PM Sharon: 'We Will Not Open A Northern Front After Latest Hezbollah Attacks From Lebanon.' IDF General Ganz: 'Lebanese Government Had Better Rein In Hezbollah, Or Israel Will Take Further Counter-Measures!'
Along the Lebanese frontier, Hezbollah launched a series of cross border shelling 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.
Hezbollah guerrillas 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.
- Sept.11th – Hezbollah fires Katyusha rocket at Western Galilee town of Shlomi – the rocket slams into the industrial zone causing damage but no casualties because the area was abandoned due to Independence Day.
- Sept.12th – Hezbollah fires 2 rockets from south Lebanon at IDF position in Mount Dov area (Shaba farms) of Syria. No Casualties or damage. Israeli forces return fire at Hezbollah positions in the area.
- 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.
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.
Shaba 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 Shaba farms area is part of Syria which is not covered by the U.N. resolution on Lebanon.
