The United Nations human rights office has raised serious concerns over the conduct of hostilities in the latest escalation between Lebanon and Israel, warning that documented incidents may amount to grave violations of international humanitarian law.
According to a report cited by Reuters, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has identified patterns of attacks on civilians and residential structures in both Lebanon and Israel during the first three weeks of the renewed conflict.
The escalation began after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2, prompting a large-scale Israeli military response. Since then, civilian areas have increasingly been caught in the crossfire.
UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan stated that several Israeli strikes in Lebanon hit or destroyed multi-storey residential buildings, resulting in the deaths of entire families. The office said these incidents may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
One of the cases highlighted in the report is an Israeli strike on March 8 that targeted a residential building in Sir el-Gharbiyeh, located in the Nabatiyeh governorate. The attack reportedly killed at least 13 civilians, including five women, five men, two boys, and a girl.
The report underscores a broader concern over the protection of civilians in densely populated areas, where military operations have increasingly resulted in high casualty incidents.
Both the Israeli military and Hezbollah have not yet responded to requests for comment on the findings.
The UN report adds to growing international scrutiny over the conduct of both sides as the conflict intensifies, with humanitarian agencies warning that civilian infrastructure continues to bear the brunt of the fighting.
