Israel Air Force F-16 planes attacked targets in Lebanon yet again today, in retaliation for the Hizbullah attack on two bases in northern Israel earlier this weekend. Today\'s raid destroyed a Syrian radar installation in Lebanon, in the heart of the Baalbek region, while yesterday\'s attacks targeted Hizbullah bases with artillery and later with fighter planes and helicopter gunships. Israel was retaliating against a Friday night Hizbullah mortar-and-missile attack that resulted in the wounding of three soldiers. One of the wounded, Marcelo Shtechman of Ma\'aleh Ephraim, is unconscious and listed in serious condition in Rambam Hospital in Haifa.
Hizbullah responded this afternoon with a barrage of dozens of mortar shells on Har Dov, and Israeli combat helicopters responded. No Israelis were hurt. Northern Command officers do not expect Hizbullah to attack civilian communities in continuation of today\'s attacks.
Israel\'s security cabinet resolved today that despite Israel\'s fulfillment of UN Resolution 425 and its deployment along the international border, \"criminal aggression against Israel continues to take place against Israel.\" The Cabinet blames Syria for backing Hizbullah, allowing it to arm, and preventing the Lebanese Army from deploying along the international border. The list of violations of Israel\'s northern border by Syrian-backed Hizbullah since Israel\'s withdrawal from Lebanon last year includes some ten incidents, including the killing of three soldiers in three separate attacks, several mortar shellings, the kidnapping of three soldiers (plus a fourth Israeli from within Lebanon), and more.
Hizbullah responded this afternoon with a barrage of dozens of mortar shells on Har Dov, and Israeli combat helicopters responded. No Israelis were hurt. Northern Command officers do not expect Hizbullah to attack civilian communities in continuation of today\'s attacks.
Israel\'s security cabinet resolved today that despite Israel\'s fulfillment of UN Resolution 425 and its deployment along the international border, \"criminal aggression against Israel continues to take place against Israel.\" The Cabinet blames Syria for backing Hizbullah, allowing it to arm, and preventing the Lebanese Army from deploying along the international border. The list of violations of Israel\'s northern border by Syrian-backed Hizbullah since Israel\'s withdrawal from Lebanon last year includes some ten incidents, including the killing of three soldiers in three separate attacks, several mortar shellings, the kidnapping of three soldiers (plus a fourth Israeli from within Lebanon), and more.