Israeli soldier killed, 7 wounded as Lebanese resistance intensifies
Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/9/1998

An Israeli soldier was killed and seven others wounded Saturday in a Hizbullah attack on an Israeli outpost in southern Lebanon, security sources said. It was the heaviest casualty toll for Israeli troops in the country so far this year.

Hizbullah detonated a roadside bomb near the Israeli position of Blatt in the western sector of an Israeli-occupied enclave as an infantry unit was traveling in the region.

Sgt. Nikolai Rappaport, 23, was killed instantly, and seven others were wounded.

An Israeli army spokesman in Jerusalem said three were in serious condition. A fire-fight between Israeli troops and Hizbullah fighters erupted on the edge of the Israeli "security zone," in which two guerrillas were also killed, according to the sources.

The Hizbullah group, however, acknowledged the death of only one of its fighters, Akram Khatoun, 19, saying he was killed during a clash with enemy troops.

A statement issued by the group also said the attack had been carried out to mark the sixth anniversary of the death of Abbas Musawi, the former Hizbullah chief who was murdered by the Israelis in a 1992 helicopter missile attack.

On Friday, two Israeli-allied militiamen were killed and two others were wounded when Hizbullah guerrillas detonated a roadside bomb near the town of Jezzine.

A Lebanese civilian was killed and three others wounded in Israeli retaliation.

Sunday witnessed a marked decrease in escalation, although Israeli shelling near the village of Yater wounded Mahmoud Tohme, 17. Sources said he was hit by shrapnel in the legs and was being treated in hospital.

Israeli artillery in Tair Hafa on Sunday shelled areas in Western Bekaa in South Lebanon, SANA said. It added the shelling was accompanied by machine gun fire and flyovers carried out by Israeli jets over Western and central sectors.

Meanwhile, Israeli Internal Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani admitted that the continuous Israeli occupation of south Lebanon constitutes a war of attrition and additional losses of which the Israelis are of no need. Kahalani's statements were made on Sunday in an Israeli Cabinet meeting, Israeli army radio reported.

Israeli northern area commander Amiram Levin admitted that the losses inflicted on his troops in the occupied strip of south Lebanon are on the increase due to daily clashes with Lebanese national resistance fighters. Levin explained on Sunday to Israeli radio that south Lebanon has witnessed a considerable increase in Lebanese resistance attacks.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli warplanes attack targets in south Lebanon   (2/5/1998)
  Lebanese resistance attack Israeli positions   (2/4/1998)
  Lebanese resistance attack Israeli positions   (2/3/1998)

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