Israel strikes Lebanon

[Janice]

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Hezbollah guerrillas Wednesday killed eight Israeli soldiers and captured two others, triggering Israeli airstrikes and military raids inside southern Lebanon, Israeli officials said.

The Israeli military said its land, air and naval forces had hit at least eight Hezbollah bases and five bridges in southern Lebanon.

Israel has warned it would unleash its "utmost power" to retrieve its soldiers, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Cabinet on Wednesday evening is expected to approve more military action.

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah told reporters that "direct negotiations" would be the only way to gain the return of the soldiers and that their capture was "our natural, only and logical right."

He demanded the soldiers be swapped for "our prisoners" held by Israel. A demand for Israel to release Palestinians from its jails has been made by Palestinian militants who captured another Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, last month. (Watch gunfire and smoke as Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon -- 2:55)

Israel has exchanged prisoners with Hezbollah before, most recently in 2004. But this time, Israeli leaders have said there will be no deals.

Nasrallah said the two soldiers taken Wednesday had been moved to "a faraway place."

Olmert told reporters that the killings and abductions were "not a terror attack but an operation of a sovereign state without any reason or provocation."

He said the Hezbollah attacks were an "act of war" and blamed the Lebanese government, which he said would be held responsible.

Hezbollah, a militant group, is based in Lebanon and holds seats in the country's government.

The prime minister promised a "very painful and far-reaching" response, The Associated Press reported.

There have been only sporadic border clashes since Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000 after 22 years of occupation.

Three of the eight soldiers killed Wednesday died during fighting with Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Four soldiers were killed later as Israeli troops moved into southern Lebanon, and a fifth died as soldiers ran to their aid, said the Israel Defense Forces.

The IDF urged citizens in northern villages to take shelter as the violence escalated. Four Israeli civilians and six soldiers have been wounded in the fighting so far, the IDF reported.

In a claim broadcast on Hezbollah's television channel, Hezbollah said it had "destroyed" an Israeli tank crossing into the region.
Thunder and smoke

The valleys along the Israeli-Lebanese border thundered with artillery fire and clouds of blue-gray smoke could be seen rising above Lebanese positions.

Israeli forces, observers said, were bombing roads, bridges and guerrilla positions in southern Lebanon in an attempt to prevent guerrillas from moving the troops deeper into Lebanon.

Israeli forces are also responding to rocket attacks fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel, according to the army.

Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, the chief of Israel's Northern Command, told reporters that Israel had "expanded and comprehensive plans" to battle Hezbollah in Lebanon, and said dozens of Hezbollah targets had been hit already.

"This affair is between Israel and the state of Lebanon," he said. "Where to attack? Once it is inside Lebanon, everything is legitimate -- not just southern Lebanon, not just the line of Hezbollah posts."
Hezbollah, Lebanon, Syria and Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned Hezbollah for its action and singled out Syria, which she said has a "special responsibility to use its influence to support a positive outcome."

State Department officials said the United States recognizes that there is little the Lebanese government can do to control Hezbollah.

While the United States sees Lebanon's government, which includes Hezbollah in its Cabinet, as an important interlocutor with Hezbollah, State Department officials have said they recognize that Lebanon does not have the capacity to expand its authority into the south, where Hezbollah has control.

These officials said the United States is holding Syria and Iran responsible for support of Hezbollah.
'We will turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years'

IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz told Israeli Channel 10, "If the soldiers are not returned we will turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years."

It is the latest skirmish between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose forces traded cross-border fire in late May following the assassination of an Islamic Jihad official in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.

Mahmoud Majzoub, also known as Abu Hamza, was killed in a car bombing, which Islamic Jihad blamed on Israel. Israel denied any involvement in the incident.

Hezbollah is designated a terrorist group by the United States and Israel but is a significant player in Lebanon's fractious politics.

Israel set up a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon from 1978 until 2000.

[Yarrah]

Is this really necessary? I mean, it's not going to decrease the tensions in that area and it is absolutely not going to increase the safety of the Israeli citizens.

[Brent]

Is this really necessary? I mean, it's not going to decrease the tensions in that area and it is absolutely not going to increase the safety of the Israeli citizens.

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist group who is funded and has seats in the Lebanese Government, launched a raid into Israel. That's what started it... Israel is only responding to the incident(and the fact that 2 soldiers were kidnapped).

This is on the verge of blowing up into a regional conflict...

[cycloneye]

U.S Blames Iran and Syria



Tensions are increasing with this.

[Yarrah]

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist group who is funded and has seats in the Lebanese Government, launched a raid into Israel. That's what started it... Israel is only responding to the incident(and the fact that 2 soldiers were kidnapped).

I think we all agree that islamo-fascist groups such as Hezbollah should be taken care of. But I'm wondering if blowing up bridges and 'turning Lebanons clock back 20 years' is really going to help. Israel will mostly hit the Lebanese citizens (hezbollah won't really be bothered a lot, since they're funded by and based in Syria). And by hitting the Lebanese citizens like this, Israel will only create more enemies. The Lebanese citizens will probably turn to groups such as Hezbollah, since they hate Israel as much as the citizens after being bombed and attacked by Israel. That's why I think Israel is just worsening the conflict with these acts of war.

[brunota2003]

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist group who is funded and has seats in the Lebanese Government, launched a raid into Israel. That's what started it... Israel is only responding to the incident(and the fact that 2 soldiers were kidnapped).

I think we all agree that islamo-fascist groups such as Hezbollah should be taken care of. But I'm wondering if blowing up bridges and 'turning Lebanons clock back 20 years' is really going to help. Israel will mostly hit the Lebanese citizens (hezbollah won't really be bothered a lot, since they're funded by and based in Syria). And by hitting the Lebanese citizens like this, Israel will only create more enemies. The Lebanese citizens will probably turn to groups such as Hezbollah, since they hate Israel as much as the citizens after being bombed and attacked by Israel. That's why I think Israel is just worsening the conflict with these acts of war.

if you notice, they are hitting bridges and guerillia sites to slow down, if not completely stop the Hezbollah so that they can get their soldiers back...not because they want more enemies...
Great article on what is happenning and why: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060712/ap_ ... l_clash_26

[nystate]

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist group who is funded and has seats in the Lebanese Government, launched a raid into Israel. That's what started it... Israel is only responding to the incident(and the fact that 2 soldiers were kidnapped).

I think we all agree that islamo-fascist groups such as Hezbollah should be taken care of. But I'm wondering if blowing up bridges and 'turning Lebanons clock back 20 years' is really going to help. Israel will mostly hit the Lebanese citizens (hezbollah won't really be bothered a lot, since they're funded by and based in Syria). And by hitting the Lebanese citizens like this, Israel will only create more enemies. The Lebanese citizens will probably turn to groups such as Hezbollah, since they hate Israel as much as the citizens after being bombed and attacked by Israel. That's why I think Israel is just worsening the conflict with these acts of war.

Or, maybe the Israeli strikes will encourage the Lebanese people to put pressure on their government to get rid of Hezbollah once and for all? Israel responds to an act of war with an act of war, I can't say that I blame them.

[Brent]

Hezbollah, which is a terrorist group who is funded and has seats in the Lebanese Government, launched a raid into Israel. That's what started it... Israel is only responding to the incident(and the fact that 2 soldiers were kidnapped).

I think we all agree that islamo-fascist groups such as Hezbollah should be taken care of. But I'm wondering if blowing up bridges and 'turning Lebanons clock back 20 years' is really going to help. Israel will mostly hit the Lebanese citizens (hezbollah won't really be bothered a lot, since they're funded by and based in Syria). And by hitting the Lebanese citizens like this, Israel will only create more enemies. The Lebanese citizens will probably turn to groups such as Hezbollah, since they hate Israel as much as the citizens after being bombed and attacked by Israel. That's why I think Israel is just worsening the conflict with these acts of war.

Or, maybe the Israeli strikes will encourage the Lebanese people to put pressure on their government to get rid of Hezbollah once and for all? Israel responds to an act of war with an act of war, I can't say that I blame them.

Exactly. It's long past time that Hezbollah loses it's seats in the Government.

[feederband]

I posted this topic earlier with no responses...I was suprised since I feel this is going to be a huge story the next couple of weeks if not longer...I have real bad feelings on this..


http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=86755

[Janice]

Will we get involved with troops?

[feederband]

Will we get involved with troops?

Depends on what Israel plans to do with Syria I sure they will hit them...And as well as what will Iran do.

[Brent]

Will we get involved with troops?

I don't know, but anything's possible. The Evening News tonight discussed the potential for this to blowup into a regional conflict, and with Iraq bordering both Syria and Iran, it could get ugly.

[feederband]

Isreal bombing gaza right now...Fox news..

[Janice]

Will this be like shock and awe in Baghdad?

[feederband]

Will this be like shock and awe in Baghdad?

Na...

[alicia-w]

I hope they knock the snot out of them....all of these terrorists in govt positions need to be smacked down.

[feederband]

I hope they knock the snot out of them....all of these terrorists in govt positions need to be smacked down.

Yeah I give up...They can't live next to each other...The Isreal goverment tried it and it failed...I see all out war...

[kevin]

I'm not going to comment on the complexities of this, because I need to get some sleep.

I believe Israel may invade Lebannon and fight the Syrians there.

I do not believe either Egypt or Jordan will be involved.

Iran will increase support for Hezbollah, not wanting to give up an opportunity to project power.

[Stephanie]

Sometimes I honestly believe that NOONE in the Middle East wants to live peacefully amongst their neighbors. I understand why Israel did what they did, but to me going into another country to attack people/terrorists is an act of war. Sounds like the war has already begun.

[Brent]

CNN just reported as Breaking News that Israel just struck the Beirut Airport.