Lebanese resistance attack 18 Israeli positions, Lebanese flag flies over Hadatha
Lebanon-Israel, Military, 7/3/1998

Israeli occupation forces continued their aggressions against areas adjacent to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said the Israeli artillery bombarded the outskirts of the central sector villages.

The bombardment covered the heights of al-Tuffah district, foremost al-Rafe' mount and al-Zahrani river course. The Israeli bombardment resulted in damage to several houses and heavy material losses.

Fires were set in several olive orchards and wheat farms as well as the woods surrounding the villages of Barachit, Eita al-Jabal, Hadatha and Beit Yahoun. Meanwhile, Israeli helicopters mopped up valleys separating the occupied part of south Lebanon and the liberated villages of the central sector of south Lebanon.

In the afternoon, the Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Yater, Haris, Serbein and Eita al-Jabal towns in south Lebanon. News reports from south Lebanon said the Israeli bombardment coincided with intensive flights by Israeli reconnaissance planes in the airspace of border villages in the central and western sectors.

Earlier in the morning the Israeli occupation artillery randomly hit villages and towns adjacent to the occupied part of the central and Western sectors and al-Tuffah district heights. Some 250 shells were dropped on the targeted areas. Israeli naval forces on Wednesday night opened machine gun fire on the southern coasts of the city of Tyre against the area between al-Rashedieh and Raas al-Ein.

The Israeli forces reinforced their positions in the occupied parts of south Lebanon following the fierce confrontations with the Lebanese national resistance fighters. Lebanese security sources said the Israeli forces brought in military reinforcements to Hadatha and Beit Yahoun positions where some 12 new tanks were stationed.

In the afternoon the Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Barachit, al-Zatar mount, Eita al-Jabal, Hadatha, Yater, Tbnin, Haris and Kafra in south Lebanon. The Israeli hostile shelling resulted in the death of Lebanese civilian Abdul Menem Sweidan in Yater town in south Lebanon. Security sources added the Israeli bombardment also covered al-Qeiseyeh valley, Hadatha towns and the surrounding valleys.

Lebanese resistance forces on Thursday morning launched a large-scale attack against Israeli positions along the occupied part of south Lebanon, and the attacks resulted in the wounding of three Israeli soldiers and one South Lebanon Army militia soldier. Lebanese security sources said artillery bombardments were reciprocated in the morning between the occupation troops and the resistance forces in the western and central sectors.

The Lebanese resistance fighters broke into Hadatha position and hoisted the banner of resistance at a time when other resistance groups were attacking occupation positions of Balat, Masharoun, Hamid Rashaf, Beit Yahoun and Barachit. Two Israeli helicopters interfered in the battles and mopped up the region with heavy machine gun fire.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese resistance announced the details of the large scale attacks its groups launched against 18 Israeli positions along the confrontation front and in depth of the Lebanese occupied territories. Resistance sources said members of a resistance group started on Thursday morning breaking into Hadatha position after making sure of the presence of Israeli-SLA forces in Hadatha and Baraachit.

The sources added that after the fortifications were destroyed, the resistance men bypassed 75-meter wide mine fields and took full control of the position after they killed or wounded its personnel and destroyed all its fortifications and machines.

They hoisted their banner for more than two hours. The sources added that the attacks on Hadatha coincided with large-scale attacks that included the Israeli positions in Barachit, al-Jamouseh, (the headquarters of the SLA militia's brigade 80) al-Debsham, Beer Klab, Sujoud, Aramti, the castle, Teir Harfa, Balat, al-Daheira the new and old Beit Yahoun and the headquarters of the joint Israeli - SLA western contingent leadership in Bint Jbeil, Hamid, Muheibib, Masharoun, and Haula new tower.

Israeli helicopters interfered 45 minutes from the beginning of resistance operations and were targeted by intensive Lebanese anti-aircraft fire which prevented them from reaching their targets.

The Lebanese resistance sources noted that after two hours the Israeli occupation forces could not deploy any reinforcements to the battle field nor withdraw its casualties at Hadatha and Barachit positions. However, the Israeli occupation troops and SLA acknowledged the wounding of three Israeli and one SLA soldiers.

Previous Stories:
  South Lebanon fighting continues as monitors meet   (7/2/1998)
  South Lebanon under fire from Israeli warplanes   (7/1/1998)
  Two South Lebanon Army members killed in south Lebanon   (6/30/1998)

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