HRW accuses 'Israel' of 'indiscriminate' civilian attacks in Lebanon
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Human Rights Watch calls for a war crimes investigation into Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon that killed over 30 civilians, including children.
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The aftermath of a bombing using a US-provided JDAM kit on the Lebanese town of Yunin, Bekaa Valley, November 2024 (Human Rights Watch via X)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli occupation of carrying out "indiscriminate" attacks on civilians during its recent war on Lebanon, detailing that two deadly strikes in eastern Lebanon should be investigated as war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
The rights watchdog highlighted that the two deadly strikes rained down on the town of Younin in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, killing over 30 civilians amid "Israel's" brutal war on Lebanon, which culminated in a November 27 ceasefire.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the war claimed the lives of at least 3,670 civilians, in addition to 15,413 injuries as of November 23, since October 2023.
Human Rights Watch: Israeli strikes were 'indiscriminate' in Bekaa Valley
HRW reported that one of the Israeli occupation's strikes on September 25 killed 23 Syrians from the same family, including 13 children. Another attack on November 1 destroyed a two-storey house, killing 10 people, among them two children, one just a year old.
"At least one of the attacks used an air-dropped bomb equipped with a United States-produced Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kit," HRW said, adding that these were "apparent indiscriminate attacks on civilians." HRW noted that no evidence of military targets was found at either site, and no evacuation warnings were issued prior to the bombings.
Despite attempts to contact the Israeli military for clarification, HRW stated it had "not received a response." AFP has also reached out to the military for comment.
NEW: Two unlawful Israeli strikes on the Lebanese town of Younine between Sept. and Nov. 2024 were apparent indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) April 23, 2025
At least one of the attacks used an air-dropped bomb equipped with a United States-produced JDAM guidance kit.https://t.co/XwqQxFXzgr pic.twitter.com/iSmPpGC3ah
Ramzi Kaiss, a researcher at HRW, stated, "More and more evidence is emerging that Israeli forces repeatedly failed to protect civilians or adequately distinguish civilians from military targets during its strikes across Lebanon."
HRW emphasized that Washington's supply of weapons to the Israeli occupation "has made the US complicit in their unlawful use," calling on the Lebanese government to grant the International Criminal Court jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the crimes.
Last month, Amnesty International echoed HRW's concerns, calling for war crimes investigations into the Israeli occupation's attacks on ambulances, paramedics, and health facilities in Lebanon during the conflict.
Large areas of southern and eastern Lebanon, along with parts of Beirut’s Southern Suburb, were heavily damaged by Israeli bombardment, leaving communities devastated.
As early as October 2023, the Israeli occupation had used white phosphorus munitions handed to it by the United States against Lebanon, an internationally prohibited munition.
🚨 New @HRW report finds that Israel’s widespread use of white phosphorus in #Lebanon is putting civilians at grave risk & contributing to displacement.
— Ramzi Kaiss / رمزي قيس (@kaiss_ramzi) June 5, 2024
We verified white phosphorus use in 17 municipalities, including over populated areas in 5 of them.https://t.co/BZNareZUOb pic.twitter.com/tApTt6GT1a
White phosphorus is a combustible (ignites when exposed to oxygen) and a severely fatal chemical. The combustible reaction produces light, heavy white smoke, and heat of about 815°C.
Human Rights Watch substantiated these claims with video evidence from Lebanon and Gaza, which depicted multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the occupied Palestine-Lebanon border.
