Human Rights Watch deplored the accelerating war on civilians and civilian infrastructure as Hizballah guerrillas and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) turn from fighting each other to attacking private homes, power stations, and other civilian facilities.
Israeli air strikes on Wednesday and Thursday killed two Lebanese civilians and injured twelve others, including a two-month baby. In retaliation, Hizballah forces launched Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, injuring 28 Israeli civilians. Israeli reprisal air strikes Friday morning then hit targets including power plants supplying Beirut and Tripoli, an arms depot in the Bekaa, and the main Beirut to Damascus highway.
"The laws of war forbid targeting civilians," said Hanny Megally, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division. "This includes the use of inherently indiscriminate weapons, such as Katyusha rockets, in civilian areas and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure such as power stations. Both sides must end this round of illegal reprisals and commit themselves to respecting international humanitarian law."
In February 2000, Israeli jets attacked electrical power stations in Baalbeck, Jamhour and Deir Nabouh, in clear violation of international humanitarian law, repeating an earlier attack in June 1999. No Israeli government or military officials official has made the case that this infrastructure is facilitating in any way Hizballah's military campaign against the IDF-- the minimum requirement to make these structures legitimate military targets. In contrast Israeli officials have explicitly stated that such attacks were reprisals for Hizballah attacks and to pressure the Lebanese government.
"This is the third time in less than a year that Israel has deliberately attacked Lebanon's civilian electrical infrastructure," said Megally. "Using military force against civilians, even if the stated purpose is pressuring the Lebanese government to rein in Hizballah guerrillas, is a blatant violation of the laws of war."
Human Rights Watch also condemned the firing of Katyusha rockets into populated areas of northern Israel as indiscriminate attacks that violate international humanitarian law. "Katyushas are inaccurate weapons with an indiscriminate effect when fired into areas where civilians are concentrated," Megally added. "Hizballah must refrain from using them in this manner."
Neither Hizballah's nor the IDF's conduct can be justified by the other's abusive warfare. International humanitarian law prohibits such reprisals against civilians or civilian structures. The attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure also violate the April 1996 Israel-Lebanon Cease-fire Understanding, designed to protect civilians and reduce civilian casualties on both sides of the border.
