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November 21, 2005
Israel / Lebanon: Four Hezbollah Fighters Killed
Israel has been engaged in a major battle with Hezbollah fighters this evening, with Hezbollah rockets aimed at Israeli army posts and Israel retaliating with warplane swoops and shelling, states Netscape News, from Associated Press sources.
There was a two hour protracted exchange of missiles across the border during the evening this Monday, which continued sporadically into the night.
The reason is unclear, with both sides blaming each other for the outbreak, but from previous incidents, the Israeli's account seems more credible. Truck-mounted rockets were sent from the Hezbollah side first. Israel's political situtation has nothing to benefit from a current attack on a neighbour, albeit a hostile one, and the Shi'ite Hezbollah, who are armed by Iran, appear to be exploiting the political situation in Israel to create conflict.
It appears that Hezbollah, who support the presence of Syrian influences in Lebanon, and criticise the recent findings of the UN that Syria helped assassinate former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, have been supported in this attack by the Syrians.
The Israeli Defence Minister, Shaul Mofaz, has publicly blamed the Syrians and the Iranians for the attack.
The US has condemned Hezbollah's rocket attacks but urged Israel to be restrained in its reaction. The Lebanese Prime Minister, Fuad Saniora was in discussions with hezbollah leaders, and US, French and Russian ambassadors to defuse the situation.
Four Hezbollah militants were killed and several Israeli soldiers were wounded. The Israelis have not given details of their casualties though they say they have had several military personnel wounded.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 21, 2005 9:09 PM
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