A/HRC/3/2 page 35 126. In Rayak, on 17 July 2006 at 0200 hours, four individuals were killed and five injured (including two children) when Israeli planes raided the main road and hit a house inhabited by two elderly persons. The attack hit a residential area and caused damages to nearby houses and shops. It is not clear whether the Israeli Defense Forces had given any prior warning to Rayak’s residents.95 2. Attacks on convoys of civilians 127. One particularly disturbing aspect of the conflict was the attacks on civilian convoys. On 15 July 2006 a convoy of three civilian vehicles - one pick-up truck and two cars - was hit by IDF between Chamaa and Bayadda on an exposed section of road on a hillside over looking the sea, South of Tyre. The people involved had fled Marwaheen in the panic following IDF announcement by loudspeaker that the town had to evacuate within two hours; 16 people were killed and seven more died later. The Commission visited the site of the convoy incident, which appeared to be the result of an attack by a combination of weapons.96 In the subsequent recovery operation carried out by UNIFIL, one man and one girl were found dead 200 metres from the road, apparently having been targeted and killed while trying to escape. 128. The Commission is of the view that the attack on the convoy was a target of opportunity, rather than a pre-planned operation.97 This attack clearly was disproportionate, violated the principle of distinction, and cannot be justified on the basis of the convoy being a military objective. Moreover, the people of Marwaheen had been ordered by loudspeaker to leave town, although the routes for escaping were obstructed and the warning time given by IDF was extremely short. IDF command headquarters in the area must have known of the warning that had been issued and should then have ensured that orders were given throughout the chain of command to look out for evacuating civilians and ensure their safe passage. This was evidently not done and resulted in the convoy attack. The experience would have been terrifying, especially for the children, and demonstrates blatant disrespect for the civilians. The warning given by IDF could in no way be considered “effective” as required by international humanitarian law.98 129. Another example of an attack on a convoy took place on 11 August 2006 when about 600 vehicles left the village of Marjayoun for the Bekaa Valley.99 IDF had entered the city on 10 August and occupied the Lebanese military barracks. They asked the Lebanese military to evacuate the population but did not provide any guarantee for their safety. According to testimonies collected by the Commission, on 11 August at 0800 hours, village inhabitants gathered in the main square. At 1540 hours, the convoy, which included all patients and staff from Marjayoun hospital, left town and reached the Western Bekaa at 2130 hours.100 On departure from Marjayoun and up to Hasbaye, the convoy was escorted by two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from UNIFIL, one at the front and one at the end of the convoy.101 At 2215 hours, around 15 vehicles were hit by the shelling.102 Eight persons were killed, including an engineer from the hospital and a Lebanese Red Cross volunteer trying to reach one of the wounded persons. 130. In a communiqué of 12 August 2006, an IDF spokesman justified the attack on the convoy and argued that: IDF identified suspicious movement along a route forbidden for travel which had been used by Hezbollah to transport rockets and other weaponry. Acting on the suspicion that these were Hezbollah terrorists transporting weaponry an aerial attack was carried