UN rapporteur warns 'Israeli' strikes on Lebanon may amount to war crimes

• UN rapporteur warns 'Israeli' strikes in Lebanon may be war crimes.
• 'Israel' claims it is targeting Hezbollah operatives.
• Attacks have continued despite the November 2024 truce.
• Strikes have hit civilian cars, motorbikes, and equipment.

A United Nations official has warned that a string of 'Israeli' strikes on civilian vehicles in Lebanon may constitute war crimes, challenging 'Israel’s' claims that it is only targeting members of Hezbollah.

United Nations special rapporteur Morris Tidball-Binz said the attacks, which have continued despite a ceasefire deal in November 2024, appear to violate international law.

“Unless there is compelling evidence that those civilian objects have dual (military) objectives... the strikes are illegal,” Tidball-Binz said in a written statement. “The killings resulting from the attacks violate the right to life and also the principles of precaution and proportionality and, in my opinion, also amount to war crimes.”

Since the truce, 'Israel' has continued to launch air raids across southern Lebanon, often striking cars, motorbikes, and even excavators on public roads. These attacks have killed multiple people, with 'Israel' insisting it is hitting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure.

On Thursday night, some of the most intense raids since the ceasefire were reported, leaving one person dead and at least seven injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The 'Israeli' military said it targeted Hezbollah facilities and a group linked to an NGO under US sanctions, which it accuses of serving as a front for the group. But Lebanese officials say the strikes are hitting civilian infrastructure.

President Joseph Aoun condemned what he described as “a systematic policy aimed at destroying productive infrastructure” and accused Israel of violating the truce.

The South Lebanon water establishment said its main fuel depot, which stored 500,000 liters of fuel oil for powering water stations, was completely destroyed in the raids.

At a cement factory that was also struck, sales manager Ali Khalifeh said, “we are a 100 percent civilian complex.” He added that over a dozen airstrikes hit the site, which is among the largest asphalt producers in the country.

An Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent at the scene described firefighters battling a massive blaze overnight as liquid tar and fuel continued to burn.

Last week, 'Israeli' strikes in the Al-Msayleh area destroyed more than 300 bulldozers and excavators, further crippling civilian infrastructure in the south.

Lebanon’s National News Agency also reported new casualties on Friday following another strike on a car in the south.