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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. (file)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners July 30, 2006 |
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Hezbollah fired rockets at various regions of northern Israel on Monday, the army said -- the first guerrilla attacks since Israel suspended its airstrikes in Lebanon for 48 hours following the killing of dozens of civilians in the Lebanese village of Qana.
No casualties were immediately reported. The army confirmed rockets had hit the north, but did not say how many. Among the areas hit was the town of Kiryat Shemona, the army said.
The US State Department announced Sunday that Israel has agreed to suspend aerial activity in southern Lebanon for 48 hours, reportedly to allow humanitarian aid in, to enable refugees to get out, and to permit an investigation of what happened in the village of Qana.
Adam Ereli, Acting Spokesman for the State Department, issued the following statement from Jerusalem, where he is accompanying Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice on her Mideast junket:
"Israel has agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity in South Lebanon while it investigates today's tragic incident in Qana. Israel has, of course, reserved the right to take action against targets preparing attacks against it."
"During this time, Israel will coordinate with the UN to allow a 24-hour period of safe passage for all residents of South Lebanon who wish to leave. Humanitarian convoys remain in effect. We expect that Israel will implement these decisions so as to significantly speed and improve the flow of humanitarian aid."
"The United States welcomes this decision and hopes that it will help to relieve the suffering of the children and families of Southern Lebanon."
In Jerusalem, the Israeli army spokesman's office said it knew nothing of an agreement to halt air strikes in Lebanon for 48 hours. But two hours later The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that the IDF will halt air strikes over Lebanon for 48 hours until the probe into the Qana incident is completed. "No targets will be hit, unless they threaten to strike Israel," the PM's Office said in a statement.
"Israel will allow, in coordination with the UN, safe passage for the residents of south Lebanon wishing to evacuate the area within 24 hours, and will also operate humanitarian corridors," the statement said.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Qana, where Israel carried out airstrikes early Sunday, and more than fifty people died, was used as a Hezbollah base for launching hundreds of rockets at Israel.
"From the village and its surroundings, hundreds of Katyusha (rockets) have been fired at Israel, toward Kiryat Shemona and Afula," Olmert said during Israel's weekly Cabinet meeting, according to a participant in the meeting. "The army did not get an order to strike at Lebanese civilians. In Kfar Qana, hundreds of Katyushas are hidden."
Other Israeli officials expressed regret for the attack, the deadliest in 19 days of fighting, in which an Israeli missile hit a rocket position on the ground, the concussion from which apparently caused the building to collapse.
"We deeply regret the loss of any civilian life and especially when you talk about children who are innocent. This is not the code of conduct of the Israeli army," said Gideon Meir, a senior Foreign Ministry official. "But one must understand, the Hezbollah is using their own civilian population as human shields."
Furious over the attack, Lebanese officials canceled a planned visit to Beirut by Secretary of State Rice, adding a new hurdle to already difficult efforts to bring a cease-fire.
Cpt. Jacob Dallal, an army spokesman, said the residents of Qana were warned by the military several days ago to leave the area due to Hezbollah activities launched from the village. He said most people had left.
"Had we known there were civilians, we obviously wouldn't have done it," Dallal added.
Olmert said to US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice that Israel needs between ten days to two weeks to continue its operational activities against Hizbullah. Olmert also told this to the ministers in the cabinet meeting.
Olmert planned to meet with Rice again Sunday in his office in Jerusalem about the events of Qana. Olmert added, "We intend to continue the military operation until the objectives of the operation are achieved."
The AP contributed to this report.
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