South Lebanon still feels effects of July 2006 war

The Arab Weekly

It is 11 years since the July War be­tween Israel and Hezbollah, the po­litical party and Iranian-sponsored militia. During 34 days of fighting, 1,100 Lebanese and 150 Israelis were killed. Damage to Lebanon's agriculture, fishing and forestry has been estimated at $280 million by the UN Food and Agriculture Or­ganisation. Unexploded ordnance continues to maim and kill. Israel's strategy in the 2006 war differed from previous conflicts, during which its targeting of vil­lages and infrastructure backfired and drove Lebanese citizens into Hezbollah's arms. In 2006, "Israel wasn't trying to make civilians suf­fer any more but its strategy was still highly destructive in targeted areas, with similar social and eco­nomic effects as the previous op­erations, but on a larger scale," said David Daoud, research analyst on Hezbollah and Lebanon at United Against Nuclear Iran, a US-based non-profit advocacy group.