A/HRC/3/2 page 16 12. The second task requires the Commission to “examine the types of weapons used by Israel and their conformity with international law”. This requires the Commission to evaluate the types of weapons, as well as the manner in which they were used and their impact, through the perspective of international law. 13. The third task is to “assess the extent and deadly impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical infrastructure and the environment.” This task requires the Commission to consider the immediate as well as mid- and longer-term social, cultural, physical, economic and environmental impact of the conflict in Lebanon. 14. A fundamental point in relation to the conflict and the Commission’s mandate as defined by the Council is the conduct of Hezbollah. The Commission considers that any independent, impartial and objective investigation into a particular conduct during the course of hostilities must of necessity be with reference to all the belligerents involved. Thus an inquiry into the conformity with international humanitarian law of the specific acts of IDF in Lebanon requires that account also be taken of the conduct of the opponent. 15. That said, taking into consideration the express limitations of its mandate, the Commission is not entitled, even if it had wished, to construe it as equally authorizing the investigation of the actions by Hezbollah in Israel. To do so would exceed the Commission’s interpretative function and would be to usurp the Council’s powers. 16. In carrying out all three of its tasks the Commission gave due consideration to relevant activities within the United Nations system, including the work of human rights special procedures, as well as ongoing initiatives of the specialized agencies. 17. Paragraph 7 of resolution S-2/1 is silent with regard to the period of time to be addressed by the Commission. Taking into account the three tasks assigned to it the Commission considered all information relevant to the conflict in Lebanon, focusing in particular on the impact of events in the period from 12 July to 14 August 2006, as well as the subsequent period of occupation. 3. Methodology 18. The Commission is an independent, impartial fact-finding body. It based its work on investigation, first-hand testimonies, evidence and other information it received during the course of its inquiry, including through meetings in Geneva and visits to Lebanon. During its first weeks of work, the Commission met with the President of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Commission sent letters requesting information relevant to its mandate to intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations. The Commission also met with officials of relevant United Nations agencies, including UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as well as the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon (via teleconference), three of the Special Rapporteurs who had been on recent mission to Lebanon and Israel, ICRC and NGOs.