GENEVA(National Times)- The UN rights chief said on Wednesday he would send a mission to Lebanon to collect evidence on alleged rights abuses.

“Accountability cannot be overstated. Prompt and independent investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law must be conducted,” UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk told journalists.

“This is why I have agreed with the government of Lebanon to conduct an impartial and independent assessment mission in the country.

“I will soon be deploying a team to collect information and evidence on alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law, and violations of international humanitarian law and related law committed by the parties to the armed conflict in the country since March 2.”

Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah said it had launched rockets at Israel in the wake of the Feb 28 killing of Iran’s supreme leader in US-Israeli attacks. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground invasion.

Lebanese authorities say Israel’s attacks have killed more than 3,600 people and displaced more than one million others.

On the Israeli side, 29 soldiers and one civilian contractor have been killed in Lebanon, according to the army.

Neither side has respected a ceasefire first announced in mid-April.