Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah​, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701 in August 2006 as part of a cease-fire that ended Israel’s last war with Lebanon. The resolution sought to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, but has failed to keep the peace.