The Israeli-Lebanese war of 2006 and its repercussions: an overview

This opening article is an overview of the various issues addressed in a symposium held in early September 2006 in the aftermath of the war that took place between Israel and Lebanon in the summer of that year. It analyses the reasons behind the war and its repercussions for both Hezbollah and Israel, probes the reasons advanced by Israel and the real intentions behind the war, and reviews the prosecution of the war by both parties and the reasons behind the success of Hezbollah's resistance to the Israeli onslaught. The article also addresses the responsibility of Hezbollah for triggering the war and the disproportionality of the Israeli response to Hezbollah's kidnapping of its soldiers. The losses incurred by both parties are analysed, as are the repercussions on Israel, Lebanon, the region, and the international community especially the United States.