Three Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon in March 2026 that killed 24 civilians – 12 of them children – wiping out families, must be investigated as war crimes, Amnesty International said today.
The organization investigated three Israeli attacks that destroyed civilian homes in al-Thakana neighbourhood in Tyre district, Irkay village in Saida district, and al-Rahbat neighbourhood in Nabatieh district on 6, 12, and 13 March, respectively. Those killed included 12 children, ranging in ages from five to 16, six women – including a pregnant woman – and six men. At least 18 others were also injured.
Based on the evidence gathered, in each of these air strikes, Amnesty International has reasonable basis to conclude that Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law, including by failing to distinguish between civilians and military objectives, by carrying out attacks directed against civilians or civilian objects, or by failing to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians.
“Within the space of just a week – the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends? The international community must act now: states must impose an immediate comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and use universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute those responsible,” said Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
