Iraqi Shias march in support of beleaguered Lebanon
(AFP)

21 July 2006

BAGHDAD - Hundreds of Iraqi Shias marched in support of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia Friday as imams led weekly prayers with condemnations of Israel, the United States and many Arab regimes.

Putting aside concerns about Baghdad’s rapidly worsening security situation, Iraqis focused their anger on Israel’s deadly 10-day-old bombardment of their co-religionists in Lebanon and on the international community’s response.

More than 300 members of radical Shia cleric Moqtada’s Al Sadr’s armed movement marched in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City chanting support for Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militia which provoked Israel’s assault.

Carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, and waving a yellow Hezbollah flag, the Mehdi Army militiamen paraded through the Shia district in solidarity with the militia battling Israel in southern Lebanon.

“We are at your command, Moqtada, we are at your command Nasrallah,” they chanted referring to Sadr and to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, one of the targets of Israel’s campaign.

The militiamen, dressed in military fatigues and black clothes, also carried banners reading: “The Mehdi Army and Hezbollah hand in hand for the defence of Islam and Shiism”.

Sadr himself, speaking at a mosque in the holy city of Kufa, called on the Arab League, the United Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to demand an immediate halt to Israeli attacks.

Other preachers strongly condemned the international community for what they see as a low-key response to Israeli aggression, focusing their bitterness especially on Sunni Arab governments and Israel’s ally the United States.

US forces lead an international coalition deployed in Iraq and battling to restore stability after the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and have in the past clashed violently with the Mehdi Army.

In Najaf, Sheikh Sadr Al Din Al Qubanji, an imam linked to the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, on the main parties in the government, criticized the weak nature of international and Arab condemnation on Israel’s actions.

“This (weak) condemnation has given a green light to Israeli to continue its attack on Lebanon. Iraqis, even with all their suffering, stand with the Lebanese people and condemn the Israeli attack,” he added.

20:19 Halutz accuses Hezbollah of using mosques to conceal Katyusha launchers (Ch. 10)

20:17 Halutz: Close to 100 Hezbollah gunmen killed thus far (Channel 10)

20:35 Halutz says Lebanon ground operation to be limited in scope (Channel 1)

20:33 Halutz: Information points to all three abducted soldiers being alive (Haaretz)

20:31 Halutz: Israeli government, not int`l community, setting timetable for actions (Haaretz)

20:30 Roadblocks set up near TA beachfront due to possible terrorist infiltration (Haaretz)

20:30 Halutz: Senior members of Hezbollah hit in air force strikes (Haaretz)

20:26 Security forces suspect suicide bomber has infiltrated Tel Aviv region (Haaretz)

20:25 Syria continues to allow flow of weapons to Hezbollah (Channel 1)

20:25 Halutz: Don`t want to give dates, will try to keep operation short (Haaretz)
__________________

21 - Portuguese escapee says that Israel bombing civilian targets in Lebanon

UN urges Lebanon truce, pleads for humanitarian access to trapped civilians

Naharnet
__________________

21:51 Police lower alert level in Tel Aviv after arrest of three suspects (Haaretz)

21:51 Envoy to U.S. Ayalon: About 40 percent of Hezbollah military capability destroyed (AP)
__________________

22.30: Three consecutive Israeli raids on "Baldat al Khiyam" in the South. 22.29: Israel assures and Lebanese sources deny Israeli forces positioning in some southern villages. Tayyar ..Org . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

22.38: Israeli raids on the nuns quarter in the An-Nabatiyat city. Tayyar ..Org .

Israeli army finds the body of one of its soldiers who was missing in south Lebanon
LBCI

More Rockets Strike Israeli City of Haifa

Friday July 21, 2006 8:46 PM

AP Photo JRL160

By GABE ROSS

Associated Press Writer

HAIFA, Israel (AP) - Normally, Haifa's streets would have been crowded Friday with people shopping for the Sabbath. But when another barrage of Hezbollah missiles struck this port city in the afternoon, most streets were empty, and as a result only six people were wounded.

In Israel's third-largest city, where eight people were killed in a rocket attack last Sunday, many residents now avoid being far from a bomb shelter, knowing that air raid sirens are a daily occurrence.

On Friday, a missile hit the roof of a two-story post office at 1:10 p.m. and landed on its staircase out front. The attack in central Haifa blew out windows in offices and shops up to 100 yards away.

Rescue workers raced to the scene and took the wounded away in ambulances, including a middle-aged woman who was bleeding from both legs.

At the Russian-language bookstore next to the post office, the windows were blown out and blood stained the floor.

Six people were wounded, one seriously, and 22 others were treated for shock, police said.

Mutlak Michlof, who owns a hair salon near the post office, said: ``I sat by the window and suddenly there was a siren. So my customers went farther inside and I stood there. Then there was a boom and everything fell on me. This is a huge mess.''

Another rocket exploded in a northern suburb of Haifa just after 2:45 p.m., hitting a compound of temporary housing for 450 Ethiopian immigrants, 230 of them children.

The missile struck the ground near the main building used by the government agency that manages the compound, and caused no casualties despite spraying shrapnel and dirt over a nearby soccer court.

Shlomo Mola, 40, who works for the agency, said that when the air raid sirens sounded, he moved a group of children toward the center of the building.

``We knew it was close. People were screaming and crying. Suddenly everything was smoky and hazy,'' he said.

In all, air raid sirens sounded five times in Haifa on Friday, and seven rockets hit the city, five of them landing in open areas and causing no casualties, police said.

more

Why bother at all?

Shiite cleric: Israel will collapse like New York's twin towers

Radical Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday predicted Israel would collapse like New York's twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, if Sunnis and Shiites join in their fight.

"I will continue defending my Shiite and Sunni brothers, and I tell them that if we unite, we will defeat Israel without the use of weapons," Sadr said during a speech in the southern city Iraqi city of Kufa. (AP) .

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279488,00.html

22.38 - israeli raid on HAY AL RAHBAT in AL NABATIYE

22.44 - italian foreign affairs minister: we did not invite syria,iran and israel to attend the convention about lebanon

23.12 - chirac invites solana to work on achieving an immediate cease fire

23.17 - israeli jets are flying around over the area from AADLOUN to AL ZAHRANI

23.43 - israeli flights over AAKAR,AL BEKAA and raids over SOUR and AL KHIAM areas

www.tayyar.org

BEIRUT, July 21 (Reuters) - At first, Bushra Khayyat tried to ignore the incessant ringing of the phone at her house in Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon. It was 4 a.m., but she finally got out of bed.

"I said hello and got a recorded message from Israel," she told Reuters.

In clear Arabic, the strong voice on the phone said: "Oh Lebanese people, we tell you not to follow Hizbollah. We will continue to strike and no one will bring your prisoners back from Israel except the Lebanese government."

Other residents of the south have received similar calls.

"My grandmother got two calls at 5 and 6 in the morning saying the Israeli state would not stop the attacks and asking everyone to leave the area south of the Litani," said one woman who is stranded in Sidon. "She slammed the phone down."

Israel has dropped flyers on Lebanon during its 10-day-old conflict with Hizbollah guerrillas, warning people to stay away from the group's strongholds, warning them to evacuate their villages in the south or caricaturing the chief of Hizbollah.

But there was something eerie about the phone calls.

"It was a shock to get a call from Israel," said Khayyat, who has since fled the bombardment to Syria and then France.

"I have caller ID on my landline and when I checked it came up as 'out of area'. It's not that I was scared, I just wished I could talk back to the voice but it was a recorded message."

Khayyat got a similar call two nights later, this time answered by her maid, who, panicking when she heard a voice announce "this is Israel", immediately put down the phone.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21887307.htm

Lebanon victims buried in mass grave By NASSER NASSER and HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writers
46 minutes ago

Soldiers laid 72 coffins in two trenches, a mass grave for victims of the Israeli bombardment. Elsewhere, mounds of rubble sat undisturbed; rescue workers were too fearful of missiles to search for bodies.

Lebanese have streamed out of south Lebanon since fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah last week, leaving some villages almost deserted. But many people are believed trapped in their homes — too poor to live anywhere else, too afraid to travel or unable to go because bridges and roads have been destroyed.

An estimated 400,000 Lebanese make their home south of the Litani River, 20 miles from the Israeli border, and it's not known how many remain — but those that do risk being caught up in an Israeli ground offensive against Hezbollah.

"It is not looking good and it's going to last for some time," Ali Sayegh, a 39-year-old furniture salesman from Tyre, said of the Israeli offensive.

"There are not many people left in Tyre, very few walk the streets and there is a shortage of fresh produce," said Sayegh, who moved to a seaside hotel after sending his wife and two daughters abroad last week.

Israel has been broadcasting radio messages into southern Lebanon and dropping leaflets, urging all residents south of the Litani to flee. Sometimes the warnings name specific villages and say residents should clear out.

More....

link

'Hizbullah is doing more for our cause than any Arab government has ever done'

Jonathan Steele in Beirut
Friday July 21, 2006
The Guardian

His face smiles from posters all over Sabra and Shatila camp, the once world-famous home of 12,000 Palestinian refugees in Beirut, and finding anyone willing to criticise Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Shia militia, is a hopeless venture.
The man who launched the attack into Israel last week that captured two soldiers is widely regarded as a hero, however grim the destruction that Israel's retaliation has caused.

"Hizbullah is doing more for the Palestinian cause than any Arab government has ever done. When he says he will resist Israel, he does," said Muhammad Hassan, who runs a small barber's shop. "We didn't know he had such technology - and especially the ability to hit an Israeli warship. It was a nice surprise."

His enthusiasm for Hizbullah's leader is not blind or unquestioning. A customer nodded in support as Mr Hassan conceded: "It's diverting attention from Gaza to Lebanon, and everyone's focusing on Lebanon now." After a pause, he added: "I'm not sure whether Hizbullah should have waited but it has lessened Israel's pressure on Gaza. He may have wanted to give Gaza a breathing space." The customer chipped in: "Now there are two fronts."

Sabra and Shatila became headline news in 1982, when Israeli forces during an earlier invasion of Lebanon surrounded the camp and allowed Christian militias in to slaughter unarmed Palestinians. At least 700 people, perhaps as many as 3,500, were massacred, an atrocity for which an Israeli inquiry concluded that Ariel Sharon, then Israel's defence minister, bore "personal responsibility".

About 400,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon, almost a 10th of the country's population. Although Israel's current onslaught has not specifically targeted any of the 12 camps registered by the UN relief agency, Palestinians have suffered as much as Lebanese.

Most of the camps are in the south, three close to the stricken port of Tyre, two near Sidon and four in Beirut's southern suburbs, near the Shia areas Israel has pounded with a huge tonnage of bombs in the past week.

In the narrow alleys of Shatila, most people are too poor to have anywhere to flee to. More than 700 go into the dusty basement of an unfinished school building every evening to shelter from the bombing. A few lightbulbs, strung from waterpipes, send dim rays through the gloom, illuminating mattresses and thin carpets on the concrete floor.

Nohad, a volunteer for Najdeh, a women's rights NGO which works in the Palestinian camps, says there was much criticism of Hizbullah before the current crisis. "But whatever people think of Hizbullah ideologically, it is weakening the enemy. It's showing the enemy is not as strong as it claims to be. Hizbullah is the only group which is doing something for Palestinians."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1825551,00.html

But I have no interest in diplomacy for the sake of returning Lebanon and Israel to the status quo ante. I think it would be a mistake.
.
What we're seeing here, in a sense, is the growing -- the birth pangs of a new Middle East.

Transcript
Secretary Rice Holds a News Conference
CQ Transcripts Wire
Friday, July 21, 2006; 2:29 PM

WaPo

22.7.06
Dear All

The group of civil society organizations "Lil Hayat" (For Life) is inviting all Lebanese to gather in front of the Martyr’s Square on Saturday 22 July 2006 at 11:00 a.m. for 10 minutes of silence to mourn the Martyrs that fell due to Israeli aggressions.
All persons willing to participate in this demonstration are urged to wear BLACK and to meet us at the Martyr’s Square. Please note that pamphlets carrying the name and age of the children that were massacred will be held during this silent demonstration.

Be many so we can be one.

Center of Research and Training for Development Action (CRTDA)
Lebanese Association for Democratic Election (LADE)
Permanent Peace Movement
Nahwa al-Muwatinya
Amam05
Haya Bina
Helem
Spring Hints
Lebanese Center for Civic Education
Lebanese Association for Active Learning
Youth Association for Blinds
Organization of Arab Parliamentarians Against Corruption
Lebanese Transparency Association
Arab NGOs Network for Development
Lebanese Forum for Development
Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
Mouvement Sociale
Coordination Forum for the Palestinian Organization
Byblos Ecologia
Mirsad
Frontiers
Green Line Association
Kafa
Maharat
Sawa Group
Development for People and Nature Association
Khiam Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims
Lebanese Union for the Disabled
National Association for Vocational Training and Social Services
Cultural Center for Southern Lebanon
Let’s Build Trust
Humanitarian Group for Social Development
MADA
Samir Kassir Foundation
GIL
Lebanese Association for Professional Divers
Norwegian People’s Aid
Fisherman’s COOP
Environment Ray Organization
Lebanese NGOs Network
Green Square

posted by Delirious @ 1:25 AM
http://lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/

Some visuals to assist...

WARNING Very Graphic.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/7148...40474FEB71FB79

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/7148...23A347A4D76E3A

Fine piece here:

http://lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com/2006/07/lebanon-sold-out.html

IMPORTANT LINK: LEBANON WAR - LINKS

http://lebwarlinks.bravehost.com/

The savage war on Lebanon is being waged not only militarily but also through a propaganda war that exploits the bias of much of the Western media.

A new website was created in an attempt to collect the courageous efforts of all those who are fighting back to defend Lebanon and stop the atrocities against its civilians.

The website contains images, video, posters, political demonstration information, links to other websites...

Contact information: If you have any new links that are suitable for publishing here, or if you have any suggestions, please email us at lebwarlinks@yahoo.com

Another website with video, news and pictures
http://www.lebwar.org/

Yaakov Katz | July 21

The Jerusalem Post - The IDF was gearing up for a large-scale ground incursion into Lebanon on Friday. Thousands of reservists were being mobilized to the North throughout Friday to beef up forces stationed in the area in preparation for a possible operation.

In total, three to four ground divisions will be operating along the Lebanese front.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Friday that the defense establishment was evaluating the size of the force needed to conduct a large-scale operation in Lebanon.

"We have no intention of being dragged into something that Hizbullah wants to drag us into," Peretz said. "Nevertheless, we will operate in every place that we find it necessary."

On Friday afternoon, the IAF dropped leaflets over southern Lebanon all the way up to the Litani River calling on residents to move northward to avoid being caught in clashes between IDF forces and Hizbullah cells. The move could signify a step in preparation for the ground incursion.

[emphasis added]

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Yaakov Katz | July 21

The Jerusalem Post - Last month, the Northern Command conducted a massive exercise to practice war with Hizbullah. At the time, senior officers claimed that the IDF's working assumption was that the border could flare up at any moment, although it's doubtful anyone believed then that the situation would evolve into an all-out war.

The exercise was considered a groundbreaking success in that it simulated a new concept in the art of warfare under consideration by the General Staff. Dubbed "Integration of Branches," the concept essentially takes the chief of staff out of the operational picture and sets the regional commander, in this case OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam, in charge of what the IDF is now calling the "operation zone."

In the past, the regional commander was only in charge of his own ground forces plus a restricted section of the battle zone. Air and navy forces were under the command of the chief of staff, as were decisions about incursions into enemy territory.

[emphasis added]

[Comment: This would seem possibly to be an indicator that this was a planned pre-emptive that got bumped up. ~ JPD]

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

The US and Israel blame Syria and Iran for supplying missles.
How about blaming the US for supplying tanks, missles, bombs and other warfare equipment that is attacking Lebanon!
This equipment was only for defence.
They are using it for offence!
Hezbollah was only organized for defence of Lebanon.
Bush, give me a break!
Let the Palestinians have a home without Israeli occupation!

_{repressive governments mix administrative clumsiness & inefficiency with authoritarian tendencies.}

Lexicon of Lebanon War II

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741144.html

Ehud Asheri

Alertness: One level below "preparedness." The term that the Israel Defense Forces Spokesman's Office has found to characterize the level of civilian deployment required "from Tel Aviv northward," without throwing the population of that city into panic. Clearly this has not helped. At least in my immediate environment, the "alertness" has killed the "fortitude."

Beyond: "Beyond Haifa" - An up-to-date name for Tel Aviv.

Crushing: The Israeli response to the rocket threat. A common expression in the culinary world that has been borrowed to describe in a polite way massive, unfocused army bombardments that are not based on intelligence information (synonym: "statistical bombing"). The Israel Air Force attacks are "crushing" the ground in the hope that someone or something important will be hit - and if not, so what? In any case, the entire area is a "terror infrastructure." Other possibilities: "grinding," "pulverizing," "finely mincing," "barbecuing."

Embrace: Until recently it was customary to "extend a hand, to "identify" and to "support." During the past two weeks everyone has begun to "embrace." Ehud Olmert, a serial embracer, gave the signal for this. After the abduction at Kerem Shalom, he announced that "the people of Israel embrace the Shalit family." In his speech this week in the Knesset he declared: "I would like to give a big embrace to the families of the abductees and the boys themselves." He is not the only one. Actor Zvika Adar went up north "to embrace" residents, Supersol "is embracing the inhabitants of the line of hostilities" (and inviting them to its branches), the daily Maariv and Bank Discount are "embracing residents of the north" (and distributing newspapers to them), Pelephone is sending them a digital "embrace" (represented by two parentheses), and even Bank Igud is "embracing the people of the north" (and referring them to its branches). In contrast to formal expressions like "identifying" and "reinforcing," embracing is an image from the intimate realm that has spilled over, to its detriment, into the public, political and commercial realm. Along the way it has undergone a process of cheapening, so much so that it is already difficult to embrace your beloved without thinking about Olmert, Pelephone and Supersol. If the war goes on, they are liable also to "be there for us."

Fortitude: As used in "home-front fortitude," this is a delicate way of saying "keep getting pounded quietly." A term coined by the chief of staff at the start of the IDF's actions as a counterweight to Nasrallah's "spider webs." Synonyms: "strength," "staunchness," "determination," "backing." Behind all of them hides an interest in getting an unconditional mandate from the public to continue the "crushing" (see above), even at the price of civilian losses. Therefore, extolling "home-front fortitude" began way before the home front even began to understand what was befalling it. Two things are annoying about the most worn cliche on the ground: It delegitimizes any manifestation of civilian distress, and it places the responsibility for "victory" on the population instead of on the country's statesmen and the generals.

Gang: The name given by IAF commander Eliezer Shkedi to Hezbollah. Accordingly, Nasrallah is "the gang leader." If it is impossible to crush him with airplanes, it is always possible to crush him with words. Shkedi knows very well that Hezbollah is far from being a "gang." The use of this disparaging word only reveals the frustration of the major general, who has suddenly become a rank-and-file propagandist. But in this field, he doesn't stand a chance against Nasrallah.

He: "He" armed himself, "he" hid the rockets, "he" abducted soldiers, "he" is lobbing Katyushas, "he" is shooting at civilians. Thus one achieves a rhetorical combination of demonization and glorification. Hezbollah is Nasrallah. "He" does everything by himself. How does he manage to do everything?

Running away: In the Gulf War they called this "defecting" in order to condemn anyone who dares leave his home for fear of a missile attack. This time the term being used is "running away," but the tone of condemnation remains palpable ("It isn't seemly to run away," said author A.B. Yehoshua, who decided to remain in his home in Haifa). It is more important to preserve "home-front fortitude" than his children's lives.

Sharon's heritage: It used to be "a settlement on every hilltop." Then it was replaced by "disengagement from every hilltop." Today it denotes "defeatism" in face of the armed terror entity that dug in on our northern border.

Special situation: Up until these week we knew "emergency situations" on the home front. This week the "special situation" has entered our lives. This is an official term that grants the security forces civil-emergency authority, but on this occasion it is supposed to serve as an antidote to panic, like "alertness" (see above). In fact, this is really a "dangerous situation," but the lawmaker was not eager to scare civilians.

Strategic surprise: A sophisticated upgrading of "home-front fortitude." The "strategic surprise" is not the Hezbollah's missile and rocket capabilities: It is the Israeli public's fortitude. All at once the civilians are transformed from a strategic target to a strategic asset. If one is already being pounded by a rocket, it is better to get pounded as an asset and not as a burden. As if there were any choice.

Strengthened: This is used as in the case of "we have come out strengthened." An especially self-righteous variant of "home-front fortitude." The mother of all the cliches that have basked in glory this week, thanks to IDF Spokeswoman Miri Regev, the most "strengthened" woman in Israel.

War: The military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah does not yet have an agreed-upon name, but the media have determined that what we are having is a "war." As in "the Six-Day War" and "the Yom Kippur War." How has the fighting earned this binding definition? After all, it does not answer most of the criteria of a "war" per se (especially when the enemy is nothing but a "gang.") Apparently the term serves as a slogan for universal enlistment: "Israel at War" is how Channel 2 headlines its broadcasts. As civilians have become targets, it is necessary to enlist them in the fighting and this can be done only if they are convinced Israel has embarked on "a war for our home" (and preferably "a war of no choice"). No one is going to sit in a shelter for weeks on end for a mere "campaign".

_{"at some point I'm hopeful I'll figure out something to put here"}

Facts not reported in the US media.

The legitimate basis for the IDF's operation was stripped away the moment it began. It's no accident that nobody mentions the day before the attack on the Kerem Shalom fort, when the IDF kidnapped two civilians, a doctor and his brother, from their home in Gaza. The difference between us and them? We kidnapped civilians and they captured a soldier, we are a state and they are a terror organization. How ridiculously pathetic Amos Gilad sounds when he says that the capture of Shalit was "illegitimate and illegal," unlike when the IDF grabs civilians from their homes. How can a senior official in the defense ministry claim that "the head of the snake" is in Damascus, when the IDF uses the exact same methods? ...
Truthout

It all started on July 12 when Israel troops were ambushed on Lebanon's side of the border with Israel. Hezbollah, which commands the Lebanese south, immediately seized on their crossing. They arrested two Israeli soldiers, killed eight Israelis and wounded over 20 in attacks inside Israeli territory.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG15Ak02.html

NOAM CHOMSKY:
Gaza, itself, the latest phase, began on June 24. It was when Israel abducted two Gaza civilians, a doctor and his brother. We don't know their names. You don't know the names of victims. They were taken to Israel, presumably, and nobody knows their fate. The next day, something happened, which we do know about, a lot. Militants in Gaza, probably Islamic Jihad, abducted an Israeli soldier across the border. That's Corporal Gilad Shalit. And that's well known; first abduction is not. Then followed the escalation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, which I don't have to repeat. It's reported on adequately.
Zmag

AFP reports...
Selon la police libanaise, les deux soldats ont été capturés en territoire libanais, dans la région de Aïta al-Chaab près de la frontière, alors que la télévision israélienne a indiqué qu'ils avaient été capturés en territoire israélien.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION: According to the Lebanese police force, the two soldiers were captured in Lebanese territory, in the area of Aïta Al-Chaab close to the border, whereas Israeli television indicated that they had been captured in Israeli territory.
Yahoo

HERE 's THE MAP:
http://thumbsnap.com/v/sEKsW7oj.jpg

Also:

Few readers of a British newspaper would have noticed the story. In the Observer of 25 June, it merited a mere paragraph hidden in the “World in brief” section, revealing that the previous day a team of Israeli commandos had entered the Gaza Strip to “detain” two Palestinians Israel claims are members of Hamas.

The significance of the mission was alluded to in a final phrase describing this as “the first arrest raid in the territory since Israel pulled out of the area a year ago”. More precisely, it was the first time the Israeli army had re-entered the Gaza Strip, directly violating Palestinian control of the territory, since it supposedly left in August last year.

As the Observer landed on doorsteps around the UK, however, another daring mission was being launched in Gaza that would attract far more attention from the British media – and prompt far more concern.
Global Research

Hizbullah MP Nawwar el Sahili to Larry King:
"yes we kidnapped 2 israelis, but no one bothers to ask why does israel hold many lebanese and occupy part of our land.
The kidnapping of the 2 israelis was a REACTION and not a provocation"

Larry King asked him whether the 2 are ok, he said: OF COURSE, we treat them like brothers, we are not terrorists like you call us, we are a resistance.
__________________

July 22, 2006
Weapons
U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis
By DAVID S. CLOUD and HELENE COOPER
WASHINGTON, July 21 — The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, American officials said Friday.

The decision to quickly ship the weapons to Israel was made with relatively little debate within the Bush administration, the officials said. Its disclosure threatens to anger Arab governments and others because of the appearance that the United States is actively aiding the Israeli bombing campaign in a way that could be compared to Iran’s efforts to arm and resupply Hezbollah....

More:
NYT

What efforts by Iran? Has anyone seen any evidence of such?

Israeli raids arround elhallousieh, tayrdiba, el abbasieh, el chaaytieh, el klayleh, el zrerieh

Tayyar.org at 7.05am Lebanon time

Waleed Khalil Rasromani | July 22 | Cairo

The Daily Star (Egypt) - In an attempt to diffuse the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana made a blitz visit to the region this week, where he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, President Hosni Mubarak and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.

“The time to be more active [diplomatically] is probably now,” says Solana, adding that he nevertheless does not expect any substantial developments on the diplomatic front for several days.

Speaking in Cairo after a brief meeting with President Hosni Mubarak, Solana called on parties in the conflict to use their influence to restore calm.

"Something may come out next week when there will be a consensus in the Security Council and then a resolution," he said.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Beirut | July 22

The Daily Star (Egypt) - The French foreign minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, arrived in Lebanon on Friday to seek to mediate in the Israel-Lebanon crisis, his office said.

Douste-Blazy warned Friday that the escalating conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to a "catastrophe."

"The situation has significantly deteriorated and there is an urgent need to help civilians," he said at a joint press conference after meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Sallukh.

"The spiral of violence can only lead to a catastrophe," he said.

The ministry said Douste-Blazy, who announced his departure earlier Thursday, would visit Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

"France is gravely concerned by the continuing violence between Israel and Lebanon," he told journalists following a meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, dominated by the conflict.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Aziz El-Kaissouni | Cairo | July 22

Reuters - The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is riding a wave of popularity in the Arab world because of its confrontation with Israel, despite some misgivings about the group's cross-border raid on July 12.

Interviews with Arabs chosen at random from Morocco to the Gulf showed strong sympathy for Lebanon, where more than 300 people, mostly civilians, have died in Israeli attacks, as well as criticism of Middle East governments for their passivity.

Arab governments, seen as unable or unwilling to stop the Israeli bombing of Lebanon for the past 10 days, have lost what limited prestige they retained after years of tolerating U.S. and Israeli action in the region.

Hezbollah has fired barrages of rockets from south Lebanon into northern Israel, killing at least 15 civilians.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Jim Krane | Dubai| July 21

AP - Thousands of Israeli bombs have fallen on Lebanon's homes, roads, bridges, ports, broadcasting towers and even a lighthouse.

Nearly 300 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in Lebanon, the prime minister said Wednesday.

Analysts say Israel's targeting of civilian and government infrastructure overshadows its strikes on the offices and rocket launchers of the Hizbollah fighters whose capture of two Israeli soldiers triggered the attacks.

“This is a classic strategic bombing campaign,” said Stephen Biddle, a former head of military studies at the US Army War College, now at the Council on Foreign Relations. “What the Israelis are trying to do is pressure others into solving their problem for them. Hence the targeting of civilian infrastructure.” Israeli Cabinet ministers have said the bombing aims to punish Lebanon and make the government understand the entire country will suffer if Hizbollah isn't reined in.

But Israeli military spokesman Capt. Jacob Dallal said Wednesday that Israel's bombing targets have direct military significance, since Hizbollah uses roads to transport its rockets and stores them in houses.

“A lot of the rockets are stored in people's homes in urban areas, fired from within villages and brought in from the Damascus-Beirut highway,” Dallal said. “We are in day eight and the present condition of Hizbollah is unlike it was on day one. There's no comparison, their infrastructure, their weaponry have all been degraded considerably.” Classic strategic bombardment campaigns aim to flatten key economic resources and are usually designed to bend the targeted government to the will of its attacker or turn the populace against the government.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

08:29 IAF hits 70 targets in Lebanon overnight and in morning (Israel Radio)

08:27 Four Qassam rockets fired at western Negev; IDF returning artillery fire (Israel Radio)

07:49 IDF Spokesman: Troops operating several kilometers into southern Lebanon (Reuters)

07:24 Report: U.S. rushing shipment of precision-guided bombs to Israel (N.Y. Times)

06:28 Halutz: IDF won`t trade Hezbollah militants` bodies for abducted soldiers (AP)

06:22 IDF says has bodies of Hezbollah militants killed in fighting near border (AP)

05:33 IDF tanks, troops mass on border ahead of entry into south Lebanon (AP)

05:04 Canada: ceasefire without Hezbollah pledge to stop violence is pointless (Israel Radio)

04:57 UN Security Council focuses on dire humanitarian crisis in Lebanon (Reuters)

04:01 Pentagon: 4,400 American citizens fled from Lebanon on Friday (Reuters)

08:52 10,000 protest in Sydney, Australia against IDF operations in Lebanon (AP)
__________________

10:04 - Shops, schools shut in Indian Kashmir in protest against Israeli
09:49 - Israel masses troops on Lebanon border amid invasion fears
09:10 - Israel confirms holding positions in southern Lebanon
09:08 - Israel says 150 targets in Lebanon hit during past 24 hours
09:01 - Israel confirms holding positions in southern Lebanon

Naharnet

10.37:Hizbullah rockets fall upon Keryat Shmouna and Karmi'il.

10.30 israeli airplane flying over lebanese army camp in batiyeh
10.29 israeli bomb over majdel solm, hadat and talousa
10.28 hizbollah deny israel control over parts of south
10.24 israeli bomb over khariba, halta, rachaya, 3arkoub,kferhama,habareya
10.23 soura being bombed by israel
10.23: Protest in switzerland for lebanon
10.00 many cars in qasimyeh been hold after bomb of abarat
9.53 minister of society asks its workers to do their work
9.52 5000 armeicans out of lebanon evacuated
9.46 protest in sao paolo against israel violence over libanon

11.13: new missiles fall on nahariyya
11.12: hizbullah missiles fall on haifa
11.03: missiles fall on beit hilal and avivim
11.02: many israelis injured in kiryat shmona
11.00: israeli airstrikes on iqlim el touffa7 (jarjou3 and ain bouswar)

12:16 Naval artillery strikes rocket launch sites in southern Lebanon (Haaretz)
12:12 Fires break out in Galilee region after Katyusha strikes (Haaretz)
11:39 Katyushas hit Golan Heights, Safed area (Haaretz)

12.11 - 2 israelis were injured in KARMAIL
12.14 - international emergency forces: the israeli army pulled out of MARWAHIN after being positioned it in
12.17 - heavy raids on AL KHIAM
12.21 - the cheikh abou assad nassr has died and 3 people were injured in the israeli artilery raid
12.29 - saloukh after his meeting with howlz : our concern is the cease fire and finding a solution for the middle east crisis
12.33 - howlz: we are putting pressure on everyone.and we hope that we can play a role together with the government and the other partners
12.35 - howlz: there isnt one plan about the intervention force and the settling down
12.47 - israeli jets are flying over baabda
12.59 - kofi anan for the CNN: syria and iran are friends and they are affecting HA and supporting it and they should also be part of the solution and cooperate with the international community. we have to involve them if we want a permanent solution for the crisis

Israel Destroys Lebanon TV, Cellular Towers; Troops on Border

July 22 (Bloomberg) -- Israeli warplanes destroyed television and cellular telephone transmission towers around Beirut today as reservists joined thousands of ground troops along Israel's northern border preparing to invade Lebanon.

Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets across southern Lebanon, telling villagers to move north of the Litani River while ground troops staged ``pinpoint'' cross-border attacks on Hezbollah fighters and hidden arms caches. In Beirut, the ruins of about 35 buildings were smoking after Israeli air raids overnight on a neighborhood housing Hezbollah's headquarters.

``We just want to push Hezbollah northward,'' Avi Pazner, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said in a telephone interview from Haifa. ``We left Lebanon six years ago and we have no intention of conquering any part of it.''

Israeli troops at mid-afternoon knocked down a border fence and occupied a United Nations post on the Lebanese side, the Associated Press reported.

At least 70 Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel since midnight, including Haifa, the country's third-biggest city, with no serious injuries reported. Both sides have vowed to continue the fighting that has left more than 350 Lebanese and 34 Israelis dead since July 12 when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers.

Israeli warplanes hit more than 150 targets across Lebanon during the previous 24 hours, the army said today in a mid- morning statement. Among them were 11 launchers used to fire rockets into Israel and a dozen roads connecting Lebanon and Syria, it said. The air strikes hit transmission towers for LBCI satellite television in the Kesrwan mountains northeast of Beirut and mobile telephone networks in northern Lebanon.

more

12:46 Eight Katyushas land in Ma`alot area in Upper Galilee (Haaretz)
12:44 Two lightly injured by Katyusha rockets in northern Galilee panhandle (Haaretz)

Fat2a and terboul mobile Transmission antennas were hit
source LBC Europe

LBCI transmission stopped

Source:ANB news
Cellular and TV Transmission station in Adma hit by Israeli airstrike
(happened at precisely 1:04pm)

13.09 - antennas in TERBOL (zahle) have been targeted and the cell phone reception has been cut off in many areas
13.11 - mobile antennas have been hit in FATKA - KESRWAN

13.21 - raids on AL BADAWI camp and on petrol facilities in tripoli

LBC:
raids on antennas on SANNINE HEIGHTS

13.11 - TV transmission antennas and mobile antennas have been targeted in SANNINE and AL MZAR - AAYOUN AL SIMAN

13.28 - the bombardment that targeted the antennas in TERBOL (north) came from israeli warships
13.29 - raids on FATKA heights,TERBOL and MOUNT SANNINE targeted TV transmission antennas and mobile antennas

FOR THOSE TRYING TO CALL THEIR LOVED ONES IN LEBANON, AS A RESULT OF ISRAELI RAIDS ON CELL PHONE TOWERS IN NORTHERN LEBANON, MANY SUBSCRIBERS LOST HAVE ANY NETWORK SIGNAL.

Some areas in the North also lost TV signals due to the raid, mainly LBC, TL, Manar, and Future TV

UPDATE: some ALPHA lines are working in Beirut. Reports of ALPHA network problems in Keserwen and Jbeil (Please update)
13:52 Three Katyushas land in Safed area (Haaretz)
13:47 Lebanese sources: IAF raids hit mobile telephone, TV masts north of Beirut (Reuters)

MTC TOUCH in jbeil Keserwan isn't working while ALPHA in those regions is still working!
13.39 - fires and injuries after the israeli raids on the TV/RADIO transmission stations in FATKA heights
13.41 - al manar,lbc and ftv transmission antennas have been hit in TRIPOLI
13.44 - HA rockets fall on SAFAD
13.49 - 2 women died and numerous injuries were counted in the israeli raid on KAFRA
13.56 - the mobile reception was cut off in areas from beyrut to northern lebanon after the israeli raids on the antennas
13.59 - charbel akiki has suffered minor injuries after the raid on SANNINE and the employees in the station have left the place

14.06 - new raid on AL KHIAM village

14:17 Two Katyushas hit village of Rosh Pina in Upper Galilee (Haaretz)
13:55 Three Katyusha rockets hit Golan Heights; no injuries or damage reported (Haaretz)
__________________

14.18 - HA rockets fall on KERYAT CHMOUNA,KARMAIL and the coastal area from NAHARIYA
Source:www.tayyar.org

14.37 - catyoucha rockets fell on UPPER AL JALIL

15:13 IAF jets hit mobile telephone, television masts in Lebanon (Reuters)

14:28 German foreign minister leaves for Mideast tour including Israel, Egypt, PA (Haaretz)
__________________

15.07 - demonstration for the civil society assemblies gathering in martyrs square against the war on lebanon and the killing of the children

15.13 - al arabiya reporter: new round of rockets fall on HAYFA

15:47 IDF tanks, bulldozers knock down border fence, enter southern Lebanon (AP)

15:45 British Foreign Sec.: An Israeli miscalculation could have severe consequences (AP)

15:43 6 Katyusha rockets land in open areas in Haifa; no injuries reported (Haaretz)

HA launches 10s of rockets on Haifa

New TV

15.55: Katyusha rockets fall on Haifa

AlKhyam bombed with 1000kg bombs!

AlArabiya TV

15:58: Violent clashes in Cape Maron
15.57: Picket in front of the Lebanese embassy Omani Muscat

16.01: Israeli tanks crossing the border in the eastern sector

16.04: Hasbaya - Marjayoun road cut off by bombing

Suleiman Shidiac killed in the bombing of the LBCI antenna in fat2a...
he was the manager of the broadcasting station... (from LBCI)

God rest his soul...

(PS: one injured as well)

- al horra reporter: the israeli government plans to hit 1500 HA locations
- israeli forces have snuck into MAROU AL RASS (strategic point)

- al diyar: nabih berri is taking his precautions from fear of being attacked after backing HA up

- al jazeera: a major country embassy has asked many of the politicians to adopt one approach for "the call to a permanent and inclusive solution for the crisis"

15.57 - demonstration in amman in front of the lebanese embassy in maskat
15.58 - violent conflicts in MAROUN AL RASS
16.01 - israeli tanks are crossing the border in the eastern sector in MAROUN AL RASS
16.04 - the HASBAYA - MARJEYOUN road is cut off after the bombardments

- NBN: israeli ships are bombing the western sector
- NEW TV: there is some distrust in between the money donors and the government and most of the donors are refusing to donate money to the government
16.25 - a new martyr within the media ranks: charles chidiac,head of the TV/RADIO transmission station in FATKA
16.27 - 10 israeli armored vehicles cross the border into lebanon through AFIKIM after destroying the fence

Neocons wanted to attack Iran. US generals didn't fancy it. (This
has been extensively written about in the New Yorker by Sy Hersh.)

Neocons then think, what's the next best thing? Take out Hizbullah,
and better yet, we don't need to do it ourselves, just get Israel to
do it. Then ratchet up diplo and econ pressure on Iran...

This whole attack was a set-up by Harriri/Saudia Arabia/Israel and America.

All sides are trying to win something.

America wants to attack Hizbullah to show that anyone that supports
Iran will be attacked, and weaken Iran's negotiatin position.

Saudia Arabia, want Lebanon as their commercial backyard, and they want Saad Harriri, a Saudi, to take full control over the country, so that Lebanon can become a puppet state of Saudia Arabia.

Israel want Hizbullah disarmed, but just as importantly they want
Lebanon to deal with the Palestinian citzenship dispute, as they know
if Saad is in complete power he we will give all Palestinians
citizenship.

17:01 Tyre now under Israeli attack

17:00 Hizbullah: we targetted Haifa, Meril, Meskaf Aam, Keryat shmona, Beit Hlal, and Efikim with rockets

16:57 Big fire in Meskaf Aam in Northern Israel as a result of rocket attacks

16:55 Israel warns 13 towns 6 km dees in the Lebanese border to evacuate by 7 pm

16:51 IDF: our units are operating inside Maroun el Ras and the incrusion will be a limited operation

16:50 18 injured by rocket attacks in Northern Israel by Hizbullah

ANB: Air raid on Ayto in the North targeting a communication tower for the Lebanese national radio station (iza3a el loubnanya)

Israel warns residents of 13 villages in the south located up to 6 km inside the Lebanese border to vacate by 7pm...
Source - Naharnet

17:05 Israeli raid on transmission tower in the mountains of Ayto-Ehden in Northern Lebanon

17:03 New York Times: Washington rushes to supply Israel with laser
guided rockets to be used in targeting well fortified underground positions

17:02 2 injured in Kermael from hizbullah rockets, and sirons sounding in Haifa

- raid on the transmitting antennas in MOUNT AYTO in EHDEN north of lebanon

- minister aridi: israel is trying to take its revenge from the lebanese media for its role in lebanon's freedom

minister aridi: israel is trying to take its revenge from the lebanese media for its role in lebanon's freedom

- raid on a factory in MARKABA, MACHGHARA valley

17.06 - raid on a civilians house in AL ZARARIYI

17.10 - the raid on AYTO in EHDEN targeted the lebanese radio's transmitting station

- the israeli jets are flying at a low altitude over north lebanon

- raid on a TL antenna in AL KOURA

- an israeli soldier was injured in the attack on HA

http://www.lbcgroup.tv/lbc/en/home/

Renewed exchange of fire in Maroun al-Ras

Renewed exchanges of fire between IDF and Hizbullah forces have begun in Maroun al-Ras, near the northern border.

During the exchange, an anti-tank missile was fired at IDF forces, who responded with gunfire. No casualties have been reported. (Ynetnews)

(07.22.06, 17:13)

2 people injured from rocket fire

Two people arrived for treatment at a Nahariya hospital after being wounded by rocket fire near communities on the northern border.

Their arrival brought the number of conflict-related casualties in Nahariya hospitals to a total of 500. (Ynetnews)

(07.22.06, 17:15)
http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3083,00.html

07/22/2006 17:25
Rocket barrages near Shlomi and Nahariya

07/22/2006 17:15
2 people injured from rocket fire

07/22/2006 17:13
Renewed exchange of fire in Maroun al-Ras

07/22/2006 17:10
Police: No rocket hits identified in Haifa or suburbs

07/22/2006 17:05
Palestinian Interior Minister dismisses commander of PA security forces in Gaza

07/22/2006 17:00
Soldier wounded on northern border

Ynetnews

Hizbullah's no. 2: Israel fears ground invasion

Nasrallah's deputy Sheikh Naim Kassem used psychological warfare and said 'the enemy fear ground confrontation'
Roee Nahmias

Hours after Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's interview with al-Jazeera, his deputy, Sheikh Naim Kassem, appeared on al-Manar.

In the interview, which was aired Friday and which aimed at refuting talk that the group's leadership was harmed by Israeli air attacks, Kassem said that Israel fear a ground confrontation in Lebanon.

Kassem, who at first sight seem healthy, reiterated Nasrallah's stance and tried his hand at psychological warfare.

"Over the last few days there were six attempts for ground incursions in Maroun el-Ras area, Aitaroun and other places. The enemy saw that the fatalities will be heavy and this caused confusion over the benefit of a ground invasion," he said.

When asked if he can reassure the Lebanese people, Kassem said: "From a political perspective, we will not allow Israel achieve its targets. We have all means to cause a real political defeat. I can reassure the Lebanese people and tell them that our capabilities will bring good results for Lebanon. That's not a fight over two soldiers or who will score military wins at certain stages. This a fight which will have long-term political implications, and therefore I can tell the Lebanese people that it was them and not us who decided to go to war and that we will prove to Israel and the world that with military means they cannot move one step forward."

Kassem added: "In nine days of fighting, all there have been were assaults against civilians and infrastructure. There has been no military operation in terms of army against army. In addition, the war will have implications in Israel as the Israeli public will start wondering, and we saw that among analysts in their media, 'Where are we going?' We are not asking this."

"We hope that the fight will not last, but if it does we are ready with all our might. I can reassure the Lebanese people that victory is in our reach and that has happened over the last nine days proves this. We are seeing signs of weakness on the Israeli side as people are asking: 'Is it possible that the Israeli army relies on killing civilians to achieve its aims?' The picture is clear," he added.

The interview with Kassem was apparently recorded last Thursday but aired only on Friday. He was well-informed of the battle at the Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras, and mocked the Air Force attack on the Burj al-Barjna refugee camp in southern Beirut, which was launched following intelligence on a gathering of Hizbullah leaders in a bunker there.

'Israel hits nothing'

"The Israelis tried to make it seem as though they accomplished a few things; like yesterday, when they said they bombed Hizbullah headquarters with 23 tons, but it turned out to be a mosque under construction," Kassem said. "The systematic attack on Harath Harik (Hizbullah stronghold in south Beirut) had no results, and the same goes for their reports on striking rocket launchers. They hit nothing."

He also addressed the videos of the attacks in Lebanon Israel has been airing. "The Israelis have footage of everything; they can show whatever they want," Kassem said. "However, they did strike civilian trucks and were embarrassed in front of the entire world. They videotaped that and presented it as though it was an accomplishment, but this is not the case."

The Hizbullah leader said the gradual reduction in Katyusha rocket fire at Israel is intentional and does not stem from operational difficulties.

"I hope people won't waste their time counting the number of rockets fired or when and where we fire them," he said. "We have a well thought out military tactic, and it determines our attacks on Israel. The range of our rocket fire has not been reduced either."

Asked when he estimates the war will come to an end, Kassem said that it is up to the US and Israel, as they decided on the war together in a bid to weaken Lebanon.

He answered vaguely to questions on Hizbullah's conditions for the release of the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and when told that there are those who believe Hizbullah is fighting Iran and Syria's war, Kassem said "in the beginning of the war there were a number of people who voiced false opinions in a way that served Israel's effort to ignite a civil war between us, but luckily those people now realize they were mistaken and began to talk of postponing the arguments until after the war, as national unity is crucial."

He denied the beginning of diplomatic talks to end the fighting, adding that the mediators and envoys who arrived in Beirut recently were there "only to listen, not to be heard."

"The international representatives presented Israel's terms without hearing the other side," Kassem said. "As of now there are no serious diplomatic talks. The US and Israel want to give the war some more time and then reassess the situation to see if they can impose their conditions -but they may be wrong.

"What do they have to show or their attacks so far? 325 Lebanese were killed – all of them civilians and Lebanese army soldiers – but only four Hizbullah members were killed. Hizbullah will not allow Israel to achieve its goals through this aggression and is determined to continue (fighting)."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3279596,00.html

Translation:
- al horra: the UN demand millions of dollars of financial aids for lebanon
- al manar: HA bombs the colonies of KARMAIL,AVIVIM,CHAMOUNA,MSKAF AAM,BEYT HALAL

Source:www.tayyar.org

al horra: the british foreign affairs minister warns israeli from a land incursion
- new tv: HASSBAYA's entrance is under bombardment from CHEBAA's side and is isolated from KAWKABA's side

"war damages, reparations, and compensation taxes should be imposed on the zionist war pigs by UN security council. They are destroying lebanon.

US taxpayer, your bombs are damaging many properties, bridges, phone systems, roads, airports, and lebanese bodies.

Pay the medical costs. Pay all the costs!"

www.tayyar.org

Lebanese Army post targeted in kfarmechki-western Bekaa Valley

source NewtV

17.55 - limited israeli incursion on 3 axes inside the border

Britain's junior foreign minister Kim Howells openly criticizes the Israeli military offensive in Lebanon, accusing the Jewish state of taking many lives and destroying infrastructure

Source Naharnet

18.00 - IDF: HA firing anti-shield rockets in MAROUN AL RASS area
18.01 - bush: iran and syria's acts are threatening the entire middle east
18.01 - israeli raid on ZAMARAYA passage near HASSBAYA
18.02 - raid on the outskirts of KAWKABA village in RASHAYA
18.03 - katyoucha targeting NAHARYA,CHLOUMI and 2 israeli injuries reported
18.04 - raid on KFARNACHKI in WEST BEKAA
18.05 - israeli army killed at least6 lebanese in numerous raids
18.06 - 10 israelis were injured today after 71 rockets hit northern israel
18.07 - israel renews its warning to the residents of villages near the border to leave the area immediately

Source:www.tayyar.org
18.07: إسرائيل تجدد إنذارها أهالي 10 قرى محاذية للحدود بالمغادرة فوراً
18.06: سقوط 10 جرحى اسرائيليين اليوم إثر سقوط 71 صاروخ على شمال إسرائيل
18.05: الجيش الاسرائيلي يقتل 6 لبنانيين على الأقل في عمليات قصف مختلفة
18.04: غارة على بلدة كفرمشكي بالبقاع الغربي
18.03: كاتيوشا تستهدف مجدداً نهاريا وشلومي وسقوط جريحين إسرائيليين
18.02: غارة على أطراف بلدو كوكبا في راشيا
18.01: غارة إسرائيلية جديدة على معبر زمريا القريبة من حاصبيا
18.01: بوش : أفعال إيران وسوريا تهدد الشرق الأوسط برمته
18.00: الجيش الإسرائيلي: حزب الله يطلق صواريخ مضادة للدروع في منطقة مارون الرأ

Source:www.tayyar.org

Al-Manar: IAF bombs Lebanese army post
According to Hizbullah's TV station, al-Manar, the Israel Air Force attacked an outpost of the Lebanese armed force, on the border between Syria and Lebanon. (YnetNews)
(07.22.06, 18:07)

18.13 - bush: one of the most important goals of rice's visit to the middle east is to isolate syria and iran

www.tayyar.org

Hahhah. That's the primary purpose of the whole 'cooked-up' war!

Amos Harel and Eli Ashkenazi | July 22

Ha'aretz - Israel Defense Forces ground troops were operating in southern Lebanon on Saturday, in the Meron A-Ras region, to detect rocket launchers and underground bunkers where Hezbollah militants are holed up.

An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate wounds Saturday when Hezbollah fired on an outpost near the Lebanese border.

IDF troops uncovered several anti-tank missiles and several surface-to-surface missiles Friday night during an operation in the village of Marwaheen. They also found a machine gun, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, and ammunition.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Israelis renounce membership in world journalist federation in protest at condemnation of Al-Manar strike

By Asaf Carmel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Staff

A group of Israeli journalists renounced their membership in the International Federation of Journalists yesterday, after the organization's general secretary refused to retract his condemnation of the Israel's bombing of Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station in Beirut.

IFJ General Secretary Aiden White proposed coming to Israel to settle the dispute, but Israeli journalist and IFJ member Yaron Anosh told him that as long as the censure remained in effect, White would be unwelcome in Israel.

The Israel Air Force attacked Hezbollah's television station shortly after it began its offensive in Lebanon last week. The IFJ said in a statement last weekend that the strike is "a clear demonstration that Israel has a policy of using violence to silence media it does not agree with."

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IFJ members in Israel demanded that this statement be retracted immediately and asked why the IFJ did not condemn Hezbollah for firing rockets at Israeli journalists. After the IFJ refused to retract its condemnation, six Israeli members announced their immediate resignation.

"I have no intention of being a card-carrying member of an organization that would give a similar card to a Hezbollah member, whether he is firing a Katyusha or serving as the group's propaganda officer at its TV station," Anosh said. "A terrorist is not a journalist, and if an international organization prefers to have terrorists as members - then count us out."

The IFJ has also called on the Israel Defense Forces to explain an incident on Wednesday in which troops opened fire on an Al Jazeera television news crew, injuring a technician.

"First reports suggest that here was an unarmed media crew suddenly subject to an unprovoked attack by Israeli soldiers," White said in a statement. "If true, it is an astonishing and terrifying example of targeting and the Israeli authorities must give an explanation as to how this happened."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741124.html

Leila Hatoum and Mohammed Zaatari | Beirut | July 22

The Daily Star (Lebanon) - The Israeli military said it was holding corpses of Hizbullah fighters killed in clashes along the border Friday - and had killed a resistance leader during other raids on Lebanon. The claims could not be independently confirmed, but a Hizbullah statement said two of its fighters had died during clashes Friday in the South.

Israel also claimed to have killed nearly 100 Hizbullah fighters over the past 10 days.

"Hizbullah is not revealing the real extent of its casualties," Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz told reporters.

Halutz said at least 13 Hizbullah guerrillas were killed Thursday alone in clashes just inside Lebanon. Four Israeli soldiers were killed in that fighting.

Hizbullah has said eight of its fighters have been killed since July 12, when the conflict began.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Army called up a rapid deployment division of 5,000 soldiers Friday as security sources said throngs of Israeli tanks and military forces were massed along the border .

Friday saw 12 more civilian deaths, 50 wounded and 12 reported missing. Israeli artillery, fighter-bombers and warships continued their bombardment of the South, the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

July 22

The Daily Star (Beirut) - A UN mediator urged Israel to "extend its full cooperation" to ensure humanitarian access to civilians trapped in the fighting in Lebanon during a UN Security Council meeting Friday, while the US reiterated its rejection of an immediate cease-fire. "It is urgent that the Israeli government extend its full cooperation by immediately ensuring humanitarian access to those in need," Vijay Nambiar, the head of the mediation team sent by UN chief Kofi Annan to the region last week, told the 15-member council during a debate on the explosive situation in the Middle East.

Nambiar also echoed Annan's appeal before the council Thursday for a "cessation of hostilities" between Israel and Hizbullah in Lebanon.

"This is essential so that captives are protected, humanitarian access is assured, civilian casualties are dramatically reduced, and the political space is opened to negotiate a full and durable cease-fire," he added.

Nambiar, who earlier Friday had a 45-minute private meeting in a New York with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, also stressed the need "to develop quickly the elements of a political framework that would pave the way for a full and durable cease-fire."

The United States' representative to the United Nations John Bolton said that an unconditional cease-fire "would only allow them [Hizbullah] time to regroup and plan their next wave of kidnappings and attacks against Israel."

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

Meris Lutz | Beirut | July 22

The Daily Star (Beirut) - UNIFIL is planning to evacuate civilians from the Lebanese-Israeli border in the coming days, but "the ability to move will depend on the situation on the ground," according to a press release issued by UNIFIL on Friday. A source at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura said residents trapped in border villages should call the aid station in Marjayoun at 07-830 351 or 07-830 050 for more information, but emphasized that the operation would take time given the number of evacuees and continued Israeli fire.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in targeted areas is growing worse as the number of displaced passed 900,000 on Friday - with 39,500 in Beirut alone - and rescue workers were prevented from reaching stranded villages with vital supplies.

The Higher Relief Committee said it urgently needs food products such as milk, rice, sugar and canned meat; diapers and kitchen tools; medicine such as insulin, painkillers, antibiotics and chlorine to clean water; sterilized gloves; refrigerators to store medicine; tents; electrical generators of 5, 10, 20 and 30 kva; blankets and other necessities.

Concerned parties were urged to donate by depositing in the committee's account at the Central Bank. The account number is 760051114.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

18.26:
400 شخص في ملجأ سراي بنت جبيل بحاجة ماسة إلى المساعدة

400 people stranded in the Ben Jbeil Serail's bomb shelter are in desperate needs of help
tayyar.org

Rocket barrage lands in Safed; sirens activated all over Galilee

A volley of rockets landed in an open area near Safed. No casualties or damages were reported.
Simultaneously, warning sirens were activated in the entire Western Galilee region, Afula, Nazareth and Migdal Haemek. (Ynetnews.com)
(07.22.06, 18:47)
__________________

6 explosions in Nahariya

Six rockets hit Nahariya Saturday evening. No casualties have been identified at this point.
Simultaneously, warning sirens were activated in Haifa and its northern suburbs. (Ynet)

(07.22.06, 18:50)

CNN: New air raid sirens sounding in Haifa, indicating Hizbullah's continued capability to still launch rockets deep into Israel.

18:56 10 Katyusha rockets land in central Nahariya (Haaretz)

18:52 One person moderately hurt in Katyusha strike on Nahariya (Channel 10)

18:51 Kayusha rockets hit Nahariya and Carmiel (Channel 10)
__________________

700,000 Left Homeless Says Agency
Sky News - 2006-07-22 16:46:14

More than 700,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Lebanon, an aid worker has told Sky News.

Friday, Jul. 21, 2006
Abandoning the Dead, and Living, in Lebanon
On Scene: As residents leave the war zone to head north, the humanitarian disaster in the south is getting worse
By NICHOLAS BLANFORD/TYRE
As a carpenter labors in the sweltering noon heat to complete his melancholy task, his newly made coffins lie stacked up six high and stretch down the hospital courtyard. The simple pine coffins have been hammered together to receive the bodies of 86 people killed in eight days of Israeli air strikes and artillery bombardments that are part of its campaign against Hizballah. "I built 20 last night and another 10 this morning," says Fadi Salem, pausing a moment from his back breaking work.

With Hizballah showing more signs of tenacity than expected, the Israeli military issued warnings on Thursday for all residents remaining in south Lebanon to leave their homes and move north of the Litani river, which runs about 25 miles north of the border with Israel. But for far too many people, the warnings came too late.

More...

Israeli sends tanks to gain Lebanon foothold

AVIVIM, Israel (CNN) -- .....

.......The Israel Defense Forces said 15 civilians and 19 soldiers in Israel have been killed, and more than 300 people have been wounded.

Israel resumed air attacks Saturday as the troops headed for the border village of Maroun al-Ras, where Israel is establishing a foothold inside Lebanese territory in what was regarded as a Hezbollah outpost, just over the border from the Israeli town of Avivim.

The IDF told Lebanese civilians to leave the area by 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET), passing the message through local radio and community leaders, it said.

The Israel military says it is trying knock out the infrastructure of Hezbollah along the border and attempting to "cleanse" the area along the border for about half a mile -- possibly the beginning of a buffer zone.

Israeli military spokesman Capt. Erik Snider told CNN that the nature of Israeli movements into southern Lebanon was "still limited in scope. At the same time we are expanding our operations slightly" to establish footholds in areas where Hezbollah has been active.

"The ultimate goal of our operations close to the border is to eliminate the infrastructure and the posts established of Hezbollah over the past six years since Israel pulled out of Lebanon," Snider said.

Israeli airstrikes destroyed at least six transmission towers north of Beirut, a Lebanese government official and Arab media reported. The attacks disrupted television and phone service, including cell phones, throughout north Lebanon.

One Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. employee was killed and another wounded during the strikes, according to the LBC.

The Israel Defense Forces said about 70 rockets hit Israel on Saturday, fired by Hezbollah militants.

One Israeli soldier at an outpost in northern Israel was moderately injured, officials said. It was unclear whether the fire was from a rocket.

In Haifa, at least seven air raid sirens have sounded, and several rockets landed in an open area. Ten people were reported wounded.

Rockets also targeted the area around Avivim.

On the diplomatic front
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that if the violence does not end and if innocent Lebanese people continue to be killed or displaced, "I'm afraid of a major humanitarian disaster."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Friday she leave for Israel and the West Bank on Sunday to address the crisis and would attend a meeting of diplomats concentrating on the situation in Lebanon.

She said she will not pursue a cease-fire because that would constitute "a false promise if it returns us to the status quo." (Watch Rice talk cease-fire strategy -- 2:37)

The United States and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. The group, which has claimed responsibility for terrorist acts, also operates an extensive network of social services in Lebanon. Its political wing holds seats in the Lebanese parliament.

Other developments

The U.S. State Department says more than 5,700 Americans have been transported out of Lebanon since Sunday. Other Western nations also are continuing to pull their citizens out of the country.

There are "serious obstacles" to reaching a comprehensive cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, said Vijay Nambiar, the leader of a U.N. team sent to investigate the crisis.

U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland will travel to Beirut, hoping to win agreement to create safe routes into Lebanon for relief convoys.

The Red Cross sent 22 tons of food and supplies, along with a nutritionist and a surgeon, from Beirut to Tyre, Lebanon, on Friday, according to the international relief agency.
CNN's Paula Newton contributed to this report.

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

Find this article at:
a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/22/mideast/index.html">here

19.10: غارات على اللويزة - مليخ
19.05: استهداف فريق تلفزيون العربية في حاصيا
19.02: هآرتس: سقوط 10 صواريخ وسط نهاريا ولا تقارير عن إصابات
19.00: سقوط عدد من الصواريخ على مصنع في مستوطنة حتسور
18.59: غارات على مدخل سوق الخان جنوب حاصبيا
18.55: دفعة جديدة من الصواريخ على حيفا وإصابات

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
18.55 - new round of rockets on HAYFA and injuries have occured
18.59 - raids on the entrance of SOUK AL KHAN south of HASSBAYA
19.00 - rockets hit a factory in HATSSOUR colony
19.02 - hareetz: 10 rockets fell in NAHARAYA and no reports about injuries
19.05 - al arabiya tv crew was targeted in HASSBAYA
19.10 - raids on AL LOUWAYZA - MALIKH

Al Arabia and Al Jazeera convoy were targeted near hasbaya

Source NewTv

19.15: إصابة ثلاثين إسرائيلي في حيفا إثر الغارات الصاروخية للمقاومة

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
19.15 - 3 israelies were injured in HAYFA after HA's rockets hit the city

TA: 2,000 leftists protest operations on northern border

Some two thousand left-wing supporters are protesting in Rabin Square, in Tel Aviv, against IDF operations on the northern border.

The protestors are calling for an immediate end to the war, crying, "The occupation in a disaster, get out of Lebanon!" (YnetNews)

(07.22.06, 19:14)

19.20: قتيلان و8 جرحى في غارة على بلدة الزرارية في الجنوب
19.18: غارة في حاصبيا تستهدف الموكب الاعلامي لقناتي الجزيرة والعربية
19.17: فرنجية: لا نقبل أن تفاوض سوريا عن لبنا

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
19.17 - franjiyi: we won't accept syria to negotiate on behalf of lebanon
19.18 - raid in HASSBAYA targeting the media convoys of both al jazira and al arabiya
19.20 - 2 dead and 8 injured in a raid on AL ZRARIYA in the south

19.23: استشهاد مواطن وجرح آخر في غارات على بليدا وجباع في إقليم التفاح

One dead and another injured due to raids on Blida and Jebaa in Iklim el Bikaa

Tayyar.org
Translation:
19.15 - 30 israeli were injured in HAYFA after HA's rockets hit the city

Al Arabiya and Aljazeera TV crew are safe after targetting their convoy between Marjeyoun and Hasbaya

Source Aljazeera
__________________

19.25: سقوط جريحين في نهاريا وكارميل إثر آخر دفعة من الكاتيوشا
19.24: غارة على الزرارية توقع شهيدة وخمسة جرحى إصابتهم خطرة

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
19.24 - the raid on AL ZRARIYA killed one and injured 5 people
19.25 - 2 injuries in NAHARIYA and KARMAIL after the last round of katyoucha rockets

Record number of rockets launched against Israel today since start of war.

At least 100 rockets struck northern Israel, hitting Safed, Carmiel, Kiryat Shemona, Nahariya and smaller communities

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli troops have ousted Hizbollah guerrillas from the key southern Lebanese town of Maroun al-Ras after several days of fierce fighting, ground forces commander Major-General Benny Gantz said on Saturday

(Several days for one village? Hmmm. Beautiful war for the Zionists!)

Palestinian militants deny agreement not to attack Israel

21.03: الجزيرة: قائد القوات البرية الإسرائيلية يعلن سيطرة الجيش على مارون الراس وبنت جبيل بجنوب لبنان

Israeli chief of infantry division decalres that the Israeli army has taken full control of Maroun el ras and Bent Jbeil in the South

www.tayyar.org
Rockets cause power outage in Nahariya and Carmiel

A barrage of rockets in the western Galilee caused damage to electricity network in Carmiel and Nahariya.

Teams from the Israel Electric Company are working to fix the damage as quickly as possible. (YnetNews.com)

(07.22.06, 20:34)

MANAR TV

Clashes in maroun el ras, Resistance has killed and injured over 20 zionist soldiers, and Destroyed 3 tanks. The clashes have been taking place for 3 days and the Resistance is fighting with high spirits.

21.25: حزب الله نعى الشهيد سمير علي ضيا أبو سلام
21.24: الولايات المتحدة الأميركية تستبعد المشاركة في قوة حفظ سلام دولية في لبنان
21.23: فيصل المقداد ينقل استعداد دمشق لمحاورة واشنطن حول سبل حل النزاع في لبنان
21.22: إنقطاع الكهرباء بشكل كامل عن كرمئيل ونهاريا في شمال إسرائيل
21.03: الجيش الإسرائيلي يعلن سيطرته على مارون الراس جنوب لبنان

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
21.03 - IDF declares its control on MAROUN AL RASS
21.22 - the electricity is tottaly off in KARMAIL and NAHRAYA
21.23 - faysal al mekdad declares damscus's readyness to talk to washington about the ways to solve the fights in lebanon
21.24 - USA will most probably refrain from participating in the peace core in lebanon
21.25 - HA lost a martyr today:samir ali daya abou salam

20.57: أ ف ب:نائب وزير الخارجية السوري فيصل المقداد لقناة سكاي نيوز الأميركية ان سوريا مستعدة لفتح حوار مع الولايات المتحدة لحل الأزمة في لبنان اذا بذلت واشنطن جهدًا لحل المشاكل الأخرى في المنطقة
20.55: يستمر الكر والفر للسيطرة على بلدة مارون الرأس الاستراتيجية، وهي أعلى نقطة في جبل عامل

www.tayyar.org

Translation:
20.55 - the fights are ongoing to control MAROUN AL RASS which is the highest point in MOUNT AMEL
20.57 - AFP: the vice syrian foreign affairs minister to sky news : syria is reasy to talk with USA to solve the crisis in lebanon if washington works to solve all of the other problems in the area

20.28: طواقم الجزيرة والعربية والمنار يبدّلون مكان تواجدهم بعد تعرضهم لغارات إسرائيلية في طريقهم من مرجعيون إلى حاصبيا
www.tayyar.org

20.47: القناة الثالثة الاسرائيلية: وقوع مئة وخمسون صاروخ كاتيوشا على شمال إسرائيل هذا اليوم(tayyar.org)

Translation:
20.28 - the al arabiya and al jazira crews changed their locations after being targeted by israeli raids on their way from MARJEYOUN to HASBAYA
20.47 - israeli channel 3 : 150 katyoucha rockets have hit northern israel today

اعلام العدو : انقطاع الكهرباء في نهاريا
المنار

Translation:
- israeli media : no electricity in NAHARYA

حزب الله يدمر ثلاث دبابات في مارون الراس
العربية

Translation:
- al arabiya: HA destroyed 3 tanks in MAROUN AL RASS

22.58: غارات إسرائيلية تستهدف محطات الوقود بين زبود والهرمل
tayyar.org

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
22.56 - frequent israeli flights over NORTH BEKAA
22.58 - israeli raids targeted gas stations between AL HERMEL and ZEBOUD

23.03: الطائرات الاسرائيلية تشن غارات على شمال بعلبك

Translation:
- raids on the northern part of BAALBEK city

:
اسرائيل لم تسيطر على مارون الراس
العربية

[translation]
PM Haj Hassan :
Israel did not take control over Maroun Al-Ras.Al-Arabiyya.

حاصبيا
العربية

رؤيا
رفض اميريكي اكبر من رفض اسرائيل لوقف اطلاق النار
النائب حج حسن
العربية

Translation:
- al arabiya: media crews have survived the israeli raids south of HASBAYA
- al arabiya: MP haj hassan: USA's refusal is bigger than israel's refusal for the cease fire

وفي اصبع الجليل 8 صواريخ
العربية
منذ بداية الحرب الصواريخ تجاوزت الالف

[translation]
Al-Arabiyya : 20 rockets fell today on Keryat chmouna , eight on Galil .
Rockets number surpassed 1000 since war started.

23.22: مجلس الوزراء إستنكر الاعتداء على الإعلام، وإستمع إلى تقارير أمنية عن الأوضاع
23.21: حزب الله: فليقل لنا الإسرائيليون متى عبروا الحدود

Source:www.tayyar.org

Translation:
23.21 - HA: let the israelis tell us when did they crossed the border
23.22 - the government condemned the attack on the media and listen to security reports about the current situation