- Title: ISRAEL: Israeli Minister says 400 Hizbollah fighters killed
- Date: 2nd August 2006
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI MINISTER OF TOURISM ISAAC HERZOG, SAYING: "The Israeli Security Cabinet yesterday decided to enhance the operation in southern Lebanon in order that the infrastructure will be ready for the deployment of a multi-national force which will be able to be aggressive and robust enough to prevent the recurrence of activities by Hizbollah. I want to
- Embargoed: 17th August 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA2ZDRNHP8MIWJSE54V25SPCPKD
- Story Text: Israel has killed an estimated 400 Hizbollah fighters in three weeks of fighting in Lebanon, an Israeli security cabinet minister told Reuters on Tuesday (August 1).
Israeli artillery shells rained down on the border area around the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab, where Hizbollah said it had destroyed a tank in battles with Israeli troops.
Al Arabiya television said three Israeli soldiers died in those clashes, which would be the first casualties since Israel lost nine soldiers on July 26. Hizbollah said it had inflicted 20 casualties in house-to-house battles at Aita al-Shaab.
The Israeli army said 20 Hizbollah fighters were killed in the last 48 hours. Hizbollah denied any serious casualties.
Israeli Security Cabinet minister Isaac Herzog, who is also the Israeli government's Minister of Tourism greeted French visitors and others hoping to immigrate to Israel.
The visitors said they were undeterred by the violence in the region.
"We are very very happy to be here. We're not scared at all," one woman said.
"We're very happy to be in Israel - our home," another woman said.
And a man said that he was not worried at all.
"Not at all. Not at all. On the contrary, we are here. It's extraordinary, and we will come back as many times as we need in order to make aliyah (immigration)," he said.
Herzog said that the Israeli government has decided to expand the ground offensive against Hizbollah.
"The Israeli Security Cabinet yesterday decided to enhance the operation in southern Lebanon in order that the infrastructure will be ready for the deployment of a multi-national force which will be able to be aggressive and robust enough to prevent the recurrence of activities by Hizbollah. I want to point out that the Hizbollah suffered major setbacks. We've identified at least 400 casualties from within the insurgents and terrorists of the Hizbollah. We've demolished their key command and control posts, their bunkers, their planning departments, their strategic arms, as well as major, major operations and launchers all over southern Lebanon. And we will continue the operations so that they will not be able to recur with their aggressive and their dangerous activities in the region," Herzog said.
A spokesman for Hizbollah said 43 fighters had died in the conflict.
Israel has rejected calls for a truce as world powers differ over the urgency of a ceasefire. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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