The scope of Israel’s two-week long military offensive against Palestinian terrorists was extended dramatically today following an attack by Hezbollah terrorists that led to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and the death of three others. Israel immediately responded to the attack by labeling it “an act of war” while opening up a second front for its ongoing military campaign so as to include Lebanon.
The Jerusalem Post describes the attack as being “meticulously planned” while Haaretz adds that it was a “ringing failure [on the part of] the IDF.”
The terrorists' demands are similar to those issued by the terrorists who kidnaped Gilad Shalit seventeen days ago: they are calling for the release of prisoners who are being held in Israeli jails.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who called this latest attack by Hezbollah terrorists an “act of war,” holds the Lebanese government fully responsible for the abduction and wellbeing of the two soldiers. He has promised to exact a high price from Israel's hostile northerly neighbor.
At a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi earlier today, PM Olmert vowed that “Israel’s response will be restrained but very, very, very painful.”
Contrary to appearances, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has been extremely restrained thus far. In spite of the damage inflicted by the IDF — primarily on abandoned buildings and terrorist infrastructure — their incursion can by no means be described as “all-out war.” Of course, that will soon change.
The Israeli Air Forces quickly issued "call up orders" for reservists in preparation for air strikes against targets in Lebanon. Since issuing the orders, the IAF has carried out a series of strategic strikes that have effectively cut off south Lebanon from the rest of the country. The move is designed to preclude the terrorists from transporting the kidnaped soldier.
The IAF struck a Hizbullah post and two bridges in southern Lebanon overnight Wednesday as the number of targets hit by the Airforce since fighting erupted after the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers, reached into the hundreds.
Article comments
1 - gazelle
apparently the PA Interior ministry and also now the foreign ministry building and people's homes are 'abandoned buildings and terrorist infrastructure" ...
Israel has hit Beirut airport - hardly something syrian- or palestinian-backed....
more desparation & insanity.
the US will not do anything drastic as usual, while it will support israel in letter.
criminal. state sanctioned terrorism by israel.
best
2 - Jet in Columbus
Self defense if you ask me
3 - Dave Nalle
I'd certainly prefer it if we encouraged Israel to leave Lebanon the hell alone and hit Syria with everything they have. Lebanon's role in all of this is somewhere between victim and pawn. Their government is barely functional and certainly doesn't control Hezbollah, and the people of the country as a whole shouldn't be punished for what Hezbollah does on behalf of Syria and without their support or approval.
dave
4 - Jet in Columbus
Dave, while generally I agree, attacking Syria would be like attacking the wrong arm of an octopus that's got a grip on you. First you've got to deal with the immediate problem.
The problem is while Syria might be "a" head of tha damned thing; it's not the only one and too many fanatical people are born with heads hardwired to the destruction of Israel to the exclusion of anything else.
Go after Syria, you activate Iran, go after Iran you activate Egypt or maybe Libya again.
History may bear me out that the only way to solve the problem is to either blow the shit out over every country in the region or move Israel to the U.S.
Solus mei sententia
Jet
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
I would like to agree with Dave. The Lebanese have been subjected to too much hell over the last thirty years, and too much of it at the hands of the "Palestinians."
Our government should be going after Syria (leaving Damascus a rubble and fulfulling Biblical prophecy) and warning Iran to stand down (they control HizbAllah) or face nuclear retailition - WITH A TIME LIMIT - and then ACT. But that won't happen.
Olmert is a bully and a coward. I'm truly surprised he is attacking HizbAllah missile pods, which are the big gun Iran holds at our head.
Get this clear, folks. The issue is not a couple of soldiers. The soldiers were captured and should be (but probably won't be) treated according to the Geneva convention. That is why I view it as just so much toilet paper.
The issue is the survival of the Jewish entity. Full stop.
Olmert doesn't understand this. Condaleezza Rice does.
6 - Dave Nalle
That last sentence certainly is an ironic comment on the situation.
Even more ironic is some of the commentary coming out of Iraq over this issue. A lot of Iraqis seem to be getting rather outspoken in support of Israel and pissing off a lot of other arabs in the process.
Dave
7 - DrPat
Link, Dave? I'd love to take a look at that kind of commentary...
8 - Nancy
Me too. Iraqis? Supporting Israel? Has hell frozen over as well?
9 - troll
has anyone read/heard news that this push goes beyond Palestine and that increased numbers of radicals are passing into Iraq...I heard that in passing on Dobbs a couple of days ago and have heard nothing further
troll
10 - gazelle
#9 the iraqi PM has yesterday clearly stated the position of his govet that it opposes the israeli attacks on lebanon
best
11 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Dave,
I went to "Iraq, the model" to read this stuff and most of it was from Americans. I could read Americans' comments here.