JERUSALEM, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed on Monday to continue a massive assault in
Lebanon before Hezbollah returned two captive Israeli soldiers, stopped rocket
attacks on Israel and pulled back from borders with Israel.
Addressing Knesset (Parliament), Olmert said Israel
would consider cease-fire only when Hezbollah freed the two soldiers, stop
rocket attacks and Lebanese army deployed along the border in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Olmert vowed that Israel would have no
mercy on "terrorists who launched missiles at our residents and our towns". He
reiterated that Lebanese government should take the responsibility for the
abduction of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, and accused Iran and Syria of
sponsoring the group with weapons and money.
He also said that Israel had the right to fight for a
normal life, adding that it was a moment of vital importance to Israel's
security. Full story>>
Israeli army confirms ground forces enter
Lebanon
JERUSALEM, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army
confirmed on Monday that Israeli ground forces entered southern Lebanon to
attack strongholds of Lebanon's Hizbollah guerillas along the border.
An Israeli army spokeswoman told Xinhua that only a
small number of ground troops entered southern Lebanon, aiming to push Hizbollah
out of the rocket-firing range.
The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hizbollah has
rained rockets upon Israel since Israel started a massive offensive in Lebanon
six days ago.
The large-scale Israeli military move came after
Hizbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight during
cross-border clashes. Full story>>
