The two Israeli Air Force helicopter gunships were on their way to assist IDF soldiers taking part in the fighting against Hizbullah along the Lebanese border when they collided near Ramot Naftali, south of Kiryat Shmona.
According to eyewitness accounts, the crash could be seen from Metullah. The helicopters made contact and then began plummeting down. They were located within minutes following efforts by the flight crew to make an emergency landing. Four casualties were reported.
The mortally wounded soldier was 37-year-old Major Ran Yehoshua Kochva from Hanania.
Military authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
In a February 1997 midair crash of two military choppers over Shar Yashuv, 73 servicemen perished.
ANOTHER DAY OF FIGHTING ALONG THE BORDER
Thursday brought another day of fighting in southern Lebanon near Moshav Avivim. A number of soldiers have been admitted to the hospital as a result of the renewed fighting along the border, recuperating alongside Haifa residents who were injured in Hizbullah rocket attacks into northern Israel.
Veteran members of the trauma unit staff in Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center reflected back to the days when casualties would arrive daily from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon, stating the current situation is similar.
HALUTZ & OLMERT ANNOUNCE IT WILL TAKE TIME
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-General Dan Halutz explained once again on Thursday the current military offensive in Lebanon, Operation Change of Direction, is making progress but it will take time until Hizbullah’s formidable arsenal is neutralized.
Members of elite infantry units have been taking part in ground forces operations inside southern Lebanon, near the border in the Maroun a-Ras area, partly to eliminate the nightly threat of terrorist incursions into northern Israel. Military intelligence officials continue to report success in the aerial assaults aimed at striking long-range Iranian missiles on the ground, seeking to prevent a missile attack into the heart of the Greater Tel Aviv area. Some 3,000 sorties have already been carried out by the IAF since the warfare began ten days ago.
Addressing members of the Security Cabinet on Wednesday, Halutz stated that it is not in Israel’s interests to permit this to become a war of attrition, stating a “short forceful war” would produce more favorable results.
SUPPORT REMAINS HIGH AS WARFARE CONTINUES
While there have been a number of small protests against the war in Israel, the overwhelming national attitude is one of support, along with fear and hope regarding the safety of IDF troops and the three captive soldiers being held by Hizbullah and Hamas.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains tenacious in his determination to continue the operation until the three are unconditionally released, rejecting all calls for a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to arrive next week to push her ceasefire plan, but the Prime Minister’s Office is signaling such an event will not occur, with senior officials adding such a move is premature.
Olmert earlier in the week shunned United Nations statements, calls for a ceasefire, as Lebanese government officials increase calls for assistance to the international community.
General Staff officials are in concert with the prime minister’s opinion, stating that now, the Hizbullah threat must be neutralized once and for all prior to returning to life-as-usual in Israel. No one is willing to place a time limit on the ongoing operation, but Olmert, Halutz and other senior officials admit “it will take some time,” unwilling to hint that Operation Change of Direction will end any day soon.
According to eyewitness accounts, the crash could be seen from Metullah. The helicopters made contact and then began plummeting down. They were located within minutes following efforts by the flight crew to make an emergency landing. Four casualties were reported.
The mortally wounded soldier was 37-year-old Major Ran Yehoshua Kochva from Hanania.
Military authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
In a February 1997 midair crash of two military choppers over Shar Yashuv, 73 servicemen perished.
ANOTHER DAY OF FIGHTING ALONG THE BORDER
Thursday brought another day of fighting in southern Lebanon near Moshav Avivim. A number of soldiers have been admitted to the hospital as a result of the renewed fighting along the border, recuperating alongside Haifa residents who were injured in Hizbullah rocket attacks into northern Israel.
Veteran members of the trauma unit staff in Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center reflected back to the days when casualties would arrive daily from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon, stating the current situation is similar.
HALUTZ & OLMERT ANNOUNCE IT WILL TAKE TIME
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-General Dan Halutz explained once again on Thursday the current military offensive in Lebanon, Operation Change of Direction, is making progress but it will take time until Hizbullah’s formidable arsenal is neutralized.
Members of elite infantry units have been taking part in ground forces operations inside southern Lebanon, near the border in the Maroun a-Ras area, partly to eliminate the nightly threat of terrorist incursions into northern Israel. Military intelligence officials continue to report success in the aerial assaults aimed at striking long-range Iranian missiles on the ground, seeking to prevent a missile attack into the heart of the Greater Tel Aviv area. Some 3,000 sorties have already been carried out by the IAF since the warfare began ten days ago.
Addressing members of the Security Cabinet on Wednesday, Halutz stated that it is not in Israel’s interests to permit this to become a war of attrition, stating a “short forceful war” would produce more favorable results.
SUPPORT REMAINS HIGH AS WARFARE CONTINUES
While there have been a number of small protests against the war in Israel, the overwhelming national attitude is one of support, along with fear and hope regarding the safety of IDF troops and the three captive soldiers being held by Hizbullah and Hamas.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains tenacious in his determination to continue the operation until the three are unconditionally released, rejecting all calls for a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to arrive next week to push her ceasefire plan, but the Prime Minister’s Office is signaling such an event will not occur, with senior officials adding such a move is premature.
Olmert earlier in the week shunned United Nations statements, calls for a ceasefire, as Lebanese government officials increase calls for assistance to the international community.
General Staff officials are in concert with the prime minister’s opinion, stating that now, the Hizbullah threat must be neutralized once and for all prior to returning to life-as-usual in Israel. No one is willing to place a time limit on the ongoing operation, but Olmert, Halutz and other senior officials admit “it will take some time,” unwilling to hint that Operation Change of Direction will end any day soon.