Israel at war 15 July

July 15, 2006 in Ahmadinejad, Al Qaeda, Global War On Terror, Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran, Israel, Palestinians, Syria, Terrorism

Report: Israel gives Syria ultimatum

The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that “Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences.”

The report also mentioned that President George W. Bush has repeatedly put much of the blame for the recent escalation on Syria.

“It is no coincidence that the Hizbullah operation comes at a time when the international community is working to impose sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program and settle the score with Syria by establishing an international court to try those behind the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,” the Pentagon source said.

Lebanon PM demands ceasefire, appeals for aid

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called on Saturday for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israeli attacks had turned Lebanon into a disaster area in need of international aid.

“We call for an immediate ceasefire backed by the United Nations,” Siniora said in a televised message to the nation.

Arab leaders split over Hizbullah

Foreign ministers of 18 Arab countries held an emergency summit in Cairo Saturday over Israel’s expanding assault on Lebanon, but squabbles over the legitimacy of Hizbullah’s attacks on Israel — including the capture of two Israeli soldiers that sparked the four-day battle — appeared likely to keep participants from reaching a consensus, delegates said.

The Saudi foreign minister appeared to be leading a camp of ministers criticizing the guerrilla group’s actions, calling them “unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts.”

“These acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them,” Saudi al-Faisal told his counterparts.

Supporting his stance were representatives of Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, delegates said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

IDF destroys Lebanon’s coastal radars

Major-General Gadi Eizenkot, head of the General Staff Operations Branch, said in a briefing held at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv that “in the evening hours we destroyed all of Lebanon’s coastal radars. The reason for the radars’ destruction was the part they played in the attack on an Israeli missile boat on Friday, in which one soldier was killed and another three went missing.”

Iran Aided Hezbollah Ship Attack

JERUSALEM (AP) — Elite Iranian troops helped Hezbollah fire a sophisticated radar-guided missile at an Israeli warship in a surprise blow by militants who had been using only low-tech weapons, Israeli officials said Saturday.

Israel initially believed that an aerial drone armed with explosives hit the warship, but it became clear that Hezbollah had used an Iranian-made C-802 missile to strike the vessel late Friday, an Israeli intelligence official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information.

Tehran did not respond to the charge, which was not mentioned in Iranian media reports Saturday.

One Israeli sailor was killed and three were missing after the attack. The ship was returning to its home port in Israel, the army said.

About 100 fighters from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard helped import, equip and fire the missile at the Spear, a missile ship cruising off the coast of Lebanon, which is under an Israeli naval blockade, Israeli officials said.

European citizens to be evacuated from Lebanon

IDF moves back into northern Gaza

Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers approached a town in the northern Gaza Strip early Sunday, residents and Palestinian security officials said, as attack helicopters fired machine-guns to clear the area of gunmen.

The Palestinians said the Israeli forces crossed the border in the area of the town Beit Hanoun, in the northeastern corner of Gaza, opposite the Israeli town Sderot, a frequent target of Palestinian rockets.

The Israeli vehicles were positioned in Palestinian farmland outside the town, the residents said, and were approaching populated areas.

The Israeli military would not officially confirm the new incursion.

Israel to Lebanon: No to ceasefire

The Lebanese prime minister offered Saturday evening to deploy his army on Lebanon’s southern border in exchange for a ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not plan to accept his offer.

Fouad Siniora offered to deploy the forces along the international border with Israel according to UN Resolution 1559, but Israeli officials reject the offer claiming that Israel will continue its operation against the kidnappers in Lebanon until the two kidnapped soldiers are released.

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