Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Escallation on the northern border: PM Olmert declares Hizbullah attack 'act of war' by Lebanon
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared the attack as an "act of war" and not terror. During a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Wednesday afternoon, he called it an unprovoked assault by a sovereign nation and held Lebanon, where Hizbullah has a minister in the government, fully responsible.
"Israel's response will be restrained but very, very, very painful," Olmert added.
The Defense Ministry confirmed early Wednesday afternoon that two IDF soldiers had been kidnapped by Hizbullah. IDF ground troops had been sent into Lebanon to search for the two. IAF jets, helicopters and UAVs were also flying above Lebanon searching for the soldiers. Several jets were flying patterns above Beirut, Channel 10 reported. Simultaneously, Navy gunboats and artillery along the border were shelling Hizbullah targets in Lebanon.
The army has destroyed 17 targets as well as Hizbullah outposts and three bridges since the beginning of the operation.
Hizbullah's Al Manar TV broadcast earlier Wednesday that the organization had kidnapped the two soldiers. A senior Hizbullah official said that at least one of the allegedly kidnapped soldiers was still alive. A senior IDF officer landed Wednesday afternoon in the northern Druse village of Kfar Yanuh apparently to inform a family there that their son had been kidnapped.
Hizbullah launched a heavy barrage of Katyusha rockets and mortar shells at IDF positions and communities along the northern frontier on Wednesday morning starting about 9:15 a.m. One rocket scored a direct hit on a house in Shtula. Magen David Adom said they had treated six people so far. Both soldiers and civilians have been wounded. The wounded were being evacuated to Nahariya hospital...
The IDF is calling up the reserves:
Earlier, Israel rejected a cease-fire request made by the Lebanese government via the UN after IDF troops entered its territory to rescue two soldiers captured by Hizbullah earlier Wednesday.
A very high ranking military officer said that if the soldiers were not returned in good condition, Israel would turn Lebanon back 20 years by striking its vital infrastructure...
World leaders decry Hizbullah assault -- but don't worry, just wait until Israel's response sinks in. Most of 'em will condemn that, too. Palestinian Arabs are handing out sweets in celebration.
Update: Sites with lots more infor (via LGF): Mere Rhetoric, Israel Matzav, Dave Bender, Israellycool, Lawhawk
Big link round-up at Pajamas Media
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"Israel's response will be restrained but very, very, very painful," Olmert added.
What a load of crap. Now is NOT the time for restraint. Hezbollah doesn't do squat without express orders from its Syrian and Iranian masters. Maybe it's time for Syria to pay the price for authorizing these attacks. Seven Israeli soldiers died? Fine. Take out 700 Syrian troops. Two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped? Okay, add another 200 to that number. Syria has completely forgotten that there is a price to be paid for its actions....
isirota:
Do you think Hezbollah does anything without approval from Iran. No, I think seeing as Hamas has really mucked things up, much to the embarrassment of Ahmadinejad, who probably coughed up a substantial portion of the $20 million Dr. Wartnose was toting around in a suitcase, Ahmadinejad decided it was time to send the "A team". Or maybe this has all been part of Ahmadinejad's plan to wipe Israel off the map, it just wasn't quite as easy as he thought it would be and no other Muslim/Arab state has exactly been rushing to help Hamas out because most of them have Muslim Brotherhood problems at home.
Lynne, regardless, Israel must respond with overwhelming force to this act of war. It's the only language that Hezbollah, Iran and Syria (not to mention Hamas) will understand.