ISRAEL: Despite UN resolution to end hostilities Israeli troops push towards Lebanon's Litani river

Record ID: 396665

  • Title: ISRAEL: Despite UN resolution to end hostilities Israeli troops push towards Lebanon's Litani river
  • Date: 13th August 2006
  • Summary: (W2) ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER (AUGUST 12, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS CANNONS FIRING AT LEBANON VARIOUS ARTILLERY FIRE
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA1YMUKYDX4MRW1GU5C8LK0M1Y
  • Story Text: The Israeli army broadened its ground offensive in southern Lebanon on Saturday (August 12, 2006) as its forces pushed towards the Litani river.
    On the northern Israeli border preparations were underway. Troops backed by tanks and armoured vehicles rolled into Lebanon.
    Soldiers were carrying out orders issued by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz, the army said, after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to the month-old war between Israel and Hizbollah.
    The resolution authorises 15,000 U.N. troops to be deployed to monitor a phased Israeli withdrawal and to help the Lebanese army deploy in southern Lebanon, now controlled by Hizbollah.
    But for now, the Israeli army was moving forward.
    In the Israeli city of Haifa, which has been hit by hundreds of Katyusha rockets since the conflict began, residents were not optimistic about the chances for peace.
    "The decision of the United Nations from last night hopefully from one side will bring peace to the region, on the other side I am not sure it will accomplish what we want as Israelis because we want to stop the Katyushas and I am not sure this ceasefire will end the threat of the Katyushas," Haifa resident Dr. Yossi Embar said.
    Israeli officials had said before Friday's United Nations vote that the army would press ahead with its military campaign to quell Hizbollah cross-border rocket fire, at least until Olmert's cabinet met on Sunday (August 13).
    Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mark Regev said he believed the cabinet would approve the resolution.
    "It will prevent the rearming of Hizbollah by Syria and of course it commits the international community to the disarmament of as a military organisation. And for those reasons I believe the cabinet will approve this and it will be moving forward on this political process," he said.
    Fighting erupted on July 12 after Hizbollah guerrillas abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid. Israel launched an air and ground campaign, and Hizbollah started firing rocket barrages into northern Israel.

    ISRAELI MILITARY
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