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IDF soldiers marching in Lebanon (AP)
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners August 13, 2006 |
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The IDF acted massively in southern Lebanon, with hundreds of soldiers airlifted by more than 50 helicopters and columns of armor moving north. More than 70 wounded soldiers have already been flown to Israeli hospitals.
Late in the evening reports came in about the downing of an IDF helicopter by anti-tank fire, killing the crew of 5.
Including casualties from that incident, 24 Israeli soldiers were killed Saturday, 84 wounded, 11 in serious condition.
Among the dead was a female soldier, St.-Sgt. (res.) Keren Tendler, 26, from Rehovot, who served as a meachnic on board the IAF helicopter that was shot down by a Hizbullah missile. Keren is the first woman who died in combat during the war, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Two of the deaths resulted when a tank backed up and crushed a pair of soldiers.
An officer and two Armored Corps troops were killed when a missile struck their tank as they were operating in the Wadi Sluki region in south Lebaon's eastern sector.
In the village of Randouria in the western sector a Nahal Brigade soldier was killed by Hizbullah fire toward at a building; seven other soldiers were killed in Lebanon on Friday.
The names of seven of the soldiers were released for publication overnight Saturday:
Cpl. Ya'ar Ben Giyat, 19, of Nahsholim
Sgt. Tzahi Krips, 20, of Kibbutz Hama'apil
Sgt. Yosef Abitbol, 29, of Gan Meir
Cpl. Tomer Amar, 19, of Julis
Sgt. Yehonatan Ankonina , 21, of Netanya
St.-Sgt. Itai Steinberger, 21, of Karmei Yosef
Sgt. Yaniv Tamerson, 21, of Tzipori
Capt. Shai Bernstein, 24, of Be'ersheva
St.-Sgt. Amasa Meshulami, 20, of Ofra
Major Sami Ben-Naim, 29, of Rehovot
Major (res.) Nissan Shalev, 36, of Kibbutz Evron
Capt. Daniel Gomez, 25, of Nehalim
St.-Sgt. Major (res.), Ron Mashiach, 33, of Gdera
St.-Sgt. (res.) Keren Tendler, 26, of Rehovot
Capt. Bnayah Rein, 27, of Karnei Shomron
St.-Sgt. Adam Goren, 21, of Kibbutz Ma'abarot
Sgt. Alexander Bonimovitch, 19, of Netanya
Cpl. Yigal Nissan, 19, of Ma'aleh Adumim
Oz Tzemach, 20, of Maccabim-Reut
Sgt. Haran Lev, 20, of Kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch
Sgt. Dan Broyer, 19, of Moshav Beit Hillel
The IDF claims that more than 40 Hezbollah fighters have been killed so far today.
Four divisions of eleven brigades totalling more than 12,000 IDF soldiers were reported operating in south Lebanon. Most of the activity was focused in areas from where Hezbollah has been firing short-range rockets into Israel, Haaretz reported. Sources in the IDF General Staff said up to a week would be needed to complete the occupation of the area, even though the ceasefire is likely to take effect on Monday. Israeli political sources said that "cleansing" operation to rid Hezbollah from southern Lebanon would require weeks.
Military sources say that the IDF plans to continue with its operations until threatened with sanctions by the UN for being in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
Israeli air raids killed at least 19 people and blasted a highway near the last open border crossing to Syria.
In the day's deadliest strike, Israeli missiles slammed into the southern Lebanon village of Rachaf, about 14 kilometers (eight miles) from the Israeli border, killing at least 15 civilians, security officials said.
Israeli ground forces also fanned out across southern Lebanon hunting for Hezbollah rocket batteries that have fired unending salvos across the border. Four other Lebanese were killed in strikes elsewhere.
Israel's army chief, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, said ground forces have tripled in size in attempts to put Hezbollah on the run. He did not give a specific troop figure, but it would mean the current force is about 30,000.
Israel TV's Channel Two said the cease-fire is expected to go into effect at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) Monday. An Israeli official said it could come either late Sunday or Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the sensitive matter with reporters.
On Lebanon's northern frontier, Israeli airstrikes hit the highway leading to the Arida border crossing about two kilometers (one mile) from the Mediterranean coast. It's the last official border post open for humanitarian convoys and civilians fleeing the country. The highway was impassable, but drivers tried to maneuver through ruts and ditches.
The only other exits from Lebanon are rugged pathways and back roads through deserts or mountains.
Israel seeks to block supply routes for Hezbollah and disrupt their mobility. Israel has warned it would target any vehicles on the roads in southern Lebanon and along other main highways.
Trying any movement -- even under the umbrella of U.N. forces -- can prove deadly. On Friday, an Israeli aircraft fired on a convoy of more than 600 civilian vehicles and others carrying 350 Lebanese police and soldiers who left the Israeli-occupied town on Marjayoun in southeast Lebanon.
An Associated Press photographer with the convoy, Lutfallah Daher, counted at least seven bodies after the strikes and 36 people injured.
Israel said U.N. troops asked permission to lead the convoy, but it was denied because Israel said the road had been used by Hezbollah.
Aid groups have complained that Israel has not given the green light for any trucks in the past week, leaving thousands of people trapped in southern villages with dwindling food and supplies.
But Israel on Saturday allowed a ship full of food, fuel and other relief goods to dock in Tyre. The supplies, including 110 tons of flour and 200,000 ready-to-eat meals, were stored to await Israeli clearance to begin distribution.
Further inland, fighting continued in Hezbollah-held areas around Marjayoun, a strategic hub overlooking valleys used as Hezbollah rocket bases.
Israeli commando units and guerrillas engaged in close combat in a valley near Ghandourieh, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of Marjayoun, according to Lebanese security officials.
Other Israeli ground forces, backed by aircraft and drones, met stiff resistance as they tried to reach the Litani River. It's seen by Israel as a crucial boundary in its attempt to push back Hezbollah.
Israeli military officials said more than 30 soldiers were wounded. Israel Army Radio put the figure at 54. Some media sources placed it above 80.
Overhead, Hezbollah rockets streamed toward Israel. At least five people were injured in northern Israeli towns, rescue workers said. But only about 35 rockets had been launched by midday -- far fewer than the average of nearly 200 strikes a day in the past week.
Israel said it had killed more than 40 Hezbollah fighters in a 24-hour span since midday Friday, but did not give locations. Hezbollah said four militiamen have been killed during the period. The two sides have widely conflicting casualty counts.
Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, meanwhile, reported that guerrillas killed seven Israeli soldiers and destroyed 21 tanks in Wadi al-Hujair valley southwest of Marjayoun. The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the report.
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