Dozens of Lebanese Americans have filed a civil class-action lawsuit against the US government and several defense contractors, arguing that their roles in the Lebanon war violate US law that prohibits supporting foreign governments known to commit human rights violations.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the District of Michigan, names Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Caterpillar as defendants. Plaintiffs include the Michigan-based Arab American Civil Rights League and 16 individuals, all US citizens with property in Lebanon affected by what they describe as Israel's indiscriminate use of force during the war.
Among the plaintiffs is Nasser Beydoun, a prominent Michigan businessman and politician. He alleges in the filing that Israeli forces destroyed his family home in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, "without any military necessity or justification."
The lawsuit argues that by providing funds and weapons to Israel for use in this manner, the US government violated the Leahy Law, which prohibits military assistance, training, or equipment for foreign military units credibly implicated in severe human rights violations. The plaintiffs also contend that defense contractors selling equipment to Israel should be stopped because these companies know they are helping the country carry out unlawful acts in the conflict.
Nabih Ayad, attorney and head of the Arab American Civil Rights League, said on Wednesday: "The law is very clear and has been enforced around the world, but when it comes to Israel, there is no enforcement." He added regarding the Lebanon conflict: "You have credible information that serious human rights violations have occurred... but you do nothing about it."
In June, US President Donald Trump acknowledged Israel's indiscriminate use of force in Lebanon, saying, "You don't have to blow up an entire apartment building every time you're looking for somebody."
The lawsuit seeks class-action status, representing tens of thousands of Lebanese Americans with property in Lebanon that has been damaged or could be damaged in the future by Israeli airstrikes and other military operations.
The Arab American Civil Rights League has been involved in several major civil rights cases in recent years, including challenging the former Trump administration's "Muslim ban" policy, suing major banks for discriminating against Muslims and Arab Americans, and a 2023 lawsuit seeking to compel the US to help evacuate American citizens trapped in Gaza.
