Six multinational companies may be 'aiding and abetting' war crimes by supplying equipment to Israel

The Guardian has geolocated and verified images showing the Israeli military using excavators made by six multinational companies – Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, Doosan, Hitachi and Komatsu – to destroy homes, public utilities, shops and other structures across southern Lebanon. Subscribe ► https://www.youtube.com/user/theguardian?sub_confirmation=1 According to human rights experts, these construction conglomerates may be aiding and abetting war crimes by supplying the excavators and bulldozers to Israel, which itself could be guilty of wanton destruction. The current round of fighting started on 2 March after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, triggering an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon. After the framework peace deal between the US and Iran was announced, Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted the country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, as having said that “the IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza – indefinitely – to defend the border and Israeli communities against jihadist elements.” Israel has fiercely resisted Lebanon’s inclusion in the deal, where its forces have mounted a sweeping offensive and occupied a swath of land in the south. It is yet to be seen if the Israeli attacks will continue in Lebanon going forward, a red line for Iran and something that will derail peace talks with the US. At least 46 villages in south Lebanon have suffered heavy damage, most due to demolitions carried out after the 17 April Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, according to satellite analysis by Bellingcat. All companies that responded to a request for a comment said their practices were consistent with international and national law and denied any allegations of wrongdoing. Israeli strikes have killed over 3,500 people in Lebanon while Hezbollah have killed at least 30 Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and three Israeli civilians. #israel #lebanon #middleeast