounding 3).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/20236FF4-957C-4761-B57F-F61EFFCE6705.htm|title=Hezbollah strikes deep into Israel|date=July 28, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-28|publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> Hezbollah fired a new kind of rocket it called the Khaibar-1 which struck near the Israeli town of Afula.  The rocket has a 100&nbsp;kg warhead, which is significantly more powerful than the Katyusha rockets, and may be the same as Fajr-5 rocket.  The IDF reported that 26 gunmen were killed in clashes near the southern Lebanon town of Maroun Al Ras, Bint Jbeil and Eitaroun.  Shelling was also conducted on Al Nabatiyya and Sour in addition to areas in Al Biqa plains, 14 Lebanese fatalities were reported.<ref name="imemc-07-29-2006">{{cite news | title=Army shells several areas in southern Lebanon | date=July 29, 2006| publisher=[[IMEMC & Agencies]]| url= http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20437&Itemid=173}}</ref>

In Israel, there was disagreement between Mossad intelligence which says Hezbollah will be able to continue fighting at the current level for a long time and military intelligence which believes Hezbollah has been severely damaged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/743736.html|title=IAF takes out launcher used to fire missiles at Afula area|date=July 28, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-28|work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref>  Other scholars have also questioned the Israeli reliance on air power.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/gordon/20060725.htm|title=Israel against Hezbollah: Air Power Won't Do It|date=July 25, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-25|publisher=[[Brookings Institution]]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060726032204/http://www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/gordon/20060725.htm|archivedate=July 26, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Mehr news agency in Iran said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was in Damascus for meetings on the crisis, but gave no other details.  Furthermore, Iran's state news agency confirmed Hezbollah Secretary General [[Hassan Nasrallah]]'s presence in Damascus.  Although Hezbollah has received significant Iranian assistance in the past, Iranian officials denied assisting Hezbollah in the current conflict.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292020585&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|title=Iran denies giving aid to Hizbullah|date=July 28, 2006|accessdate=2006-07-28|publisher=[[Jerusalem POst]]}}{{dead link|date=November 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Saturday, July 29===
"IDF leaves Bint Jbeil area."Israeli newspaper declared. During the morning hours most of the units who took part in Bint Jbeil began to withdraw from the area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3283102,00.html |title=IDF leaves Bin Jbeil area – Israel News, Ynetnews |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=June 20, 1995 |accessdate=July 26, 2012|last1=Greenberg |first1=Hanan }}</ref> The battle for Bint Jbail has symbolized Israel's difficulty in pushing guerrillas back from the border, whether by air bombardment or ground assault. Armored forces are still fighting.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lee |last=Keath |date=July 29, 2006 |publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]] |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4080960.html |accessdate=2023-05-18 |title=Israelis pull back from Hezbollah target |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521100758/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4080960.html |archivedate=May 21, 2011 }}</ref> Israel has declared it succeed in it mission and killed more than 70 militant in Bin Jbeil.  It was reported the next day that this had been an IDF "withdrawal" and that Hizbollah still held Bint Jbeil.<ref>{{cite news | title=The day Israel realised that this was a real war | date=July 30, 2006| publisher=[[Guardian-Observer]]| url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1833349,00.html | location=London | first=Ian | last=Black | accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref>

There were IDF missile attacks around the area of [[Al Safeer]], in the Al Dahia Al Janoubiyya area of Beirut, and shelling of the Jarhou’ area in southern Lebanon.  North of Beirut IDF shelling destroyed the [[Al Assy Bridge]].  Shelling attacks were also made against Jabal Abu Rashid, Borka, Jbour and Al Nahry in Al Biqa plains.  Sahl Al Khiyam, in Marj Oyoun area, in southern Lebanon were also shelled with artillery as well as Al Tayba and Markaba villages. The area around Sour city and outlying villages was also shelled. An IDF spokeswoman said that the IDF had attacked 51 targets overnight and on Saturday at dawn, destroying 37 buildings used by Hezbollah.<ref name="imemc-07-29-2006" />

IDF deployed a Patriot interceptor missile battery north of Tel Aviv, in response to Hezbollah firing Khaibar-1 rockets at [[Afula]] on July 28.<ref>{{cite news | title=500,000 Israelis Living in Bomb Shelters| date=July 29, 2006| publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]| url= https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2250708&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312}}</ref>

===Sunday, July 30===
{{See also|2006 Qana airstrike}}
Under cover of artillery strikes IDF ground troops pushed towards the villages of [[Taiba]] and [[Adisa]].  The IDF said the village was being used as a launching site for rocket attacks. One IDF soldier was shot and wounded near Adisa. A quantity of weapons were also recovered. IDF jets bombed unreported targets in [[Khiyam]] and the bombing of [[Qana]] caused a large number of civilian fatalities.<ref>{{cite news | title=Fresh ground assault on Hizbullah villages | date=July 31, 2006|work=The Guardian| url= https://www.theguardian.com/israel/Story/0,,1833964,00.html | location=London | first=Rory | last=McCarthy | accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref>

Fire from Regular Lebanese Army in [[Yammouni]] was reported against IDF Choppers attempting to land in the area. The Lebanese dispersed following airstrikes by IDF.<ref>{{cite news| title=Lebanese army stops Israeli helicopters landing| date=July 30, 2006| publisher=Reuters| url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30832182.htm| access-date=August 22, 2006| archive-date=September 28, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928204912/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30832182.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Monday, July 31===
Despite a reported qualified suspension in Israeli aerial activity beginning on midnight July 30, IDF bombers hit the area around [[Taybeh (Marjaayoun)|Tayba]]. CNN reported that the Israeli Army had explained the bombing was to "protect ground forces operating in the border area and were not aimed at specific targets".  The bombing led to damage of an unspecified number of Lebanese Army vehicles in the area.  The Israeli Army apologised for the damage.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news | title = Israeli airstrikes hit new targets| date=July 31, 2006| publisher=CNN|url= http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/31/mideast.main/index.html}}</ref>

On July 31, 2006, [[Hezbullah]] said that its forces hit an Israeli corvette near the city of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]]; Israel denied that any of its ships was hit.

One Lebanese Army personnel was killed, and three were injured in an IDF Naval attack on the Lebanese military base north of Tyre.  The towns of Al-Awayda area, Kafr Shuba' and Kafr Hamam were also hit with IDF artillery strikes.  The Tyre–Kila area was also the scene of IDF air strikes, a ground incursion, and clash with Hezbollah which left three IDF tank personnel wounded.<ref name="AP">{{cite news | title = Israeli strikes resume after brief lull
| date=July 31, 2006|work=Houston Chronicle|url= http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4083393.html}}</ref>  There were unconfirmed reports of a late-night incursion by IDF on the western range of the Lebanese mountains and four Israeli IAF raids targeted the [[Faraya]] road around [[Hermel]] in the [[Bekaa valley]].

==August 1–4==
{{further|Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War (early August)}}

===Tuesday, August 1===
{{see also|Battle of Ayta al-Sha`b}}
Hezbollah said its fighters managed to destroy an Israeli warship of the coast of Tyre, though Israel disputed the claim. Shelling of Mansouri, Shamaa and Teir Harfan took place by IDF Naval units. Operations continued around Hermel with an attack on a pickup truck loaded with cooking gas tanks, and 5 strikes on a road linking eastern Lebanon to western regions and coastline.  Attacks were also reported around the Masnaa crossing into Syria, which had been subject to a series of attacks in the last three days.  Two of the four border crossings into Syria are now closed because of damage- the main Beirut-Damascus highway was described by the Jerusalem Post as "impassable" due to previous attacks.  Defense Minister Peretz said that attacks would continue on targets which he reportedly described as "convoys smuggling weapons across the border into Lebanon".<ref name="JP">{{cite news | title = IAF resumes air strikes in Bekaa Valley| date=August 1, 2006| work=[[Jerusalem Post]]|url= http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1153292046965&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull}}</ref>  Shelling of the Ba'labak area near the Syrian border and several areas in Al Biqa' region were also reportedly hit with shelling and three air strikes. Six airstrikes reportedly hit the village of Sour. Al-Jazeera TV reported that Israeli aircraft bombed Bayyada, and Mansoureh.  The IDF reported that twenty Hezbollah fighters in the villages of Al Taiba and Al Adasiyya were killed during fighting in the areas since July 30.<ref name="IMEMC & Agencies">{{cite news | title = Three Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon| date=August 1, 2006| publisher=[[IMEMC]]|url= http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20516&Itemid=173}}</ref>
A clash between IDF Paratroopers & Hezbollah was reported to have taken place around Ayta a-Shaab with three IDF dead by anti-tank fire with the IDF saying twenty Hezbollah died in the fighting.  The IDF later confirmed the HeAzbollah dead as ten.<ref name="Haaretz3" />
Hezbollah issued a statement saying that the IDF had killed three Hezbollah fighters during fighting around Kfar Kila, [[Odaisseh]], and Taibeh, near the Lebanese town of Marjayoun. Hezbollah gave its fatalities since July 13 as forty-eight in total.  While the IDF reported four Hezbollah dead.<ref name="AP b">{{cite news| title=Lebanon: Three Hizbullah fighters, three Israeli troops die in clashes| date=August 1, 2006| publisher=[[www.albawaba.com]]| url=http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/201429| access-date=August 21, 2006| archive-date=September 27, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927014255/http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/201429| url-status=dead}}</ref>  Five rockets and a number of mortar shells were fired at the western Galilee between Rosh HaNikra and {{Not a typo|Ma'alot}} on Tuesday wounding five IDF.

===Wednesday, August 2===
Between evening of August 1 and early on August 2 IDF Commandos were reported to be engaged in fighting around Dar al-Hikma Hospital in Baalbek, an area described as a "Hezbollah stronghold".<ref name="JP" /><ref name="Haaretz">{{cite news | title = Three IDF soldiers killed by anti-tank fire in village of Ayta a-Shab| date=August 2, 2006| work=[[Haaretz]]|url= http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/745276.html}}</ref>  The intended target of the raid was reported to have been Sheikh [[Mohammed Yazbek]] a member of Hezbollah's [[Majlis al-Shura|Shoura Council]], and a Lebanese representative of the Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Last month the IAF bombed his house in Baalbek.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/syria/story/0,,1835332,00.html|title=No turning back in pursuit of Hizbullah|date=August 2, 2006|accessdate=August 2, 2006 |work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Rory | last=McCarthy}}</ref>  It was unclear whether Yazbek had been captured by IDF but it was reported that he was not in the hospital at the time of the raid.  The IDF denied Yazbek was the intended target of the raid on the hospital but three unidentified POW described as "Hizbullah officials" were captured.<ref>{{cite news| title=IDF captures Hizbullah operatives| date=August 2, 2006| work=[[Jerusalem Post]]| url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292046965&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  In a broadcast on Al-Manar TV Hezbollah said "Those who were taken prisoner are citizens. It will not be long before the enemy will discover that they are ordinary citizens." 11 civilians were reported killed, 10 Lebanese and one Syrian.

Hezbollah said it had attacked an Israeli Army armoured unit inside Lebanon, destroying two tanks and leaving their crews dead or wounded as they attempted to advance on the Rub Thalatheen hill at Adaisseh.  The IDF denied the report.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/syria/story/0,,1835529,00.html|title=Olmert 150 Hizbullah rockets hit Israel|date=August 2, 2006|accessdate=August 2, 2006 |work=The Guardian | location=London}}</ref>

===Thursday, August 3===
An IDF missile struck a house in Taibeh in the early morning, killing a family of three, Lebanese security officials said. Taibeh was the scene of fighting between IDF & Hezbollah. Hezbollah said it destroyed one IDF tank and two bulldozers killing or woundings it occupants. IDF said one tank was damaged with no casualties.<ref name="wsj-08-03-2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115306760246608000 |title=WSJ Ticker|date=August 3, 2006|accessdate=August 4, 2006 | work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

132 rockets hit Israel by 1300 hrs localtime. 100 hitting northern Israel in a matter of minutes. Israeli death toll in the conflict stood at 68, with 41 soldiers killed in fighting and 27 civilians in rocket attacks. Lebanese PM Saniora said more than 900 people had been killed and 3,000 wounded, but he did not say whether the new figure, a rise of 380 from 520 confirmed dead also included those missing presumed dead.<ref name="wsj-08-03-2006" />

Hezbollah leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] vowed to strike [[Tel Aviv]] in retaliation for Israel's bombardment of Lebanon's capital, [[Beirut]]. "If you hit Beirut, the Islamic resistance will hit Tel Aviv and is able to do that with God's help", Nasrallah said in a televised address.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/03/mideast.main/index.html|title=Hezbollah threatens to strike Tel Aviv|date=August 3, 2006| work=CNN |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060821192233/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/03/mideast.main/index.html |archivedate = August 21, 2006}}</ref>

Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Rahal told al Jazeera television: "Declaring a cease-fire is not the concern of the people of Lebanon as long as there is one Israeli soldier on Lebanese soil – even one meter (into Lebanon).. We will not accept any (Israeli) soldier staying on Lebanese territory, and it is the right of every Lebanese to fight until liberation."<ref name="wsj-08-03-2006" />

Israeli Defense Minister Peretz announced that he had instructed the IDF to prepare for "a swift takeover of the entire area south of the Litani [River]" and to operate in all the areas where rockets had been launched.  An incursion to the Litani would represent a distance of 18 miles (29&nbsp;km) into south Lebanon.<ref name="haaretz-08-04-2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746334.html|title=ANALYSIS: Hezbollah still has thousands of rockets|date=August 3, 2006|accessdate=August 4, 2006}}</ref>  IDF said its soldiers have taken up positions in or near 11 towns and villages in south Lebanon, a zone reaching from the coast to the 'Galilee Panhandle' eastwards.  Estimates of IDF forces in S.Lebanon were six brigades approximately 10,000 soldiers.<ref name="wsj-08-03-2006" />

IDF bombers, reportedly fired two rockets at a house in Baalbek. One woman died and three people were wounded, IDF officials stated.<ref name="wsj-08-03-2006" />

Calls for a ceasefire demanded that Israel stops its revenge attacks against Lebanese civilians and that Hezbollah lay down its arms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.democracyinlebanon.org/Documents/CDL-Exclusives/DonQuixote(08-03-06).htm|title = Birth Pangs or Last Rites, by Don Quixote &#124; CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY IN LEBANON}}</ref>

===Friday, August 4===
It was estimated in a Haaretz analysis piece that the total number of rocket launchers that had been destroyed by IDF forces in Lebanon was "ten" and an estimate of Hezbollah killed given by IDF was "380".<ref name="haaretz-08-04-2006" />
33 civilian farm workers are killed and 20 wounded after Israeli airstrike in a farm near [[Qaa]] in Lebanon, close to the Lebanon-Syria border in the [[Beqaa valley]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Dozens killed in Israeli air raids|date=August 4, 2006|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Aljazeera]]|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B67C13FC-A3AD-49C3-9B68-0C7768AF88DB.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070308064722/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B67C13FC-A3AD-49C3-9B68-0C7768AF88DB.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2007}}</ref> A hospital official and the mayor said all the casualties were Syrian workers, and security forces said most of the casualties were employees or truck drivers. The IDF said it targeted two buildings that contained weapons. The Israeli government has accused Hezbollah of using civilians as shields.<ref name="bridges">{{cite news|title=Israeli bombardment kills 40 civilians in Lebanon|date=August 4, 2006|publisher=Reuters|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03509692.htm}}</ref>
Israeli aircraft destroyed four bridges on the main coastal highway north of Beirut, disrupting efforts to aid civilians displaced or trapped by the conflict.<ref name="bridges" /> After bombing the last land routes into [[Beirut]], and effectively cutting off the Lebanese capital from relief supplies, Israel issued a statement saying the attacks were designed to thwart Syrian attempts to arm Hezbollah." "[[Syria]] is determined to continue rearming Hezbollah and supply it with weaponry used to attack Israel", said an IDF statement. "The IDF is determined to stop this flow of arms to Hezbollah. The attacks on the bridge last night, which connect Syria and Lebanon, were to this end."<ref name="CNN-08-04">{{cite news|title=UIsrael's bombs cut off Beirut |date=August 4, 2006 |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/04/mideast.main/index.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831013228/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/04/mideast.main/index.html |archivedate=August 31, 2006 }}</ref>
The IDF said the two or three rockets were among more than 200 that landed across northern Israel. The most deadly attack came in [[Tiberias]], where three civilians were killed. The IDF put the Israeli death toll at 74, including 30 civilians. Israeli authorities say more than 600 people have been injured.<ref name="CNN-08-04" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Israeli Commandos Raid Lebanese City of Tyre|date=2006-08-05|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|url=http://voanews.com/english/2006-08-05-voa12.cfm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823230555/http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-05-voa12.cfm|archivedate=August 23, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Across Lebanon, dozens died in Israeli attacks, as Hezbollah rockets struck Hadera, the southernmost point the Islamic militia has reached with its attacks thus far in the conflict. No injuries were reported, police said. Hadera is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of [[Tel Aviv]], which Hezbollah leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] threatened August 3 to strike in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Beirut. On the Lebanese side of the border, AP quoted Lebanese security officials as saying that Israeli airstrikes buried 57 people under rubble after flattening homes in two villages near the Israeli border, [[Taybeh (Marjaayoun)|Taibeh]] and [[Ayta ash Shab]]. No other details were immediately available.<ref name="CNN-08-04" />

===Sunday, August 6===
Twelve [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] reservists are killed by a [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha]] rocket explosion in [[Kfar Giladi]], in the single deadliest strike on Israeli soldiers during the [[2006 Lebanon War]].

===Thursday, August 10===
By this time, nine IDF brigades of both regular and reserve troops were operating in Southern Lebanon, about 12 kilometers (8 miles) into Lebanon.

IDF troops kill three Hizbullah fighters in Ayta ash-Sha'ab, and four others in another village. Israeli commandos also destroyed a rocket launcher on a beach south of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], and another rocket launcher was destroyed north of [[Bint Jbeil]].<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3289433,00.html IDF: We drew lessons]</ref>

==Post-ceasefire events==
{{further|Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War (mid August)|Timeline of the 2006 Lebanon War (late August)}}
Just hours after the beginning of the ceasefire on August 14, 2006, about four mortars were fired inside southern Lebanon. An Israeli military spokesman said that Israel would not respond to their firing. On that day four more incidents were recorded when armed Hezbollah members said to have approached Israeli positions were killed.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/14/monday/index.html
| title = IDF: Hours after cease-fire, 4 clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli troops; 4 Hezbollah fighters killed
| accessdate =August 23, 2006
| date = August 14, 2006
|publisher=CNN
}}</ref>

The day after, on August 15, 2006, Israeli soldiers opened fire when four Hezbollah fighters approached them, killing three.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/15/tuesday/index.html
| title = IDF: Israeli soldiers kill 3 Hezbollah fighters
| accessdate =August 23, 2006
| date = August 15, 2006
|publisher=CNN
}}</ref> The same day, about 10 rockets were fired by Hezbollah inside southern Lebanon. Israel reiterated it wouldn't respond since the rockets did not cross border.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208372,00.html |title=Hezbollah Rockets Fall Inside Southern Lebanon As Citizens Return to Region|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Fox News|date=August 15, 2006|accessdate=April 30, 2007}}</ref>

On August 18, 2006, Lebanese police sources reported that Israeli warplanes launched four missiles toward targets in the eastern Lebanese town of [[Baalbek]]. Israeli sources acknowledge that its air force performs sorties over Lebanese territory, but denied breaking the ceasefire. Lebanese officials later contradicted the police sources stating that no missiles were fired by the Israeli planes.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5300553
| title = Israel flies over Lebanon, but no airstrikes
| accessdate = August 21, 2006
| last = Janelle
| first = Chantelle
| date = August 18, 2006
| publisher = WIS-TV
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429011956/http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5300553
| archive-date = April 29, 2011
| url-status = dead
| df = mdy-all
}}</ref> The [[Associated Press]] reported that Hezbollah had fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets into southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that as none had crossed the border and there were no casualties, they did not respond. Earlier, skirmishes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah left six guerrillas dead.<ref name="RockhitLeb">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060815/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel_1113 |title=Rockets hit Lebanon despite cease-fire |accessdate=August 15, 2006 |last=Hurst |first=Stephen R. |date=August 15, 2006 |agency=Associated Press }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[UNIFIL]] also reported that the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] fired a tank shell at the Lebanese village of Markaba but that there was no response from the other side.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060816/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictlebanon_060816145220 Four Hezbollah fighters killed in ceasefire breaches: UN] {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} – [[Agence France-Presse]] (via [[Yahoo!]]). August 16, 2006</ref>

One day later, on August 19, 2006, Israel launched a raid in Lebanon's eastern [[Beqaa Valley]] it says was aimed to disrupt weapons supplies to Hezbollah from Syria and Iran.<ref name="CNN_Beka_raid">{{cite news
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/19/mideast.main.05/
| title = Israel: Raid targets weapons transfer
| accessdate =August 21, 2006
| date = August 19, 2006
| publisher = CNN
}}</ref> Lebanese officials said "the Israelis were apparently seeking a guerrilla target in a school."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5674288 |title=Israeli Commando Dies in Lebanon Raid |accessdate=August 27, 2006 |date=August 19, 2006 |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy-all }}{{dead link|date=April 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Reports indicate that the Israeli commandos were disguised in Lebanese Army uniforms (thus masquerading as a non-combatant party) and spoke Arabic in an attempt to pass themselves off as Arabs.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/08/20/israeli_raid_endangers_cease_fire_deal/
| title = Israeli Raid Endangers Ceasefire Deal
| accessdate =March 18, 2007
| date = August 20, 2006
|work=Boston Globe
| first1=Thanassis
| last1=Cambanis
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5268870.stm
| title = Israel's raid in the Bekaa Valley
| accessdate =March 18, 2007
| date = August 20, 2006
|publisher=BBC News
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/20/AR2006082000149.html
| title = Plans for Lebanon Force Faulted
| accessdate =March 18, 2007
| date = August 21, 2006
|newspaper=Washington Post
| first=Doug
| last=Struck
}}</ref> Two Israeli soldiers and four Hezbollah fighters were killed. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was "deeply concerned" about an Israeli commando raid in eastern Lebanon Saturday, calling it a violation of a U.N.-backed ceasefire. The statement also cites UNIFIL troops as saying there have "also been several air violations by Israeli military aircraft."<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/19/mideast.main/index.html
| title = Kofi Annan declares Israeli raid violation of ceasefire
| accessdate =August 21, 2006
| last = Morales
| first = Alex
| date = August 20, 2006
| publisher = CNN
}}</ref> Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman [[Mark Regev]] told the Associated Press that "[t]he cease-fire is based on [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701|(U.N. resolution) 1701]] which calls for an international arms embargo against Hezbollah."<ref name="CNN_Beka_raid" /> Regev was referring to article 8 of the resolution which calls for an end to all weapons transfers to Hezbollah.

Less than a week later, on August 27, 2006, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that U.N. troops would not intercept Syrian arms shipments to Hezbollah unless requested to do so by the Lebanese Government.<ref>{{cite news|title=UN will not stop Syria sending weapons to Lebanon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/27/wleb27.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209200256/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/27/wleb27.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2007|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=August 27, 2006 | location=London | accessdate=May 25, 2010 | first1=Harry | last1=De Quetteville | first2=Michael | last2=Hirst}}</ref>

Following these events, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on August 29, 2006, that Israel had committed most of the truce violations and described Israel's continuing embargo as "a humiliation and an infringement on [Lebanese] sovereignty."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5296314.stm|title=UN urges Israel to end blockade|publisher=BBC News|date=August 29, 2006|accessdate=May 1, 2007}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reiterated Israel's willingness to lift the blockade after full implementation of the U.N.-brokered cease fire.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060831/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast <!--broken link-->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903182142/https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060831/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast |date=September 3, 2006 }}</ref>

A week later, on September 7, 2006, the aviation blockade was lifted. Then on September 8, 2006, the naval blockade was lifted.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1157753409537&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724
|title=Israel ends naval blockade of Lebanon
|publisher=Toronto Star/AP
|last=Dakroub
|first=Hussein
|date=September 9, 2006
|accessdate=September 9, 2006
|archive-date=September 29, 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083615/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1157753409537&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

But on September 21, 2006, Hezbollah supporters threw stones over the border fence at Israeli patrols in Israel, seen as part of Hezbollah redeployments.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3306965,00.html Ynet report], [https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060927/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictisrael Yahoo news]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/767470.html Haaretz report]</ref> On September 22, 2006, Nasrallah reported in a victory rally that Hezbollah possessed over 20,000 rockets and that it was stronger than before July 12. According to various estimates, the organisation had fewer than 20,000 rockets before and fired about 4,000 rockets during the conflict.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/syria/story/0,,1879238,00.html We still have 20,000 rockets, says Nasrallah], ''The Guardian''</ref>

On October 1, 2006, the Israeli army reported that it had completed its withdrawal.<ref>[http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/061001095059.wbg4ykzg.html AFP – Israel pulls remaining troops out of Lebanon]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The UN has said Israel has withdrawn the bulk of its troops from Lebanon, fulfilling a key condition of the UN ceasefire ending war with Hezbollah, but that some Israeli troops remained in [[Ghajar]]. The IDF confirmed its forces were still operating near Ghajar, a village split in two by the border.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/01/lebanon.withdrawal/index.html UN peacekeepers: Israeli troops still in Lebanon], ''[[CNN]]''</ref> Because of the volatile nature of the place, Israel says it will maintain a presence in Ghajar until a security agreement is reached with the UN and the Lebanese army.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5396966.stm |work=BBC News | title=UN hails Israel's Lebanon pullout | date=October 1, 2006 | accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref> Then on October 3, 2006, [[Israel Air Force|Israeli jets]] conducted mock air raids over [[Nabatiyeh]], [[Khiam]], and [[Marjayoun]] in [[Southern Lebanon]], and later over the [[Iqlim al-Tuffah]] region and Western [[Bekaa Valley]].<ref>[http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=910249 Israel violates Lebanese airspace, launches mock raids] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195841/http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=910249 |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=75903 |title=Israeli warplanes violate Lebanese airspace again |publisher=Dailystar.com.lb |date=October 4, 2006 |accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005063128
 |title       = Israel To Continue Lebanon Overflights
 |publisher   = All Headline News
 |date        = October 4, 2006
 |accessdate  = October 6, 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103300/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005063128
 |archivedate = September 29, 2007
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref> An Israeli fighter penetrated the {{convert|2|nmi|km|adj=on}} defence perimeter of the French frigate ''[[Courbet (F 712)|Courbet]]'' without answer radio calls, triggering a diplomatic incident<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/20061110.FIG000000186_l_armee_francaise_au_liban_se_sent_menacee_par_israel.html L'armée française au Liban se sent menacée par Israël] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063651/http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/20061110.FIG000000186_l_armee_francaise_au_liban_se_sent_menacee_par_israel.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}, ''[[Le Figaro]]''</ref>

Israel admitted on October 22 to using [[White phosphorus (weapon)|white phosphorus]] in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/archive/archive?ArchiveId=38023 |title=Israel admits phosphorus shell use |publisher=English.aljazeera.net |accessdate=July 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604234833/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/archive/archive?ArchiveId=38023 |archivedate=June 4, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Although Israel continues to deny the use of phosphorus on civilians, doctors in southern Lebanon have suspected some injuries were caused by contact with the chemical.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6075408.stm |work=BBC News | title=Israel admits phosphorus bombing | date=October 22, 2006 | accessdate=May 25, 2010}}</ref> On October 23, Lebanese police reported the "most intensive [Israeli] overflights" of Lebanon after the ceasefire. Two jets flew low over [[Beirut]], while four more aircraft conducted [[sonic boom]] raid in [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23833118.htm
|title=Israel jets fly over Lebanon despite French appeal
|publisher=Reuters
|date=October 23, 2006
|accessdate=October 25, 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=11999 Israel continues overflights of Lebanon] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605074155/http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=11999 |date=June 5, 2011 }}. ''[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]''</ref> France, who leads [[UNIFIL]] troops, called the continuing overflights "extremely dangerous."<ref>[http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777482.html France calls IAF overflights in Lebanon 'extremely dangerous'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305021022/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/777482.html |date=March 5, 2007 }}, ''[[Haaretz]]''.</ref>

Six [[Israeli Air Force|Israeli]] [[F-16]]'s flew over a German vessel patrolling off Israel's coast just south of the Lebanese border on October 24. The German Defence Ministry said that the planes had given off infrared decoys and one of the aircraft had fired two shots into the air, which had not been specifically aimed. The Israeli military said that a German helicopter took off from the vessel without having coordinated this with Israel, and denied vehemently having fired any shots at the vessel and said "as of now" it also had no knowledge of the jets launching flares over it. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz telephoned his German counterpart [[Franz Josef Jung]] to clarify that 'Israel has no intention to carry out any aggressive actions' against the German peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, who are there as part of [[UNIFIL]] to enforce an arms embargo against Hezbollah. Germany confirmed the consultations, and that both sides were interested in maintaining good cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18958 |title=Germany, Israel confirm naval vessel-planes incident |date=October 28, 2006 |publisher=Telugu Portal |df=mdy }}{{dead link|date=January 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1214671.php/Germany_Israel_confirm_naval_vessel-planes_incident |title=Germany, Israel confirm naval vessel-planes incident |date=October 28, 2006 |publisher=Middle East News |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124419/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1214671.php/Germany_Israel_confirm_naval_vessel-planes_incident |archivedate=September 29, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/ba4623e8cf1e387d/ |title=Israel denies firing shots at German ship |date=October 28, 2006 |publisher=[[Ynetnews]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609015751/http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/b8de8e630faf3631/id/210716/cs/1/ |archivedate=June 9, 2008 }}</ref>

On October 31, 2006, eight Israeli [[F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15s]] flew over many areas of Lebanon, including Beirut.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6101448.stm Israeli jets fly low over Beirut], ''[[BBC]]''</ref><ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061031/ts_nm/mideast_lebanon_planes_dc Israeli warplanes fly low over Beirut, suburbs]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Reuters''</ref> The [[Israeli Air Force|IAF]] jets also flew over a French peacekeeper position in Lebanon. According to the [[Minister of Defence (France)|French Defense Minister]] [[Michele Alliot-Marie]], the planes came in at what was interpreted as an attack position, and the peacekeepers were "seconds away" from firing at the jets.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/785914.html IDF checking French claim its UN troops almost fired at IAF jets], ''AP'' in ''Haaretz''</ref>

After one month, on December 1, 2006, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan submitted a report to the Security Council president maintaining "there were no serious incidents or confrontations" since the cease-fire in August 2006. He did, however, note that peacekeepers reported air violations by Israel "almost on a daily basis", which Israel maintained were a security measure related to continuing Syrian and Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah, and evidence of the presence of unauthorized armed personnel, assets, and weapons in Lebanon. In one case, a UNIFIL demining team was challenged by two Hezbollah members in combat uniforms armed with [[AK-47|AK-47 rifles]]. UNIFIL notified the Lebanese army, who arrested three suspects the next day. There were also "13 instances where UNIFIL came across unauthorized arms or related material in its area of operation", including the discovery of 17 katyusha rockets and several improvised explosive devices in [[Rachaiya El-Foukhar]], and the discovery of a weapons cache containing seven missiles, three rocket launchers, and a substantial amount of ammunition in the area of [[Bourhoz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/02/news/UN_GEN_UN_Lebanon_Peacekeepers.php |title=Annan: Israel's actions compromise efforts to stabilize the Israeli-Lebanon border |work=International Herald Tribune |date=March 29, 2009 |accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ynet_annan_report">Ynet News (December 2, 2006). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3335032,00.html "Annan finds 13 incidents of illicit arms in Lebanon"]. Retrieved December 8, 2006.</ref> Annan also reported that as of November 20, 2006, 822 cluster bomb strike sites had been recorded,<ref name="ynet_annan_report" /> with 60,000 cluster bomblets having been cleared by the [[Mine Action Coordination Center|UN Mine Action Coordination Center]].<ref>The Daily Star (December 4, 2006). [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=77367 "UN secretary general's update to the Security Council on Resolution 1701"]. Retrieved December 8, 2006.</ref>

Then on January 17, 2007, Israeli [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[Ramatkal|Chief of General Staff]] [[Dan Halutz]] resigned. The resignation came shortly after work on a governmental investigation on the conflict was announced complete.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3353464,00.html |title=YNet |publisher=YNet. |date=June 20, 1995 |accessdate=July 26, 2012|last1=סופר |first1=רוני }}</ref>

On February 1, 2007, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Winograd Commission, formed to inquire into the Israeli-Lebanese war, that the attack was planned four months in advance based upon an earlier target list drawn up by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Based on prior Hezbollah abduction of [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers in the North of Israel, Olmert ordered the IDF to put an end to it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Benn |first=Aluf |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/834549.html |title=PM: War planned months in advance – Haaretz – Israel News |publisher=Haaretz |date=March 8, 2007 |accessdate=July 26, 2012}}</ref>

In April 2007, Olmert vowed not to resign despite findings from a comprehensive report which noted his "severe failure" in handling the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4761888.html |accessdate=May 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502041243/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4761888.html |archivedate=May 2, 2007 |title=War report sharply criticizes Olmert |author=STEVEN GUTKIN }}</ref>

On June 17, 2007, an unknown militant group fired two rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel, an action which the UN condemned as a serious violation of the ceasefire. Hezbollah denied involvement in the incident, and Israel emphasized that it would restrain itself from responding by force. Saniora pledged that "The state [...] will spare no effort in uncovering those who stand behind this incident."<ref name="IHT">{{cite web | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/18/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Lebanon.php | title = Militants fire 2 rockets from Lebanon at Israel's north, first since last year's war | work = International Herald Tribune | date = June 17, 2007 | accessdate =June 17, 2007}}</ref>

Israeli jets entered Syrian airspace on September 6, 2007, claiming to search for Syrian weapons shipments to [[Hezbollah]]. Iran and North Korea condemned the Israeli action, but the incident provoked little international response otherwise.

==See also==
* [[Military operations of the 2006 Lebanon War]]
* [[Ceasefire attempts during the 2006 Lebanon War]]
* [[International incidents during the 2006 Lebanon War]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons|2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5179434.stm BBC News:Day-by-day: Lebanon crisis - week one], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5194156.stm two], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5218210.stm three], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5239142.stm four], [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4776627.stm five]
* [http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-4289,00.html Israel at war - Ynetnews]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKq38COoTG8 Video covering background details]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5274408.stm Day-by-day: Lebanon crisis] BBC

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2012}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline Of The 2006 Lebanon War}}
[[Category:Battles involving Israel]]
[[Category:Battles involving Hezbollah]]
[[Category:Timelines of the 2006 Lebanon War| ]]