Israeli soldiers skirmished with Hizbollah guerillas near the border on Wednesday (August 9) while planes struck south and east Lebanon. Troops and vehicles aligned along the border on Tuesday (August 8) ahead of an expected Israeli security cabinet decision whether to send troops deeper into Lebanon to fight Hizbollah guerrillas. The cabinet meeting is expected later on Wednesday in Jerusalem. Meanwhile diplomats at the United Nations argued over a resolution that might end the war. A vote on a U.N. resolution to end the war, triggered by Hizbollah's abduction of two soldiers on July 12, may not happen before Thursday because of wrangling. An Arab delegation warned that Lebanon could erupt in civil war if its terms were not met. Israel has vowed in the absence of agreement to expand an offensive in south Lebanon to curb Hizbollah's rain of rockets into the Jewish state. Lebanon demands an immediate ceasefire and a quick withdrawal of thousands of Israeli troops from its south. Four weeks of bloodshed have killed around 1,000 Lebanese and over 100 Israelis. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's inner security cabinet was due to discuss a push that would bring forces to the Litani river, 20 km (13 miles) inside Lebanon, and possibly beyond. Israel's top officers and defence minister favour the plan. So far, at least 10,000 troops have been fighting just inside the border, meeting fierce resistance from Hizbollah. Brigadier General Shuki Shahur, former head of Israeli army's...
Rating: (0 ratings) |
Views: 9 |
Added: May 8, 2008 |
| Category: |
|
|
| Copyright: GRAPHIC / REUTERS |