Israel At War
Overall Summary and Comments
Current troop dispositions are still unclear. Whether or not there will be a cease fire is unclear. Hezbollah showed today that there are plenty of rockets, launchers and places to launch from available to them with the largest total of firings since the war began. This REALLY caused the Israeli government and IDF to significantly lose face to the rest of the arab world and shows a weakness they cannot afford to have. We will see by late tonight if the ceasefire holds.
Syria Conducting Offensive Preparations?
Yoni is reporting that Syria has started to remove land mines located in the zone between the Syrian and Israeli lines on the Golan Heights plus they have moved a tank formation into the area. Other news outlets (such as Fox) reporting the same. Clearing mines is a key indicator of an impending offensive actions. Syria would be stupid to try to take advantage of any ‘alledged’ IDF weakness.
Hezbollah Drones Shot Down
The IDF shot down two Hizbullah UAVs on Sunday night. One unmanned aerial vehicle was taken out over Israel, and the other was over Tyre. Some reports indicate that they were explosives-laden.
Ground Operations
Because adequate details are not available, the map has not been updated since yesterday. The whole scenario is too mixed up for sorting at this time.
IDF reports that they have reached the Litani River, but what their definition of that really is is know only to them. I suspect that they are along the Litani in the eastern half of the operations area, much farther away the more to the west one goes.
Much of the reporting is mired in the multiple names and spellings for places, plus there is no defined front line. Hezbollah continue to pop up and strike IDF forces along the Lebanonese/Israeli border and points in between the border and the Litani. It does appear that they have pushed into position to bring observed artillery fire into Tyre. However, this area is still far short of the Litani. IDF sources say that they will be taking out the different Hezbollah pockets within areas ‘controlled’ by the IDF once the cease fire begins. I suspect that IDF forces are consolidating their lines of communication and supply in the event that the cease fire falls through and they are given the opportunity to press the attack again. Also, they will be beginning to sweep areas for cells and rocket launchers.
Air Operations
Israeli warplanes launch scores of strikes on more than 50 Lebanese villages and towns, including Beirut's southern suburb.
Rocket Attacks
After bearly mustering 60 yesterday, Hizbollah launched its heaviest one-day rocket barrage into Israel today, firing more than 250 rockets that killed one and injured 91.