LONDON: Amnesty International has called for investigations into three Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, adding they constitute war crimes after the attacks killed 24 civilians, including 12 children, in March.
The strikes targeted residential areas in the Tyre, Sidon, and Nabatieh districts on March 6, 12, and 13, according to the rights organisation. The attacks killed six women, including a pregnant woman, and six men, while at least 18 other people were injured.
Following its investigation, Amnesty International said it found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law by carrying out attacks that struck civilians or civilian property, failing to distinguish between military and civilian targets, or failing to take adequate precautions to minimise civilian casualties.
The organisation called for independent investigations into the incidents and urged that those responsible, if found to have committed violations of international law, be held accountable.
Disregard for civilian lives
“Within the space of just a week, the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends?” says Amnesty’s Kristine Beckerle.
“The international community must act now: states must impose an immediate comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and use universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those responsible.”
Amnesty International also warned that the recent United States-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon could hinder efforts to ensure accountability for alleged violations. The organisation urged the Lebanese government to grant the International Criminal Court jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes committed on its territory.
Israeli forces conduct extensive demolitions in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces on Friday carried out extensive demolition operations in southern Lebanon, including inside the town of Khiam, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
The agency reported that multiple powerful explosions were heard throughout the night as the demolition operations continued, with successive blasts shaking the surrounding area.
Lebanese president, army chief discuss Israeli attacks
رئيس الجمهورية العماد جوزاف عون عرض مع قائد الجيش العماد رودولف هيكل الأوضاع الأمنية في البلاد عموما وفي الجنوب خصوصا في ضوء استمرار الاعتداءات الاسرائيلية على عدد من القرى والبلدات الجنوبية.
كما تطرق البحث إلى التحضيرات الجارية لتنفيذ ما ورد في صيغة الاطار في المناطق التجريبية… pic.twitter.com/zKUZhzAiSI— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) July 10, 2026
Earlier, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met army commander Rodolphe Haykal to discuss “the security situation in the country in general and in the south in particular, in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks on a number of southern villages and towns”, his office has said.
They have also addressed preparations to implement the Israel-Lebanon framework deal in “the designated experimental areas, where the Lebanese Army is expected to deploy concurrently with the Israeli withdrawal”, according to the statement posted on X.
