Mitri announces observatory to document violations of international humanitarian law in Lebanon

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri announced Friday that the government "is working to create a permanent observatory to document violations of international humanitarian law in cooperation with countries and international organizations, which could eventually become a formal institution."

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the National Committee on International Humanitarian Law, attended by Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh, Environment Minister Tamara El-Zein, Administrative Reform Minister Fadi Makki and representatives of other concerned ministries, Mitri said the committee had drafted a report on the issue that is available for public consultation and should be enriched with more testimonies, evidence and legal arguments.

"The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has created a team of international experts who are currently in Lebanon and are independently collaborating with the Lebanese state to investigate violations of international humanitarian law, notably the destruction of villages and towns, the killing of journalists and healthcare personnel, and attacks on archaeological sites, heritage buildings and infrastructure protected under international law," he said.

Lebanon is experiencing its second war in less than three years between Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli army, which has occupied more than 600 square kilometers in southern Lebanon since the outbreak of the current war on March 2, 2026, has regularly carried out the systematic destruction of villages and towns, civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, and deadly attacks on journalists and first responders.

The issue of Israeli violations in southern Lebanon and other regions has often been raised by international organizations. On July 9, Amnesty International published a report identifying three attacks, on March 6, 12 and 13, that destroyed "civilian homes" and killed "24 civilians, including 12 children," and that are likely to constitute "war crimes." The report also referenced complaints against Israel over the apparently deliberate targeting of journalists such as Issam Abdallah in 2023 and Amal Khalil last April, both of whom were killed.

Mitri updated participants on his recent contacts, notably during his latest visit to Geneva. He also addressed the issue of detainees held in Israeli prisons, saying he had "looked into this matter with the International Committee of the Red Cross" and regretted "the lack of any cooperation from the Israelis."

Mitri also announced an international conference on the law of armed conflict, to be held in Amman next November.