TEL AVIV — The Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has launched its biggest
rocket barrage against Israel in years.
Israeli sources said Hizbullah fired hundreds of mortars and rockets
toward Israeli military positions and communities along the northern border.
The sources said 11 Israeli soldiers were injured in a coordinated rocket and
ground force attack, which took place on the eve of Lebanon's Independence
Day.
In the first battle since June 2005, Israeli artillery batteries and
aircraft returned fire and targeted a Hizbullah command post, Middle East Newsline reported. The exchange
of fire was said to have lasted more than four hours.
"Our assessment is that behind the Hizbullah fire stand Syrian and
Iranian interests to heat up the border," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said.
"Hizbullah used its full arsenal against us -- mortar shells, Katyusha
rockets, anti-tank missiles and sniper fire," Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, the head
of the Israeli military's Northern Command, said. "No IDF activity was
carried out in the area prior to this attack. This attack had been in the
planning for a long time, and we haven't seen such a wide scale coordinated
attack by Hizbullah in a long time."
Officials said the Hizbullah attack began with a mortar and rocket
barrage on Israeli military outposts along the disputed Shebaa Plateau.
After several minutes, Hizbullah fighters on motorcycles and dune buggies
stormed an Israeli position in the border town of Rajar, divided between
Israeli- and Lebanese-controlled sectors.
Israeli soldiers opened fire and five Hizbullah fighters were killed in
a fierce battle. Military sources said Hizbullah sought to capture the
Israeli outpost and abduct soldiers.
"Hizbullah cells carried out a number of attacks against Israel Defense
Force posts in the Rajar and Mount Dov regions in an attempt to kidnap IDF
soldiers," an Israeli military statement said. "IDF forces were successful
in preventing these attempts and were able to disable the Hizbullah cells."
At that point, Hizbullah gunners opened Katyusha and anti-tank fire
toward Israeli border communities. Authorities ordered Israeli residents to
take refuge in bomb shelters.
Hours later, an Israel Navy helicopter opened fire toward a Hizbullah
squad near the Lebanese village of Nakoura along the Israeli border. There
were no reports of injuries.
Military sources said Israel intends to maintain its high alert along
the Lebanese border until at least Dec. 15, the deadline for the submission
of a United Nations report into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri. Military sources said Hizbullah plans to either
launch a rocket attack or abduct an Israeli soldier.
Officials said Hizbullah has 15,000 rockets and missiles, with ranges of
up to 110 kilometers. They said at least 10,000 of the missiles were
supplied by Iran.