Qana Shelling Kills Civilians in Lebanon

An Israeli artillery strike on a United Nations compound in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon on April 18, 1996, resulted in the deaths of more than 100 civilians who had taken shelter at the site. The compound was being used by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and was housing displaced residents during ongoing hostilities in the region.

The attack occurred during Israel's military operation known as Operation Grapes of Wrath, which targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces stated that the shelling was directed at militants operating near the compound and described the incident as a result of targeting errors.

United Nations officials reported that 106 civilians were killed and many more injured in the strike. Investigations conducted by the United Nations indicated that the shelling was unlikely to have been solely the result of technical or procedural mistakes, citing evidence from the site and the pattern of fire.

The incident prompted international condemnation and led to calls for an immediate ceasefire. Diplomatic efforts involving multiple countries followed, resulting in an understanding aimed at limiting attacks on civilian targets in southern Lebanon.