Israel has launched strikes on Hezbollah leaders in Beirut and southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese health ministry, since March 2, 2026, 400 Lebanese civilians have been killed by Israeli bombing. On March 7, 2026, 41 people were killed by Israeli forces in the town of Nabi Sheet.

Israel launched two major invasions of Lebanon in 1978 and 1982. In 1978, Israel withdrew in compliance with UNSC Resolution 425, leaving control to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the South Lebanon Army (SLA). In 1982, Israel occupied southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. It partially withdrew in 1985, but occupied much of southern Lebanon until 2000.

Since 1977, over 4000 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israel. In the 2006 Lebanon War, over 1,100 Lebanese civilians were killed due to Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. Since 2023, over 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli attacks. In 2024, Israeli airstrikes killed 492 people, including women, children, and paramedics.

Hezbollah’s civil wars against the government of Lebanon resulted in its control of most of southern Lebanon. In 2026, Israel ordered the evacuation of the entire area south of the Litani river in southern Lebanon, including 100 villages and towns. The result has been the forced displacement of 700,000 civilians, including 200,000 children. Under international law, civilians do not lose their protected status if they do not or cannot comply with evacuation orders.

A ceasefire deal with Lebanon in November 2024 committed the Lebanese government to overseeing Hezbollah’s withdrawal from south of the Litani River. But Lebanon was unable to force Hezbollah to disarm and evacuate. Since the 2024 ceasefire, Israel has maintained control of much of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel have violated the ceasefire agreement over 10,000 times. Hezbollah continues to launch missile attacks into Israel. Israel continues its bombing and its invasion of Lebanon.

Although Israel may claim self-defense as justification for its war against Hezbollah, it has routinely violated humanitarian law in its conduct of the war. Israel has struck hotels where displaced people were taking refuge. Israel has bombed Lebanese medical teams and facilities, a violation of Article 24 of the First and Article 20 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Human Rights Watch has verified that Israel has used white phosphorus in its attacks on residential areas, a war crime under Protocol III of the Convention on Conventional Weapons to which Lebanon, but not Israel, is a State-Party.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened that Beirut’s Dahiya district will soon “look like Khan Younis,” a city in Gaza that Israeli bombing almost totally destroyed. This was a declaration of genocidal intent by an Israeli cabinet minister. Hezbollah’s genocidal intent to destroy Israel remains its open policy.

Genocide Watch considers these early warning signs of genocide to include Stage 1 Classification, Stage 4 Dehumanization, Stage 5 Organization, Stage 7 Preparation, Stage 8 Persecution, and Stage 10 Denial.

Genocide Watch recommends that:

• The US and other governments should host diplomatic talks to end the Israel – Hezbollah war.

• Lebanon should sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

• Hezbollah’s leaders should be captured, arrested, and tried by a Special International Tribunal.

• Israeli leaders who order war crimes should be charged and tried by a Special International Tribunal.

• Immediate humanitarian access must be opened to southern Lebanon, to allow for uninterrupted flow of aid, food, medical supplies and unrestricted access by agencies to displaced populations.

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