Israeli troops mass on Lebanon border
Lebanese president warns his army ready for any ground invasion
Friday, July 21, 2006; Posted: 3:26 p.m. EDT (19:26 GMT)
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Thousands of Israeli troops are massing on the Lebanese border as Lebanon's president warned Friday his army is "ready to defend" the country should Israel launch a full-scale ground invasion.
The Israel Defense Forces said it was calling up to 6,000 troops for reinforcements along the border as leaflets were dropped urging Lebanese residents to leave their homes and move north of the Litani River 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the Israeli border.
About 1,000 Israeli troops have so far been sent across the border for what commanders call pinpoint operations against Hezbollah strongholds, sources said.
The majority of attacks in the 10-day conflict launched when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in Israel have come from the air. (See map of area)
Israeli Gen. Shuki Shachar declined to say whether a ground invasion has been authorized but said the army is evaluating the need on a minute-by-minute basis.
"All the power is going in the direction of Lebanon. Some are active, reserve units. ... All reinforcements are going to the direction of Lebanon," said Shachar, deputy commander of the Israeli military's Northern Command.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Friday she would travel to Israel and the West Bank next week to address the crisis and would attend a meeting of diplomats concentrating on the situation in Lebanon. (Full story)
Any invasion threatens to pull Lebanon's army into the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud told CNN the Lebanese army is "ready to defend" his country's territory.
"Of course, the army is going to defend its land," Lahoud said.
While the army "cannot be strong enough to be against Israel on the frontier," he said, "inside Lebanon, they can do a lot."
"We are not going to let anybody take our land. We are not going to let them come back and take it," he added.
At least 261 people have been killed in Lebanon and 582 wounded, internal security sources say, though Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Wednesday that more than 300 Lebanese had died. He said about 1,000 people had been hurt.
Israel's army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said Friday that nearly 100 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
Fifteen civilians in Israel and 19 soldiers have died in attacks and fighting, the IDF said. (Watch grief-stricken father kiss his sons goodbye in their grave -- 2:15)
Israel held a buffer zone in Lebanese territory north of its border during much of the 1980s and 1990s, ending its occupation in 2000. This buffer covered about half as much land as the area from the border up to the Litani River.
The United States and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The group, which has claimed responsibility for terrorist acts, also operates an extensive network of social services in Lebanon, and its political wing holds seats in the Lebanese parliament.
Hezbollah strikes northern Israel
Hezbollah rocket attacks struck several Israeli towns Friday, wounding at least 19 people in the port city of Haifa.
Rockets also hit Meron, Safed, Yiron and Avivim, Israeli medical officials said. About 15 rockets fell in the volley of attacks, the Israeli military said.
Also Friday, a U.N. observation post was struck in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces said a Hezbollah rocket hit the post, near the northern Israeli town of Zarit and there were no immediate reports of casualties. But a U.N. officer told The Associated Press that an Israeli artillery shell made the strike.
The Israeli military says its air assault has destroyed about half of Hezbollah's military strength since its operations began July 12, but that was rejected by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. (Watch as Nasrallah promises Hezbollah "surprises" -- 1:17)
Clashes in Gaza
A Palestinian militant and four others died Friday in an attack on a Gaza City home, Palestinian sources said.
Israel is continuing its military operation in Gaza, with the stated aim of stopping Palestinian militant attacks on Israel and recovering a soldier captured in June.
Some 19 Palestinians have been killed since Tuesday, according to Palestinian sources.
Israel thread #2
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Stratosphere747
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Stratosphere747 wrote:IMO, Israel sent a fairly clear message, when saying a few days back that this may not be the best time for Condi to come on down....
Israel has decided enough is enough, and will almost no doubt "invade" Southern Lebanon.
I agree with you. They are right there on the border and ready to go in at any time now.
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Audrey2Katrina
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I'd be willing to bet there'll be some sort of incursion at this point. I just think they're not going to do it today...(It's their Sabbath)... but could very well unleash the lords of war by the next day... which by our time... will be sometime tonight, I guess... between 10 PM and some time thereafter... dunno.
I fear the "Surprises" that Hezbollah is referring to, will be a barrage of attacks within the boundaries of Israel itself... they've already captured a couple of their suiciders, which I prefer the moniker "homociders" in Tel-Aviv... gonna be really touch and go.
A2K
I fear the "Surprises" that Hezbollah is referring to, will be a barrage of attacks within the boundaries of Israel itself... they've already captured a couple of their suiciders, which I prefer the moniker "homociders" in Tel-Aviv... gonna be really touch and go.
A2K
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Audrey2Katrina
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Maybe Condi will change her mind as time gets closer.
If all hell breaks loose before she can get there, she very well may. Right now I'm thinking the US is probably asking Israel to hold off a little longer; but frankly I can't blame 'em if they say they've had enough of sitting back and playing target practice for the incessant barrage of terrorist attacks.
Time will tell.
A2K
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Body of Israeli soldier found in south Lebanon
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Arabiya television said on Friday the Israeli army had found the body of an Israeli soldier who had previously been reported missing.
It later said the body was found in southern Lebanon, but gave no more details.
Earlier on Friday, Israel's army confirmed that four soldiers had been killed and several wounded in fierce clashes with Hizbollah guerrillas just inside Lebanon on Thursday.
Israel has so far failed to stop Hizbollah cross-border rocket attacks, despite 10 days of bombardment which have killed 345 people in Lebanon and forced half a million to leave their homes. About 90 percent of those killed were civilians.
At least 34 Israeli troops and civilians have been killed, almost all in fighting with Hizbollah guerrillas or by rockets fired by the Lebanese group.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Arabiya television said on Friday the Israeli army had found the body of an Israeli soldier who had previously been reported missing.
It later said the body was found in southern Lebanon, but gave no more details.
Earlier on Friday, Israel's army confirmed that four soldiers had been killed and several wounded in fierce clashes with Hizbollah guerrillas just inside Lebanon on Thursday.
Israel has so far failed to stop Hizbollah cross-border rocket attacks, despite 10 days of bombardment which have killed 345 people in Lebanon and forced half a million to leave their homes. About 90 percent of those killed were civilians.
At least 34 Israeli troops and civilians have been killed, almost all in fighting with Hizbollah guerrillas or by rockets fired by the Lebanese group.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
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Derek Ortt
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feederband
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NBCintern
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If there is no cessation of violence in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and innocent Lebanese people continue to be killed or displaced, "I'm afraid of a major humanitarian disaster," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday.
"I hope that we move forward in the next day or two, things will crystallize, and that the parties will be prepared to do this," Annan told CNN's Larry King in an interview broadcast Friday. "Otherwise, Larry, I'm afraid of a major humanitarian disaster."
So far, Annan said, 500,000 Lebanese have been displaced in the country, and another 150,000 have crossed the border into Syria.
Rest of the story is here.
"I hope that we move forward in the next day or two, things will crystallize, and that the parties will be prepared to do this," Annan told CNN's Larry King in an interview broadcast Friday. "Otherwise, Larry, I'm afraid of a major humanitarian disaster."
So far, Annan said, 500,000 Lebanese have been displaced in the country, and another 150,000 have crossed the border into Syria.
Rest of the story is here.
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Cyprus plea for help on evacuees
LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) -- The Cypriot foreign minister on Saturday appealed for help in handling the thousands of people fleeing violence in Lebanon, saying as many as 25,000 evacuees had already arrived on the island and that the number would likely triple.
The foreign minister, George Lillikas, asked for financial help from European countries to help the island cope with the influx.
The European Union said Saturday it was sending a team to Cyprus to help speed up the transport of foreign evacuees to their home countries.
"We're doing our best," Lillikas told AP Television News during an early morning visit to the port of Larnaca, where dozens of boats carrying evacuees from Lebanon have arrived since Monday.
"We had about 20,000 to 25,000 people until now, and we are expecting that number to triple. That is why we need assistance from Europe," he said.
Earlier this week, the government asked other European Union countries to provide planes to help evacuees travel to their home nations.
Cyprus is in the middle of its peak tourist season and the sudden influx has strained its hotels. Larnaca airport has been packed with people and its runways busy with planes ferrying evacuees home.
Officials said Friday that the country had enough food, medicine and accommodation for the evacuees so far, but that more planes were needed.
"Offering assistance to European citizens is the first priority to us," Lillikas said. "We want to use European money to provide evacuation services for all people in Lebanon who want to leave Lebanon."
About 25,000 foreigners have fled Lebanon since fighting began last week between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Most of them have come through the tiny island of Cyprus, staying for the most part for a few hours only before being flown to their home countries.
Asked whether Cyprus might consider turning boats away, Lillikas replied: "It depends on the capacity we have. So I hope we will not be in this difficult dilemma."
LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) -- The Cypriot foreign minister on Saturday appealed for help in handling the thousands of people fleeing violence in Lebanon, saying as many as 25,000 evacuees had already arrived on the island and that the number would likely triple.
The foreign minister, George Lillikas, asked for financial help from European countries to help the island cope with the influx.
The European Union said Saturday it was sending a team to Cyprus to help speed up the transport of foreign evacuees to their home countries.
"We're doing our best," Lillikas told AP Television News during an early morning visit to the port of Larnaca, where dozens of boats carrying evacuees from Lebanon have arrived since Monday.
"We had about 20,000 to 25,000 people until now, and we are expecting that number to triple. That is why we need assistance from Europe," he said.
Earlier this week, the government asked other European Union countries to provide planes to help evacuees travel to their home nations.
Cyprus is in the middle of its peak tourist season and the sudden influx has strained its hotels. Larnaca airport has been packed with people and its runways busy with planes ferrying evacuees home.
Officials said Friday that the country had enough food, medicine and accommodation for the evacuees so far, but that more planes were needed.
"Offering assistance to European citizens is the first priority to us," Lillikas said. "We want to use European money to provide evacuation services for all people in Lebanon who want to leave Lebanon."
About 25,000 foreigners have fled Lebanon since fighting began last week between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Most of them have come through the tiny island of Cyprus, staying for the most part for a few hours only before being flown to their home countries.
Asked whether Cyprus might consider turning boats away, Lillikas replied: "It depends on the capacity we have. So I hope we will not be in this difficult dilemma."
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