TEL AVIV — Israel's military, amid the Hizbullah capture of soldiers
in the north, has launched another ground assault on the Gaza Strip.
A brigade-size force entered the Gaza Strip on early Wednesday and
deployed in the area between Khan Yunis and Dir El Balah. Military sources
said the force was ordered to destroy Palestinian insurgency strongholds and
missile production facilities.
At the same time, Hizbullah abducted two Israeli soldiers along the
northern border with Lebanon. The sources said Hizbullah fired dozens of
rockets and artillery throughout northern Israel as fighters entered the
Jewish state and attacked military outposts.
At least three Israelis were killed and another eight were injured.
Hizbullah captured two soldiers and brought them to Lebanon.
"These are difficult days for Israel," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
on Wednesday. "Elements are threatening us from the south and north."
The ground force was accompanied by 40 main battle tanks and armored
personnel carriers as well as attack helicopters. At least seven people were
killed and 20 injured when an Israel Air Force missile strike destroyed a
suspected Hamas stronghold in Gaza City.
Two of the injured were said to have been Hamas military leader Mohammed
Deif and senior operative Ahmed Randour. Israeli sources said Randour, said
to have been badly injured, directed the abduction of an Israeli soldier on
June 25. Raid Said, another senior Hamas operative, was said to have escaped
during the air strike.
"The men, senior members of the Hamas terror organization, are
responsible for terror attacks, including the launching of Kassam rockets,"
a military statement said. "Following intelligence information regarding
imminent terror attacks planned by these senior terrorists, it was decided
to target them and to thwart future attacks."
The incursion by the elite Givati Brigade was the second in as many
weeks. Brigade commander Col. Yoel Strick warned his soldiers against
Palestinian improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, car bombs and
abductions.
"Our main target is the terrorist infrastructure — the rocket crews,
the gunmen, the armed caches, but of course we are here to show that if God
forbid any of us is captured by the enemy, the Israel Defense Forces will do
everything to secure his return," Strick said. "So far we know we have hit
around 70 terrorists. This is an achievement that should not be
underestimated."
The military dropped leaflets in the area of operation that warned of
continued Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip until the release of the
Israeli corporal. The corporal was believed to have been held in the area of
Rafah.
On July 7, Israel withdrew a brigade-size force from the northern Gaza
Strip. The force had been ordered not to enter Bet Lahiya and Bet Hanoun,
regarded as the main launching pads for missile strikes against Israel.
The sources said the Israeli brigade would not remain in the Gaza Strip
for more than several days. They said Defense Minister Amir Peretz has
ordered the military not to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, whose Jewish residents
were expelled during the Israeli withdrawal in September 2005.
Israeli fighter-jets and attack helicopters bombed suspected Hizbullah
strongholds and a bridge over the Litani River to prevent the transfer of
the abducted soldier toward Beirut. Israeli troops also entered Lebanon.
Later, Hizbullah said it would demand the release of all Arab and
Palestinian prisoners for the return of the two soldiers. Hizbullah said the
abduction took place at 9:05 a.m.
"The two captives were transferred to a safe place," Hizbullah said.
