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Hezbollah
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Along the Lebanese frontier,
Hezbollah launched a series of cross border shellings of
Israeli civilian and military targets. There were no Israeli
casualties but some damage. The IDF responded with limited
air strikes and tank fire. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says
Israel has no intention of being drawn into a further escalation
by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. |
David Essing reports:
Hezbollah guerillas in south
Lebanon shelled Israel for further three days running. Although
Israeli aircraft and tanks fired back, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
said Israel has no interest in being drawn into a further escalation.
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Sept.11th - Hezbollah
fires Katyusha rocket at Western Galilee town of Shelomi -
the rocket slams into the industrial zone causing damage but
no casualties because the area was abandoned due to Independence
Day.
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Sept.12th - Hezbollah
fires 2 rockets from south Lebanon at IDF position in Mount
Dov area (Shaaba farms) of Syria. No Casualties or damage.
Israeli forces return fire at Hezbollah positions in the area.
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Sept.13th
- Hezbollah fires 13 mortar bombs at IDF positions in Mount
Dov, IDF fires back and hits 3 Hezbollah positions.
The Israeli assessment is that
Hezbollah is trying to gain popularity in Lebanon before this
month's election and after the Syrian evacuation. By heating up
the border area, Hezbollah seeks Lebanese support against Israel.
The IDF did not respond until Hezbollah continued shelling Israeli
positions and is avoiding the Hezbollah trap with a carefully
calibrated reaction.
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Maj.
Gen. Benny Ganz
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The head of Northern Command,
Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz said: 'We refrained from reacting as far
as possible, but Hezbollah went too far. Escalation is too big
word at this moment. In recent days, there have been a series
of incidents and if the Hezbollah shelling continues we will continue
to react.' The General went on to say: 'There is a government
in Beirut and it must enforce the U.N. Security Council Resolution
and to prevent activity by Hezbollah and the other terror organizations
in south Lebanon.'
Hezbollah contends that its attacks were in response to an IDF
artillery bombardment of south Lebanon. On September 9th, the
IDF accidentally fired one shell which landed in an empty area
of south Lebanon. The IDF immediately informed UNIFIL, the U.N.
cease-fire monitors stationed in south Lebanon.
Visitors: Tens of thousands
of Israeli visitors toured Galilee over the Independence Day weekend.
Hotels and hostels were packed and despite the cross border shelling,
they stayed to enjoy their holiday.
Shaaba Farms: The U.N. (for once) has given Israel a fair shake
supporting the Israeli position that IDF totally evacuated south
Lebanon in May 2000. The U.N. confirmed Israel's position that
the Shaaba farms area is part of Syria which is not covered by
the U.N. resolution on Lebanon.
David Essing, ISRACAST,
Jerusalem
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