Seven IDF soldiers were injured yesterday when Hizbullah operatives in southern Lebanon used a variety of weapons to attack their positions. Hizbullah’s attack began late in the afternoon when group members launched dozens of anti-tank missiles and mortar shells at IDF posts on Har Dov, in northern Israel. Two soldiers were wounded on Har Dov, one moderately, and one lightly. Several minutes later Arabs opened fire at soldiers near Kibbutz Menara along the Israel-Lebanon border. The troops, who escaped injury returned fire forcing the gunmen to flee deeper into Lebanon.
A short time later, five female soldiers were injured at the IDF outpost on Moshav Avivim, when Arabs fired mortar shells at their postion. Two of the women were moderatly injured and three were lightly wounded. The five were taken to a hospital in the city of Tzfat. Residents living in Israel’s upper Galilee region spent most of the evening in safe rooms and bomb shelters in anticipation of rocket attacks on their communities.
The IDF responded to the escalation with artillary shells. In addition, IDF warplanes targeted known Hizbullah positions inside of Lebanon. Due to the sharp increase in attacks in the north since Saturday that have left over nine civilians and soldiers injured, the IDF has begun activating senior reserve officers expecting that the northern border will become a second front in the current Oslo War.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon placed the blame for the attacks on Iran. He said that Iran stands behind arming Hizbullah in southern Lebanon with “thousands of katyushas and hundreds of rockets”. Sharon stated that there is however direct Syrian and Lebanese involvement, in the attacks explaining that without their approval, they could not be launched. The Prime Minister added that while Israel has chosen at this time to exercise restraint in light of the escalation by Hizbullah and instead attempt to arrive at a solution via diplomatic channels, Israel would respond with force if and when there was no other alternative.
On Saturday night five Israeli Arabs from the village of Ghajar along the Lebanese border were wounded by Hizbullah rocket fire, including a three-year old-boy who was seriously injured. The boy was hurt when a shell directly smashed into his house. The victims were taken by helicopter to a Haifa hospital.
A short time later, five female soldiers were injured at the IDF outpost on Moshav Avivim, when Arabs fired mortar shells at their postion. Two of the women were moderatly injured and three were lightly wounded. The five were taken to a hospital in the city of Tzfat. Residents living in Israel’s upper Galilee region spent most of the evening in safe rooms and bomb shelters in anticipation of rocket attacks on their communities.
The IDF responded to the escalation with artillary shells. In addition, IDF warplanes targeted known Hizbullah positions inside of Lebanon. Due to the sharp increase in attacks in the north since Saturday that have left over nine civilians and soldiers injured, the IDF has begun activating senior reserve officers expecting that the northern border will become a second front in the current Oslo War.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon placed the blame for the attacks on Iran. He said that Iran stands behind arming Hizbullah in southern Lebanon with “thousands of katyushas and hundreds of rockets”. Sharon stated that there is however direct Syrian and Lebanese involvement, in the attacks explaining that without their approval, they could not be launched. The Prime Minister added that while Israel has chosen at this time to exercise restraint in light of the escalation by Hizbullah and instead attempt to arrive at a solution via diplomatic channels, Israel would respond with force if and when there was no other alternative.
On Saturday night five Israeli Arabs from the village of Ghajar along the Lebanese border were wounded by Hizbullah rocket fire, including a three-year old-boy who was seriously injured. The boy was hurt when a shell directly smashed into his house. The victims were taken by helicopter to a Haifa hospital.