Further Israeli attacks on Lebanon, resistance retaliates

One Israeli soldier was killed and another wounded on August 10 in a clash with Lebanese resistance men in Israel’s South Lebanon occupation zone. In Beirut the Lebanese resistance claimed responsibility for the attack.

The death brought the toll to 29, including 15 Israeli soldiers, a pro-Israeli Lebanese militiaman, six members of Lebanese resistance and seven Lebanese civilians in the bloodiest week in South Lebanon since an Israeli offensive in April 1996.

In retaliation, Israeli artillery men shelled Lebanese-held areas facing Kfar Houneh. There was no immediate report on causalities in the bombardment.

Earlier, Lebanese security sources said a five-year old Lebanese girl was hurt when a shell hit an orphanage in the area of Jezzine, officially outside the occupation zone but under the control of the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia.

A mine blew up a truck earlier in the day near in the village of Margaba inside the occupation zone. No one was injured, according to SLA militia sources.

Israeli occupation forces on August 9 pounded a number of villages and towns in the western district of south Lebanon.

Security sources said the Israeli heavy artillery shelled the villages of Majdal Zoun, al Gharya, al Hinya, al Biqeen, al Nafkha valley, Hadatha and Haris.

The sources said caution prevailed on August 9 in areas close to south Lebanon and western Bekaa because of Israel’s shelling in a number of villages on August 8 night.

The forces carried out mopping up operations with heavy machine-guns in the same villages.

The Lebanese national resistance attacked with rockets and mortar a number of Israeli patrols while trying to enter Tei Harfa position in the occupied South Lebanon.

The resistance said that a group of resistance men attacked Israeli occupation forces positions in Balat and al Ahmadeyya hills with machine-guns and rockets, scoring several hits among the Israeli forces and militiamen.