Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz said this morning that the army is aware that Hizbullah is preparing a major attack against Israel, "more significant than the usual artillery attacks" to which Israel has become accustomed. IDF soldiers in the north are on high alert, following two hours of intense shelling by Hizbullah of three IDF outposts in the eastern sector.

One soldier in the targeted outposts - Gladiola, Hadas, and Dalia - was lightly wounded. The Hizbullah barrage included mortar and anti-tank shells, and the Israel Air Force responded with helicopter attacks and artillery towards Lebanon.



IDF Northern Command O.C. Benny Ganz said that Hizbullah's system of "attacking Israel and then hiding amidst civilian populations might cause Israel to have to take very strong action." A Hizbullah leader said today that his group would continue its attacks on Israel, and it has the right to do what it can to liberate the Shab'a Farms. Israel withdrew its forces to the Israeli-Lebanese border over three years ago, in a move recognized by the UN, yet Hizbullah demands the Shab'a Farms area as well.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called on both Israel and Syria to tone down their recent belligerent declarations, which, he said, do not contribute to preventing a clash. The UN's Middle East envoy Terje Larsen condemned Hizbullah's attacks on Israel yesterday, and called on all three sides - Israel, Syria, and Lebanon - to respect the borders to which Israel has withdrawn.



Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler reports that several more shellings in Gush Katif since yesterday have brought the total number of shells and rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists in the area in the past month to 98. Israeli intelligence services have issued seven warnings of possible terror attacks in Gaza, and 35 more in Yesha.