 |
 |
 |
|
|
An Israeli Air Force jet takes off enroute to a mission in Lebanon. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By israelinsider staff and partners July 17, 2006 |
|
| |
Israel lobbed missiles at targets in all corners of Lebanon early Monday, killing 13 and wounding 53 in a surge of reprisals after Hezbollah rockets slammed into new targets deep inside Israel.
Eight of the dead were Lebanese soldiers who were killed when aircraft attacked a small fishing port at Abdeh in northernmost Lebanon near a highway leading to Syria, about four miles from the border. Witnesses and security officials said 12 others were wounded after the attack destroyed the position.
Lebanon's army has largely remained on the sidelines of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel so far.
The Israeli army said it was investigating the incidents. "In principle the Israeli military does not target Lebanese soldiers," an Israeli army spokesman said.
The northern sectors hit early Monday are far off from Israel, and in zones where the Hezbollah is not known to operate.
The Israeli army said it had targeted radar stations there, because they had been used by Hezbollah to hit a ship on Friday. It all but accused the Lebanese military of lending its support to Hezbollah.
"The attacks ... are against radar stations used, among other things, in the attack on the Israeli missile boat, by Hezbollah in cooperation with the Lebanese military," the Israeli army spokesman told The Associated Press.
The road to Syria's northwest was temporarily closed to traffic as rescuers evacuated casualties and cleared the rubble.
Warplanes also struck the Beirut international airport premises early Monday, targeting a fuel storage tank that sent an orange flame billowing high into the night sky.
The facility has been closed since Thursday after Israeli missiles punched holes in its runways and set ablaze fuel storage tanks.
Missiles apparently aiming at a relay station for Hezbollah's al-Manar television missed their target and hit a house in the Kharroub region south of Beirut. Police said four villagers were killed and 10 wounded. Lebanese police said the village had been hit by missiles fired from warships, by the Israeli military denied gunboats had participated in Monday's overnight bombings.
Israeli warplanes staged successive airstrikes, targeting neighborhoods in the eastern city of Baalbek where Hezbollah officials have residences. Police had no casualty count. Residents reported that the bombardment, up to 12 missiles in six air raids, was the heaviest on the city, famous for its Roman ruins. The missiles started several fires and kicked up black smoke.
Along the Beirut-Damascus highway at Taanayel in the central section of the Bekaa Valley in the east, an air raid killed two people and wounded 23 at a commercial compound, police said.
Warplanes also struck at the seaport in Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city in the northernmost part of the country. Eight troops were wounded, according to witnesses.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
