|
TV grab shows Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah speaks
at a press conference, Beirut, July 12, 2006. He warned Israel's military
assault will not win the two soldiers' freedom. (CCTV
Photo) |
TV grab shows Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called
Hezbollah's raid an act of war, holding the Lebanese government
responsible, July 12, 2006. He vowed a potent response from
Israel. (CCTV Photo) |
BEIJING, July 13 -- Israel has
pounded southern Lebanon with airstrikes and artillery. It also sent ground
troops over the border for the first time in six years. This follows a
cross-border raid by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, during which two Israeli
soldiers were captured. Eight Israeli soldiers, two Lebanese civilians and one
Hezbollah fighter were killed in Wednesday's explosion of violence.
The international community has demanded
Hezbollah release the captured Israeli soldiers. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
urged regional leaders to prevent an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
The European Union called on all parties to do their utmost to end the violence.
And US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Hezbollah raid had
undermined regional stability.
Hezbollah launched rocket attacks across
the border into northern Israel throughout the day. Residents were ordered to
seek cover in underground bomb shelters.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has
called Hezbollah's raid an act of war, holding the Lebanese government responsible. He
vowed a potent response from Israel.
But Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan
Nasrallah warned Israel's military assault will not win the two soldiers'
freedom.
"Nobody will be able to take them back
home without negotiations and a prisoner swap. The Israelis are deluding
themselves if they think military retaliation will succeed in freeing the
detainees."
The Lebanese government has rejected blame
for the capture of the Israeli soldiers, distancing itself from the Hezbollah
operation.
"The Lebanese government was not informed
by Hezbollah about the attack. It does not bear any responsibility, nor embrace
what happened. The Lebanese government is asking the United Nations to find a
solution to this crisis."
Hezbollah's cross-border raid opened a
second front for the Israeli army. The Jewish state is currently still looking
for another soldier, captured more than two weeks ago by the militant wing of
Hamas.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Related story:
Hezbollah abducts 2 Israeli soldiers, Israel
responds to attack
Smokes rise from the border of Israel and Lebanon, July 12,
2006. Israeli Air Forces carried out strikes against Hezbollah targets in
southern Lebanon and 30 targets have been attacked so far on Wednesday.
(Xinhua Photo) |
An Israeli artillery unit fires across the border into
southern Lebanon from a position on the frontier in northern Israel,
Wednesday, July 12, 2006. Hezbollah fighters launched a raid into Israel
and captured two Israeli soldiers Wednesday, triggering an Israeli assault
with warplanes, gunboats and ground troops in southern Lebanon to hunt for
the captives. Seven Israeli soldiers and two Lebanese were killed in the
violence. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) |
Photo Gallery>>
Lebanese Hezbollah abducts two Israeli soldiers
JERUSALEM, 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Hezbollah militia
kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid Wednesday morning,
arousing a fierce response of Israeli army and bringing the regional tension up
to a new height.
Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in the clashes
between the Jewish troops and the Hezbollah militants, an Israeli army
spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
Three soldiers were killed when the Hezbollah
militants attacked two Israeli army jeeps patrolling along Israel's border with
Lebanon Wednesday morning, in which the two soldiers were captured, the
spokeswoman said.
Another four, who were searching for the two abducted
soldiers in south Lebanon, were killed when their tank was attacked by Hezbollah
militia, she added.
Full story>>
Special report: Clash between Israel,
Lebanon
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