Breaking: CNN reports IDF lands in Balbeck [N Lebanon]

CNN TV ^

[minus_273]

CNN TV just had a reuters report that israeli troops have landed in the northern isareli city of balbeck.

IDF officialy has no comment.

[Dark Skies]

Mmmm, spam!

[Rayben]

JPOST has more information - Still sketchy but a little but more

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292046965&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Lebanese army and security officials said Tuesday night that a major IDF operation was underway against suspected Hizbullah positions near Baalbeek in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, with one officer saying the IAF presence in the air above the ancient city was "unprecedented."

The operation began with at least five rapid air strikes.

"The extreme, unprecedented number of aircraft indicates the possibility that the Israelis are planning to land troops, but we cannot yet confirm that," said one security official.

Flares held aloft by parachutes lighted the night sky to a daytime brilliance, the official said.

Hizbullah's al-Manar television said IAF helicopters were taking heavy guerrilla fire but had not landed any commandos.

Israeli helicopters also attacked a target 15 kilometers west of Baalbek, starting a huge fire, witnesses said.

Israeli jet fighters struck deep inside Lebanese territory, hitting Hermel, some 120 kilometers north of the Israeli border in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. Warplanes fired at least five air-to-surface missiles on the edge of the town, targeting a road linking eastern Lebanon to western regions and the coastline.

About six hours later, warplanes returned to attack Hermel again, hitting a pickup truck loaded with cooking gas tanks, security officials said. The canisters exploded, sending flames shooting up from the vehicle for nearly an hour. The driver had pulled over and exited the vehicle before the attack, and was not hurt, they said.

Another strike at an area near the Syrian border, about 10 kilometers north of Hermel, targeted the Qaa-Homs road, one of four official crossing points between Lebanon and Syria. Lebanon's official news agency reported Israeli jets also hit early Tuesday near the Masnaa crossing into Syria, which was attacked several times in the last three days.

Tuesday's airstrikes meant that two of the four border crossings are now closed because of damage. Repeated airstrikes have made the main Beirut-Damascus highway impassable.

[Common Tator]

It should be clear what is going on.

This is a way to prevent Syria resupplying Hezbollah and prevent it should it come into the war from capturing any part of Leblanon.

If Syria comes into Lebanon they will only get a short distance before they have to fight Israelis. Then since the Israeli army is much superior to Syrias' army it will not be long before they are fighting on Syrian soil.

This has to be done if they are going to really kick butt in Lebanon.

[processing please hold]

There was no information immediately available on what was hit or if there were casualties.

Just be patient, there will be. Women, children, old men and the disabled. As soon as they can shuttle them in, along with the sympathizing press.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

A cleaning of the bakaa valley is long over due. One of the worst terrorist training grounds and safe haven on the planet. Godspeed IDF.

I also wonder if the IDF believed its soliders were being held there.

[ichabod1]

Yes, but was it... Chief Moose? aka PC Moose?

[shield]

You think? Sounds like lots of $$$$'s to me. Maybe that was just a down payment. Maybe the deal was $30,000,000 down and remainder once Saddamn beat the Americans. If payment is not completed...they're Syria's. ;o)

[nopardons]

There will possibly be some sleeper cells unleashed, but how much REAL damage they can/would do, I don't know. I doubt that it would be all THAT much, because most of them are under surveillance. It's the ones, like that guy in Washington, the lone crazies, that are the worry.

[Enterprise]

Yeah, life is not good right now for the Hezzies. No roads, no bridges, no airpower. If they want to go north they have to go by U.N. ambulance.

[nopardons]

True, true, and he's also an anti-war jerk and has said many nasty things about President Bush...while he was SOBER.

Why anyone thought he is a conservative, is beyond be.

[rahbert]

I can't hear you..

[stop_fascism]

Well, I'm half guilty, and it's looking like I was wrong about Olmert. I've never been so happy to be wrong about anything.

[processing please hold]

I keep remembering that story about all those middle eastern men taking truck driving training. Ahellofalot of damage could be done with them. Imagine one of them filled with a highly flammable material.

The muslim who murdered that Jewish woman and wounded five others, some of his family members works at a nuclear plant. A gas filled 18 wheeler and a Nuclear plant........

[nopardons]

Because of where I live and because of the damned ledge ( if you don't understand this, go read or see "MR BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSES" ), my well is over 600 feet deep.

As long as I have electricity, I'm just fine; I'll have all the water I'll ever need or want and then some. :-)

[DejaJude]

About six hours later, warplanes returned to attack Hermel again, hitting a pickup truck loaded with cooking gas tanks, security officials said. The canisters exploded, sending flames shooting up from the vehicle for nearly an hour. The driver had pulled over and exited the vehicle before the attack, and was not hurt, they said.

What kind of "cooking gas"?

[rahbert]

122mm cannisters!

[Rayben]

Well of course, it is the exploding kind!

[MikefromOhio]

This IS huge.....

Now Israel is within 40 miles of Damascus with ground troops.

[processing please hold]

Hopefully, people will stop working with him and his work will dry up. Then let's see how long he can own Malibu!