Posted on 08/01/2006 2:48:27 PM PDT by mojito
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.
Earlier Tuesday, the IAF struck three Hizbullah bunkers in the western zone of southern Lebanon.
Warplanes also hit Hizbullah fighters battling with soldiers near the border as the guerrillas fired mortars into Israel.
Good hunting Israel!
Can anyone say , "THE IDF IS GOING FOR THE WMD's FROM IRAQ"?
"is the IDF going after Saddam's WMD?"
I understand the leaking part. But unless the fuze is armed (which only happens when the shell is fired), it's very difficult to set off ordnance.
Dang. Good Old Baghdad Bob. I was afraid he would find more dishonest work...
"We blocked them inside the city. Their rear is blocked""Desperate Americans"
"Today we slaughtered them in the airport. They are out of Saddam International Airport. The force that was in the airport, this force was destroyed."
"They are trying to fool you. They are showing any old pictures of buildings. They even went into the VIP section of the airport, just because Saddam Hussein may have sat in such and such a chair or slept in such and such a bed"
"We went into the airport and crushed them, we cleaned the WHOOOLE place out, they were slaughtered"
"Yes, the american troops have advanced further. This will only make it easier for us to defeat them"
"Their casualties and bodies are many."
[On surrenders] "Those are not Iraqi soldiers at all. Where did they bring them from?"
"Just look carefully, I only want you to look carefully. Do not repeat the lies of liars. Do not become like them. Once again, I blame al-Jazeera before it ascertains what takes place. Please, make sure of what you say and do not play such a role."
"This is unbiased"
"Search for the truth. I tell you things and I always ask you to verify what I say. I told you yesterday that there was an attack and a retreat at Saddam's airport."
"I have detailed information about the situation . . . which completely proves that what they allege are illusions . . . They lie every day."
"You can go and visit those places. Nothing there, nothing at all. There are Iraqi checkpoints. Everything is okay."
update
The Hizballah’s Beqaa commander Muhammad Yazbek is reported by DEBKAfile’s exclusive sources as having converted the Dar al Hikmeh Hospital in the village into the headquarters for his staff. Israel troops who made for this target are engaged in heavy clashes around the building.
Lebanese witnesses report an unprecedented number of Israeli warplanes over the Beqaa valley Tuesday night and aerial strikes against five Hizballah positions near Baalbek. From the Mediterranean, Israel naval artillery pounded Hizballah rocket sites on the Lebanese shore.
DEBKAfile’s senior military sources report Israel is going all out Tuesday night in an effort to finally overwhelm Hizballah on all fronts and generate conditions for the deployment of a multinational force in South Lebanon.
http://www.debka.com/index.php
It makes no sense to me that Russians would have escorted such material for any reason other than to provide safe passage to Russian warships.
IMHO, this is not the primary objective. The IDF's mission is undoubtedly to cut off further reinforcement of Hezballooo resupply from Syria and retreat to parts further north in Lebanon (or over the border to Syria). The remaining Hez between Israel and the Bekaa will be in a meatgrinder, and the motor put on "frappe." If the Syrians get involved, they'll get their air force and navy destroyed, and their capitol bombed (at least).
If they find the WMD's, this will be a very sweet cream on top of a 7-layer Death By Chocolate cake.
When they find the WMD's, I hope they take them and deliver them to the following offices: Pelosi, Reid, Kerry, Kennedy, Schumer, Durbin, Murtha, Boxer, Feinstein, Feingold, and the rest of the anti-American, anti-military Bush bashers.
On nerve filled rockets you are forgetting about the propellant. Such as the case in our chemical weapon arsenals that still lie in bunkers.
I agree, they need to cut off resupply, but I would not be surprised to hear some later day that we finainced an extra mission of some recond troops!
From your post to God's ear! Pray for Israel's swift victory and the safety of her people and her military.
My thoughts exactly:
"The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap."
Isaiah 17:1
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