07.13.2006

Israel's Cabinet late Wednesday night gave the IDF a green light to crush the Hizb'allah threat from southern Lebanon, even at the price of a massive terrorist missile strike on northern Israel and international condemnation.

The decision came in response to a large coordinated Hizb'allah assault on the Jewish state earlier in the day, which left eight IDF soldiers dead, another seven wounded, and two more as captives in the hands of the Lebanese terrorists.

Some fear Hizb'allah will counter by unleashing its arsenal of thousands of medium and long-range missiles on targets as far south as Netanya. The terror group has obtained its impressive and deadly stockpile - which includes some advanced and highly accurate weaponry - with the help of its patrons in Damascus and Tehran.

But Prime Minister Ehud Olmert compelled his fellow cabinet ministers to accept the risks and authorize the defense establishment's severe recommendations.

Said Olmert following the meeting:

"We will confront the threat with determination and we will win this battle. This is not an easy test for the leadership, for security forces or for Israeli citizens," but "...there are times when the state needs to protect its citizens, even at the price of the rocket threat or international tensions."

If, as expected, Hizb'allah, or even Syria, respond to the Israeli operations in Gaza with missile strikes on Israeli population centers and strategic facilities, Jerusalem will likely find itself facing a full-scale war situation.

Nevertheless, the Israeli Cabinet statement indicated the only way Lebanon can avoid the fury about to be loosed on it is to immediately implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which obligates Beirut to disarm Hizb'allah and exert control over all its territory.

Jerusalem Newswire 

IAF Jets Bomb Hizballah's Al-Manar TV Station
07.13.2006

IAF jets attacked Hizbullah's Al-Manar television station in Beirut on Thursday morning.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Broadcasts were apparently continuing from the station.

The attack was part of a military campaign which the IDF vowed would be harsh and quick against the Lebanese government and Hizbullah, which killed eight IDF soldiers and kidnapped two others along the northern border on Wednesday.

Earlier Thursday morning, IAF fighter jets bombed runways at Beirut International Airport. Al-Jazeera television network reported that 15 people were killed in the airstrike.

It was the first time since 1982 that the airport in south Beirut had been hit by Israel. The IDF said that the airport was targeted because it was used by Hizbullah to import weapons.

The IAF attack forced the closure of the airport and the diversion of two flights to Cyprus.

Meeting in emergency session late Wednesday, the Cabinet approved IDF plans to target the airport and other strategic infrastructures inside Lebanon including power plants.

In southern Lebanon, at least 27 civilians were reported killed overnight Wednesday in IAF attacks, including a family of 12 in the village of Dweir, leading TV station LBC reported. The IAF struck a Hizbullah post and two bridges in southern Lebanon as the number of targets hit by the air force since fighting erupted after the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers, reached into the hundreds.

Earlier, in a series of air strikes, IAF aircraft bombed Kfar Shuba and Sheba Farms. The communications infrastructure connecting Beirut to the south of the country was also damaged by IAF strikes.

The strikes followed an attack by IAF warplanes and navy gunboats on a Palestinian terrorist base south of Beirut late Wednesday in the closest raid to the Lebanese capital since fighting erupted.

The names of six of the eight soldiers killed Wednesday in a Hizbullah attack on IDF forces patrolling the Lebanese border were released for publication Wednesday evening: Sgt. Nimrod Cohen, 19, from Mitzpe Shalem; Sgt.-Major Eyal Benin, 22, of Be'ersheba and Sgt.-Major Shani Turgeman, 24, of Beit Shean. All the soldiers' families have been notified.

The fourth victim was later identified as Sergeant-Major Wasim Nazel, 27, from the Druze village of Kfar Yanuh. Earlier, Nazel's family was mistakenly informed that he had been kidnapped.

Two of the soldiers who were killed when the tank in which they were riding drove over an explosive device, were identified as St.-Sgt. Alexei Kashiniervski, 21, from Ness Ziona and Yaniv Bar-On, 19, from Maccabim.

Under heavy fire, IDF forces continued their attempts to reclaim the bodies of the four soldiers who died when their tank was ripped apart by the blast.

OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam said Wednesday the IDF was preparing for a widespread operation not only against Hizbullah but also against the Lebanese government.

"The IDF is responding with its full might by the air, the sea and the ground," Adam said. "We are also preparing for a massive operation to defend Israeli citizens and stop the terror."

Jerusalem Post