Posted on 07/13/2006 3:42:04 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Israel says its naval ships are in Lebanon's territorial waters to enforce a blockade after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two soldiers yesterday in a border clash.
"Since this morning, Israeli naval vessels have enforced a full naval closure on Lebanon because Lebanon's ports are used to transfer both terrorists and weapons to the terror organisations operating in Lebanon," a military spokesman said.
Israeli planes earlier attacked Beirut's international airport and other sites in southern Lebanon, killing at least 27 people.
An Israeli Defence Forces spokesman, Captain Jacob deLal, says the airport was used to transfer weapons and supplies to Hezbollah.
"We're targeting Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and other outposts and other offices and various parts of their infrastructure," he said.
"They get planeloads of weapons and rockets from Syria and from Iran.
"This is known to everyone, it's been going on for years."
Israel's Army Radio says other airports in Lebanon could be targeted too.
Israeli Cabinet Minister Isaac Herzog says the aim is to put pressure on the Lebanese Government to act against Hezbollah, which seized the soldiers and killed seven others in an attack yesterday.
"We will take all necessary measures to bring an end to the rogue behaviour of a state that does not assume responsibility and put an end to the activities of a major partner in their own government," he said.
The Lebanese Government has said it is not responsible.
Rocket attacks
Hezbollah militants have retaliated by firing rockets at homes and apartment buildings in north Israel, killing one Israeli civilian and wounded at least 21.
An ambulance service says a 40-year-old woman was killed when a rocket hit her house in the city of Nahariya.
The Israeli Army says it is unclear how many Katyusha rockets hit the coastal city, five kilometres south of the border, but Hezbollah says it has fired 60 rockets at Nahariya.
The Army says rockets and mortar bombs have also struck at least seven other communities in northern Israel.
A resident in one building that was hit, Maya Nir, told Israeli television: "I had made a cup of coffee ... and was heading toward the staircase when I heard three massive booms".
"My husband hit the floor with our child, then we just fled."
Officials say one projectile has damaged an Israeli airforce base near Mount Meron.
Travel warning
The Australian embassy in Beirut has been temporarily closed because of the escalating violence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is also advising Australians not to travel to Lebanon
People concerned about relatives in the area are being advised to contact them directly or phone 1300 555 135.
The violence is the worst between Israel and Lebanon since 1996, when Israeli troops still occupied part of south Lebanon.
The Israeli army pulled out of the area in 2000, 22 years after it moved in to fight Palestinian guerrillas who controlled a border strip.
It'll be even more interesting to see the cargo.
L
"what, us?"
To me this would be a little like the KKK firing rockets into Atlanta and the US government denying responsibility.
There is no way an organisation can fire 60 rockets into a foreign territory and the government denies they can do anything about it. If they cant they havent much of a government. Certainly the Lebanon Government can be held responsible, either that or Hezbollah is running the government.
This is also getting damn serious.
GWB on LIVE now- just made the statement that Israel has the right to defend herself.
I'm sure the MSM will interpert that as more "cowboy diplomacy".
Holy crap! Israel wants the southern suburbs of Beirut evacuated!
UNreal...this is gloves off time. Beruit is going to get it. You watching FOX?
Yup. The IDF is going to be moving in very soon. Damn I wish I didn't have to go to work soon.
From AP on the news conf just now:
"I truly think they are trying to wait us out," Bush said. "And I think they are going to be sorely mistaken. I think they are going to be disappointed, that this coalition is a lot stronger than they think."
Said Merkel: "Should Iran not in any way reply to this offer and accept this offer, we unfortunately have to embark on a new course."
And we think we have high gas prices now. Just wait.
Ny passage or chapter specifically?
Yup. This thing is ready to blow up big time.
Not only that, but he also said Syria had to be held to account.
Did you hear him MM? He sounded very stern..angry. He made the point two separate times that Israel has the right to defend herself.
BEIRUT, July 13 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hizbollah group said on Thursday its guerrillas would bombard Israel's third-largest city of Haifa if Israel attacks targets in Beirut or its southern suburb.
"The Islamic Resistance announces it will bombard Haifa and its surroundings if Beirut or its southern suburb come under any direct aggression," the Syrian-backed group said in a statement.
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