IDF GETS NOD TO CRUSH HIZB'ALLAH
IDF gets nod to crush Hizb'allah
Northern Israel braces for long-range rocket fire
By Ryan Jones
Jul 13, 2006
Israel's Cabinet late Wednesday night gave the IDF a green light to crush the Hizb'allah threat from southern Lebanon, even at the price of a massive terrorist missile strike on northern Israel and international condemnation.
The decision came in response to a large coordinated Hizb'allah assault on the Jewish state earlier in the day, which left eight IDF soldiers dead, another seven wounded, and two more as captives in the hands of the Lebanese terrorists.
Some fear Hizb'allah will counter by unleashing its arsenal of thousands of medium and long-range missiles on targets as far south as Netanya. The terror group has obtained its impressive and deadly stockpile - which includes some advanced and highly accurate weaponry - with the help of its patrons in Damascus and Tehran.
But Prime Minister Ehud Olmert compelled his fellow cabinet ministers to accept the risks and authorize the defense establishment's severe recommendations.
Said Olmert following the meeting:
"We will confront the threat with determination and we will win this battle. This is not an easy test for the leadership, for security forces or for Israeli citizens," but "...there are times when the state needs to protect its citizens, even at the price of the rocket threat or international tensions."
If, as expected, Hizb'allah, or even Syria, respond to the Israeli operations in Gaza with missile strikes on Israeli population centers and strategic facilities, Jerusalem will likely find itself facing a full-scale war situation.
Nevertheless, the Israeli Cabinet statement indicated the only way Lebanon can avoid the fury about to be loosed on it is to immediately implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which obligates Beirut to disarm Hizb'allah and exert control over all its territory.
© Jerusalem Newswire 2002-2006
Northern Israel braces for long-range rocket fire
By Ryan Jones
Jul 13, 2006
Israel's Cabinet late Wednesday night gave the IDF a green light to crush the Hizb'allah threat from southern Lebanon, even at the price of a massive terrorist missile strike on northern Israel and international condemnation.
The decision came in response to a large coordinated Hizb'allah assault on the Jewish state earlier in the day, which left eight IDF soldiers dead, another seven wounded, and two more as captives in the hands of the Lebanese terrorists.
Some fear Hizb'allah will counter by unleashing its arsenal of thousands of medium and long-range missiles on targets as far south as Netanya. The terror group has obtained its impressive and deadly stockpile - which includes some advanced and highly accurate weaponry - with the help of its patrons in Damascus and Tehran.
But Prime Minister Ehud Olmert compelled his fellow cabinet ministers to accept the risks and authorize the defense establishment's severe recommendations.
Said Olmert following the meeting:
"We will confront the threat with determination and we will win this battle. This is not an easy test for the leadership, for security forces or for Israeli citizens," but "...there are times when the state needs to protect its citizens, even at the price of the rocket threat or international tensions."
If, as expected, Hizb'allah, or even Syria, respond to the Israeli operations in Gaza with missile strikes on Israeli population centers and strategic facilities, Jerusalem will likely find itself facing a full-scale war situation.
Nevertheless, the Israeli Cabinet statement indicated the only way Lebanon can avoid the fury about to be loosed on it is to immediately implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which obligates Beirut to disarm Hizb'allah and exert control over all its territory.
© Jerusalem Newswire 2002-2006
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