FINALMENTE Israele attacca il Libano - ok così?

[lorenzo v.]

Israel has launched an assault in southern Lebanon using planes, tanks and gunboats, after the capture of two of its soldiers by Hezbollah militants.

Three Israeli soldiers were also killed in Hezbollah's cross-border raid on Wednesday morning.

Roads and Hezbollah outposts were hit and two civilians killed as Israel responded, with its first incursion in Lebanon since 2000.

Israel's PM Ehud Olmert described Lebanon's actions as an "act of war".

He said he held Beirut responsible for the fate of the two soldiers and that it would pay a "heavy price".

But Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Nubulsi told the BBC his organisation wanted to exchange the soldiers for Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli jails.

He said he was confident Israel would negotiate, although the Jewish state has made it clear in recent weeks it will not.

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BBChttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5173078.stm

i rappresentanti della sinagoga di roma ( con le dita stranamente tinte di

azzurro...) ringraziano, "ora siamo tutti più tranquilli"

[lorenzo v.]

...."UN Secretary General Kofi Annan both condemned Israel's Lebanon offensive ( antisemita!) and called for the soldiers' release.

Israeli troops entered southern Lebanon to search for the two soldiers, for the first time since Israel ended its occupation of the area six years ago.

Army Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Dan Halutz said the Israeli military would "turn back the clock in Lebanon by 20 years" if the soldiers were not returned.

Several thousand reservists will be deployed along the border, officials say.

The call-up signals a large-scale campaign, as operations continue to free the soldier seized in Gaza.

The events in Lebanon unfolded as follows:

On Wednesday morning, Hezbollah launched dozens of Katyusha rockets and mortar bombs at the Israeli town of Shlomi and at Israeli outposts in the disputed Shebaa Farms area

Later Hezbollah said its fighters had destroyed an Israeli tank attempting to cross the border. An Israeli military spokeswoman said there had been a number of casualties

Two civilians were killed when Israeli planes bombed a road bridge on a major route though southern Lebanon.

Mr Olmert called an emergency cabinet meeting for Wednesday evening to discuss further action, although he has already ruled out negotiations.

"The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part, is trying to shake regional stability," he said.

"This morning's events are not a terror attack but the action of a sovereign state which attacked Israel without any reason."

But the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says the Lebanese government must have been taken by surprise by the capture of the soldiers. It has not reacted so far to the news.

Beirut is under intense pressure to disarm Hezbollah, she says, but wants to do so by peaceful means to avoid internal conflict.

Hezbollah is a member of the government, represented by one minister.

It said it captured the two Israeli soldiers at 0904 (0704 GMT).

A statement from the group said the two had been taken to a "safe place".
It did not mention whether they were alive or dead or injured.

Hezbollah captured three Israeli soldiers in 2000. They died during the operation, but four years later, the group was able to exchange their bodies for 430 Palestinians and Lebanese held in Israeli jails. ""

stesso link di cui sopra.

[lorenzo v.]

""The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah has said two captured Israeli soldiers will only be returned through talks and a prisoner exchange.

Hussein Nasrallah said if Israel wanted to escalate the crisis his forces were ready for confrontation.

Israel launched an assault in southern Lebanon using planes, tanks and gunboats following the capture.

Three Israeli troops were killed in Hezbollah's cross-border raid and four more died in the subsequent offensive.

The second incident occurred when a tank involved in the ground operation hit a mine.
If the Israeli enemy wants escalation, we are ready for the confrontation
Hussein Nasrallah
Hezbollah leader


Roads and Hezbollah outposts were hit and two civilians killed as Israeli forces entered Lebanon, in their first incursion since 2000.

Israel's PM Ehud Olmert described Lebanon's actions as an "act of war".

He said he held Beirut responsible for the fate of the two soldiers and that it would pay a "heavy price".

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Hezbollah's actions undermined regional stability.

The news of the clashes comes as a major Israeli offensive is under way in the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldier Cpl Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Israel more than two weeks ago.

'Dreaming'

Hezbollah is seeking the return of Palestinian, Lebanese and other Arab prisoners held in Israeli jails.


What is Hezbollah?
Capture marks escalation


Mr Nasrallah said that any invasion of Lebanese territory would be met by force.""

BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5173078.stm

shalom , e scusate..