LEBANESE HEZBOLLAH CAPTURE ISRAELI SOLDIERS: ISRAELI TROOPS ENTER LEBANON
Randy L. Harrington
July 12, 2006
ISRAEL—Lebanese Hezbollah fighters kidnapped two Israeli Soldiers along the border with Lebanon. Israel responded by force sending armored attack vehicles, soldiers, and fighter air craft into Lebanon.
For the first time since Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000 Israeli forces have attacked across the border. Israel responded after Lebanese Hezbollah in a cross-border raid captured two Israeli soldiers.
Today's fighting began when Hezbollah attacked northern Israel with rockets that injured Israeli citizens in the northwestern town of Shlomi. Israel responded with heavy artillery fire and air strikes aimed at Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. Later Israeli moved troops into southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister described the Hezbollah raid as “an act of war” by Lebanon and he promised a “very painful and far-reaching response.”
In retaliatory strikes Israel used air attacks, tanks, and gunboats. Israel did not release any troop casualty figures, but Hezbollah backed al Manar reported that up to seven Israeli soldiers had been killed in the attack.
Two Lebanese civilians were killed on a coastal bridge in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon as Israeli air strikes are aimed at destroying the bridge. Israeli air forces also struck, and destroyed four other bridges in the south in an effort to eliminate the bridges and keep Hezbollah militiamen from transferring the two captured Israeli soldiers out of the region.
Israeli troops have not attacked in Lebanon since they withdrew their forces from the southern border in 2000 after an 18-year war with Lebanon.
Hezbollah in a statement claimed that the kidnapping had been planned for months and were intended to convince Israeli to free Arab prisoners held by Israel. Hezbollah has launched attacks against Israel in the past when there has been fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian terrorists.
Lebanon Shiite southern neighborhoods were celebrating in the streets by handing out traditional sweets, and setting off firecrackers.
In blaming the Lebanese government for the attacks Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said “I want to make it clear that the event this morning is not a terror act, but an act of a sovereign state that attacked Israel without reason. The government of Lebanon, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake the stability of the region.”
Lebanon government officials provided no response. Hezbollah-or Party of God-effectively controls the southern border of Lebanon, even though there has been international pressure and a United Nations Security Council Resolution that calls for Lebanon to take control of its borders, and disarm militia groups like Hezbollah.
UN Representative to southern Lebanon, Gier Pedersen condemned Hezbollah's kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers and said that these actions “escalates the already tense situation.” Pedersen suggested that the issue will most likely be taken up in the UN Security Council. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has demanded that the soldiers be immediately released.
Hamas terrorist representative Osama Hamden, that was in Lebanon said that the release of Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah would happen only if Israel freed all Arab prisoners. Hezbollah-or the Party of God-has close ties with Iran. Last week Iran said that if Israel didn't stop its offensive in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas terrorists that there would be consequences.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AL JAZEERA; AP WIRE; REUTERS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
For the first time since Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000 Israeli forces have attacked across the border. Israel responded after Lebanese Hezbollah in a cross-border raid captured two Israeli soldiers.
Today's fighting began when Hezbollah attacked northern Israel with rockets that injured Israeli citizens in the northwestern town of Shlomi. Israel responded with heavy artillery fire and air strikes aimed at Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. Later Israeli moved troops into southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister described the Hezbollah raid as “an act of war” by Lebanon and he promised a “very painful and far-reaching response.”
In retaliatory strikes Israel used air attacks, tanks, and gunboats. Israel did not release any troop casualty figures, but Hezbollah backed al Manar reported that up to seven Israeli soldiers had been killed in the attack.
Two Lebanese civilians were killed on a coastal bridge in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon as Israeli air strikes are aimed at destroying the bridge. Israeli air forces also struck, and destroyed four other bridges in the south in an effort to eliminate the bridges and keep Hezbollah militiamen from transferring the two captured Israeli soldiers out of the region.
Israeli troops have not attacked in Lebanon since they withdrew their forces from the southern border in 2000 after an 18-year war with Lebanon.
Hezbollah in a statement claimed that the kidnapping had been planned for months and were intended to convince Israeli to free Arab prisoners held by Israel. Hezbollah has launched attacks against Israel in the past when there has been fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian terrorists.
Lebanon Shiite southern neighborhoods were celebrating in the streets by handing out traditional sweets, and setting off firecrackers.
In blaming the Lebanese government for the attacks Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said “I want to make it clear that the event this morning is not a terror act, but an act of a sovereign state that attacked Israel without reason. The government of Lebanon, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake the stability of the region.”
Lebanon government officials provided no response. Hezbollah-or Party of God-effectively controls the southern border of Lebanon, even though there has been international pressure and a United Nations Security Council Resolution that calls for Lebanon to take control of its borders, and disarm militia groups like Hezbollah.
UN Representative to southern Lebanon, Gier Pedersen condemned Hezbollah's kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers and said that these actions “escalates the already tense situation.” Pedersen suggested that the issue will most likely be taken up in the UN Security Council. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has demanded that the soldiers be immediately released.
Hamas terrorist representative Osama Hamden, that was in Lebanon said that the release of Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah would happen only if Israel freed all Arab prisoners. Hezbollah-or the Party of God-has close ties with Iran. Last week Iran said that if Israel didn't stop its offensive in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas terrorists that there would be consequences.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AL JAZEERA; AP WIRE; REUTERS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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