Editing Human shield (section)

==== Lebanon War ====
An [[Australia]]n journalist claimed during the [[2006 Lebanon War]] that [[Hezbollah]] used [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] civilians as human shields to dissuade the IDF from firing at gunmen and [[Shoulder-launched missile weapon|rocket launcher]]s. Human Rights Watch conducted its own investigation and reported that Hezbollah did not "deliberately" use civilians as a deterrent from IDF attack. HRW did however conclude Hezbollah stored weapons "in or near civilian homes" and fighters launched rockets within populated areas and near UN observers.<ref name="HRW">[[Human Rights Watch]], [http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/2.htm "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203091447/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/2.htm |date=February 3, 2013}}, August 2006.</ref> HRW also accused Hezbollah of using Lebanese homes as sites for rocket launchers, usually without the homeowner's knowledge or permission, putting large numbers of civilians at risk.<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20061025-092622-2090r.htm "Deadly Hezbollah chess match"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107065605/http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20061025-092622-2090r.htm |date=November 7, 2006}} ''[[The Washington Times]]'', October 26, 2006.</ref>

On July 25, 2006, Israeli forces [[Attacks on United Nations personnel during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict|attacked and destroyed]] a [[United Nations Truce Supervision Organization|UN observer]] post in southern Lebanon, resulting in four deaths.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5215366.stm "Israeli bomb kills UN observers"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813190324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5215366.stm |date=August 13, 2006}} ''[[BBC News]]'', July 26, 2006.</ref> One of the fatalities, [[Canadian army|Canadian Major]] [[Paeta Derek Hess-von Kruedener]], had sent an e‑mail to his former commander, retired Major-General [[Lewis MacKenzie]], several days before his death in which he described the Israeli bombardment, writing "The closest artillery has landed within two meters of our position and the closest 1,000 lb aerial bomb has landed 100 meters from our patrol base. This has not been deliberate targeting, but rather due to tactical necessity". MacKenzie interpreted this language for a reporter: "What that means is, in plain English, 'We've got Hezbollah fighters running around in our positions, taking our positions here and then using us for shields and then engaging the (Israeli Defence Forces).{{'"}}<ref>"[http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=37278180-a261-421d-84a9-7f94d5fc6d50 "Hezbollah was using UN post as 'shield{{'"}}]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517040057/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=37278180-a261-421d-84a9-7f94d5fc6d50 |date=May 17, 2007}} ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', July 27, 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.nysun.com/article/36860 "Annan's Claims On Casualties May Unravel"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209220300/http://www.nysun.com/article/36860 |date=February 9, 2007}} ''[[The New York Sun]]'', July 27, 2006.</ref> A senior UN official, replying about Major Hess-von Kruedener's e-mail concerning Hezbollah's presence in the area of the UN base, said "At the time, there had been no Hezbollah activity reported in the area. So it was quite clear they were not going after other targets; that, for whatever reason, our position was being fired upon." He went on to claim that the Israelis were told where the UN base was and that it was clearly marked but they bombed it anyway.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=37278180-a261-421d-84a9-7f94d5fc6d50 "Hezbollah was using UN post as 'shield{{'"}}]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517040057/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=37278180-a261-421d-84a9-7f94d5fc6d50 |date=May 17, 2007}} ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]''. Retrieved August 22, 2014.</ref>