MIDDLE EAST: Israeli forces press ahead with offensive on Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts

Record ID: 791541

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Israeli forces press ahead with offensive on Lebanon despite diplomatic efforts
  • Date: 30th July 2006
  • Summary: ISRAELI SOLDIER PRAYING BESIDE TANK
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABM36WXSRANOSH9WRRODN31DBT
  • Story Text: Israel continued to pound targets in southern Lebanon on Sunday (July 30) despite diplomatic efforts to reach a deal on an international force to end a 19-day-old war, after Hizbollah threatened to strike deeper into Israel.
    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem a day after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who is in the region for the second round of talks in an effort to reach a ceasefire.
    "As you know Mr. Nasrallah threatened again to send more and more missiles -- they launched dozens of them today -- and therefore we will have to complete the task of making sure he will not be able to repeat this horrible threats and attacks time and again," Israeli cabinet Minister Yitzhak Herzog said ahead of the meeting.
    Rice, on a trip that puts her reputation as a mediator on the line, said she hoped for agreement on conditions for a ceasefire to be outlined in a U.N. resolution that could be tabled as early as Tuesday (August 1).
    At least 483 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 51 Israelis have been killed in conflict that erupted after Hizbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a raid on July 12.
    "I think it should be clear that Israel is in no rush for a ceasefire before we achieve the same situation where we can say that we achieved our main goals that we set for ourselves and that requires developing the political process and reaching a detailed agreement about creating the forces that would secure the areas from which there is danger to Israel," Olmert said.
    Near Israel's border with Lebanon, Israeli soldiers were preparing for further fighting with tanks positioned towards the town of Khiam. Israeli aircraft and artillery pounded the Shi'ite town while guerrillas fired rockets at northern Israel, Lebanese security sources said.
    Israel's army had no immediate comment.
    An Israeli air strike on a building in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon caused at least 40 civilian casualties, Lebanese security sources also said.
    Israel has called-up approximately three divisions of reserve soldiers, amounting to around 15,000 soldiers, to report for duty as it fights Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon as Israel continued its deadly offensive in Lebanon.
    Many of the reservists were reporting to duty Sunday at bases throughout Israel.
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