Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Israeli bomb kills UN observers - Kofi Annan ..."shocked" at the "apparently deliberate targeting"
BBC ^ | Wednesday, 26 July 2006, 00:09 GMT 01:09 UK | BBC staff

Posted on 07/25/2006 9:00:10 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

sraeli bomb kills UN observers

Israeli strike in Khiam, south Lebanon
Israel had hit Khiam a number of times earlier on Tuesday

Four United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in an Israeli air strike on an observation post in south Lebanon.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "shocked" at the "apparently deliberate targeting" of the post. Israel has expressed "deep regret".

Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has vowed the group will continue its rocket attacks on Israel.

Israel earlier said it would control an area in southern Lebanon until international forces deployed.

The force will be discussed at crisis talks to be held in Rome on Wednesday.

Observers sheltering

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be at the talks after ending her tour of the Middle East on Tuesday.

More than 380 Lebanese and 42 Israelis have died in nearly two weeks of conflict in Lebanon, which began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on 12 July.

The UN in Lebanon says the Israeli air force destroyed the observer post, in which four military observers were sheltering.

People in Tyre describe life under Israeli bombings


It said the four, from Austria, Canada, China and Finland, had taken shelter in a bunker under the post after it was earlier shelled 14 times by Israeli artillery.

A rescue team was also shelled as it tried to clear the rubble.

"I am shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting by Israeli Defence Forces of a UN Observer post in southern Lebanon," Mr Annan said in a statement from Rome.

Unifil has been operational in the border area since 1978 and is currently 2,000 strong.

Mr Nasrullah told Hezbollah's al-Manar television that the militant group would fire rockets deeper into Israel and would counter any Israeli advance into southern Lebanon, and criticised what he called an Israeli-US plan for a "new Middle East".

"There is no way that we can accept any humiliating conditions on us, our people or our country... especially after all these sacrifices... we are open to political discussions and solutions with flexibility, but the dignity and national interest is a red line."

In other military action:

  • The Israeli army said it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Abu Jaafar, in fighting in southern Lebanon

    map


    New force for peace?

  • Earlier the UN said Israeli forces were now in control of the town of Bint Jbeil after fierce fighting and were moving on the village of Yaroun to the south

  • Israel resumed air raids on Beirut, with explosions heard in southern suburbs - a Hezbollah stronghold

  • Hezbollah fired more Katyusha rockets into Israel, killing a 15-year-old Arab-Israeli girl in the northern Israeli village of Maghar and striking Haifa with a large salvo

  • Hezbollah said 27 of its fighters had been killed as of Monday, but the Israeli military said it had killed "some dozens".

Truce call

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz had said a "security zone" in southern Lebanon would be maintained "under the control of our forces if there is not a multinational force".

Israelis seek shelter after a rocket attack on Haifa

Hezbollah has maintained its rocket fire into Haifa

He said: "We have no other option. We have to build a new security strip that will be a cover for our forces."

He did not specify whether Israeli troops would remain there but insisted they would "continue to control [Hezbollah]" in their operations.

Israeli government sources have estimated the width of the zone at anything from three to 10km (1.9-6.2 miles).

An unnamed Israeli official quoted by Reuters news agency said between 10,000 and 20,000 international peacekeepers would be needed.

BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says Israeli details on the zone - and how it will be secured - are far from clear.

Israel is acting with tremendous restraint, were they targeting civilian populations there would be thousands upon thousands dead

Steve Gross, US


He says it is possible Mr Peretz is trying to put pressure on the international community to deliver the peacekeeping force.

Earlier, Ms Rice met Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and later Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mr Abbas called for an immediate end to "aggression against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank" and for an "immediate ceasefire" in Lebanon.

Ms Rice said the only solution was a sustainable and enduring peace.

Her words were reinforced later by US President George W Bush who said: "I support a sustainable ceasefire that will bring about an end to violence... Our mission and our goal is to have a lasting peace, not a temporary peace."

In his meeting with Ms Rice, Mr Olmert said he was "very conscious" of the humanitarian needs of Lebanon's civilians, but insisted Israel was defending itself against terrorism.

Ms Rice highlighted the need for Israel to consider the humanitarian needs of both Lebanon and the Palestinian people and the need for a durable peace.

She said: "It is time for a new Middle East, it is time to say to those who do not want a different kind of Middle East that we will prevail; they will not."



TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2006israelwar; israel; isreal; kofiannan; lebanon
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

1 posted on 07/25/2006 9:00:13 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: All
Israel had hit Khiam a number of times earlier on Tuesday

So why were they still there?

2 posted on 07/25/2006 9:01:49 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Soooo,, when is Kofi going to take it upon him self to make a personal statement and go to the war zone and attempt to wrest peace from chaos?


3 posted on 07/25/2006 9:02:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I'm guessing that the fragments will show this to be a raghead projectile; of course, we'll never hear about the post mortem. Coffey Animus has done his bit for the "underprivileged" and nothing else needs to be considered.


4 posted on 07/25/2006 9:03:17 PM PDT by Rembrandt (We would have won Viet Nam w/o Dim interference.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

I guess the Israelis shouldn't have set their new smart bombs on the "Rapist" setting.


5 posted on 07/25/2006 9:05:05 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.savethesoldiers.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Good idea.....that would make him special!


6 posted on 07/25/2006 9:05:53 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Unifil has been operational in the border area since 1978 and is currently 2,000 strong.

It doesn't appear they have done any good what so ever in all that time and the way the U.N. have behaved in all that time, they too seem to be anti-semitic to the point of actually helping the terrorists groups.

I don't know if they actually meant to hit those U.N. guys but if they did, "Good shooting guya!"
7 posted on 07/25/2006 9:11:23 PM PDT by Tut
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I'm with Kofi. I'm shocked I tell you, shocked. This incident will be seared into my memory. Seared I tell you.
8 posted on 07/25/2006 9:12:19 PM PDT by NurdlyPeon (Wearing My 'Jammies Proudly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Observation post? What'd they think they were watching - a soccer game?


9 posted on 07/25/2006 9:19:20 PM PDT by 3catsanadog (When anything goes, everything does.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

"UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "shocked" at the "apparently deliberate targeting" of ISRAELI CIVILIANS. HEZBOLLAH has expressed "deep regret". /sarc.

The Hezbollah pigs probably set up a Katyusha next to the UN outpost.


10 posted on 07/25/2006 9:33:54 PM PDT by Solemar ("Frognostication": The science of predicting the exact date and time that France will surrender.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Anyone have a picture of mini-me flipping the bird? Annan is an idiot. We should get out of the UN, enough is enough.


11 posted on 07/25/2006 9:34:34 PM PDT by blasater1960 ( Ishmaelites...Still a wild-ass of a people....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Darkwolf377

"I guess the Israelis shouldn't have set their new smart bombs on the "Rapist" setting."

"DOH! You fired the child rapist-seeking missile, not the terrorist-seeker!"


12 posted on 07/25/2006 9:35:37 PM PDT by L98Fiero (I'm worth a million in prizes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: L98Fiero

And exactly what was Kofi's reaction when the Un post in ISRAEL was hit by the Hez a few days ago??

Did resemble crickets chirping?


13 posted on 07/25/2006 9:36:58 PM PDT by tcrlaf (Terrorism-You Reap What You Appease........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: L98Fiero
"DOH! You fired the child rapist-seeking missile, not the terrorist-seeker!"

"Well whaddaya know? Darn! Is my face red or what? Can we get a do-over? Golly gosh, just call me Mr. Butterfingers!"

14 posted on 07/25/2006 9:37:09 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.savethesoldiers.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Solemar

MEMO To UN OBSERVERS:

When you see artillery fire being walked toward you, it's a good idea to duck and cover.....


15 posted on 07/25/2006 9:38:07 PM PDT by tcrlaf (Terrorism-You Reap What You Appease........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Kofi Annan ..."shocked" at the "apparently deliberate targeting"

Certainly wasn't his reaction to U.N. personnel targeting children for sex.

16 posted on 07/25/2006 9:45:54 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

maybe now the u.n. peacekeepers will keep better attention when Israelis are being kidnapped right in front of them.


17 posted on 07/26/2006 12:02:11 AM PDT by Big Guy and Rusty 99 ("Conspiracy theories are the products of feeble minds." - A. Horvet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
OK, let's think about this! A UN observation post that has a great vantage point. Information form that observation post could really be helpful to the terrorists to let them know what the Israeli's were doing.

So, what nationalities were manning the post - they weren't UN soldiers, the UN doesn't have soldiers! Is it possible that, let's say, the Israeli's knew information was coming form the observation post and the terrorists were receiving it.

As I understand, it was a laser guided munition. I kinda doubt that some 20 something in the Israeli Army is just waving a laser around without knowing what he is targeting.

Anyhow, too bad Kofi wasn't there when it happened!
18 posted on 07/26/2006 12:48:49 AM PDT by Herakles (Liberals are stone stupid and proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

If it was deliberate, it was because those particular UN observers provided safe haven for the Hezbullah. Wouldn't surprise me, especially after Kofi's not-so-shocking accusation before an investigation has taken place.


19 posted on 07/26/2006 12:55:10 AM PDT by Pro-Bush ("A nation without borders is not a nation." President Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson