Israeli jets strike Beirut airport

[Shuriken]

Israeli jets strike Beirut airport

Thursday, July 13, 2006; Posted: 2:19 a.m. EDT (06:19 GMT)

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli fighter jets bombed Beirut International Airport Thursday, expanding Israel's military campaign against Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas holding two Israeli soldiers captive.

All three of the airport's runways were rendered unusable in the airstrikes and a as a result the airport was closed, a senior Lebanese aviation official said.

Israel Defense Forces said it targeted the airport's runways because the airport served as a central hub for the transfer for weapons and supplies to Hezbollah.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted Hezbollah's al-Manar television station in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Lebanese security source said. Despite the strike, al-Manar continued to broadcast, the source said.

The strikes came hours after Israel's Cabinet authorized a "severe and harsh" response to the abduction of two soldiers and declared Lebanon's government responsible for their safe release.

Israeli artillery and airstrikes have been pounding Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after a cross-border raid Wednesday that left three Israeli soldiers dead in addition to the two captives. Four more Israelis died in an attack on their tank during the clashes, and another died as soldiers went to their aid, the Israeli military said.

The cross-border fighting continued Thursday, with numerous Katyusha rocket strikes in the northern Israeli town of Nahariya, according to CNN's John Vause. He said buildings near the hotel he was staying in have been damaged and people injured.

Thursday's casualties throughout northern Israel totaled 22, including one woman killed and 15 injured in the Nahariya rocket attack, according to the IDF.

The Lebanese security source said 26 to 27 people had been killed in Lebanon since the fighting began, including a number of civilians.

IDF said its strikes have been targeting locations within or adjacent to heavily populated areas that Hezbollah uses for storing rockets and weapons. An IDF spokesman said Hezbollah is responsible for placing the storage sites in areas that would put civilians at risk.

Hezbollah, an Islamic militia backed by Syria and Iran, demanded "direct negotiations" for a prisoner exchange to resolve the crisis. Israel has rejected that call, arguing it would lead to more attacks.

"We expect them to be returned to us alive and safely, immediately without any precondition -- no negotiation," Israeli government spokesman Gideon Meir told CNN.

The identities of the kidnapped soldiers had not been released as of Thursday morning.

Hezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel, but the Islamic militia is a significant player in Lebanon's fractious politics. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, told reporters that abducting the soldiers was "our natural, only and logical right" to win freedom for Hezbollah prisoners held by Israel.

Nasrallah said the two soldiers had been taken to a place "far, far away" and that an Israeli military campaign would not win their release.

The new fighting on Israel's northern border comes amid a two-week-old Israeli campaign in Gaza in search of Israeli army Cpl. Gilad Shalit, a soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants there.

Source

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Hell, I think they should also bomb any civilian houses in Lebanon, in case some Hezbollah fighters are hiding there...

And imo it looks like it's just a matter of time before Syria and Iran gets involved.

[__Kratos__]

Well, they did kidnap 2 Israeli soldiers. What did they think was going to happen? Invite to a bloody tea party on Sunday?

> NEWS ALERT President Bush says Israel has the right to defend itself, in light of the soldier kidnappings.

[Nasadude85]

It just happened. Lebanon fired rockets at Israel, and are threatening to attack a city.

[Moon Monkey]

Hizbollah is Iranian/Syrian armed, has members that come from outside Lebanon, is a part of the Lebanese government, has offices in Beirut, Damascus, Tehran, tv stations and so on. It's military wing is allowed free license to roam around in the south attacking over the border against Israel at will (its rocket attacks usualy go unreported but if you lived in the Kiryat Shemona area you would know all about it from your shelter).

I wonder what international feeling would be if the Israeli government stopped arresting members of Jewish terror organisations and instead gave them seats in the cabinet, allowed foreign members to enter the country, let them use a tv station, the US can arm and train the members and the Israeli military allowed them to do what they want over the Lebanese/Gaza borders? Maybe they should try it and simply say "What can we do? We cannot control them"as the Lebanese and Palestinian governments do, rather than chucking the 'official' military at them which is always followed by the predictable international outrage.

Gotta feel for the innocent civilians but having seen the dancing and flag waving in Beirut yesterday seems they are quite willing to reap what has been sown. If I was in Beirut yesterday I would have been off down a bomb shelter as soon as I had heard what happened rather than hitting the road with my flag hanging out, beeping my horn

[Bella-Angelique]

It has been long enough.

They are not going to change.

If they were going to change then they would have by now.

This story is drawing closer to its end, along with the oil.

[Shuriken]

lol, Bush calls Izrael "The agents of peace". I just luve this guy...

[Nasadude85]

wow... this is developing by the second... check out cnn.com

Syria and Iran might join in, and then the USA might drag the UN in... and with Korea trying to fire missiles at Hawaii... Japan and the USA might attack Korea if missiles do make it to Hawaii

It might become a WW3

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

This situation could blow up, but I believe Israel is in the right.

They are in an area where the only neighbor that doesn't wish them wiped from the Earth is the Mediterranean Sea. A powerful and swift response to any action against them is Israel's only play as they would be attacked from all sides at the first sign of weakness. They are only doing the only thing they can to protect themselves.

America has had one 9-11, Israel lives with the madness every day. As Americans, the closest situation we can imagine that is any where close to what Israel exists with is if we were surrounded in a dark alley by a gang of heavily armed deaf men, all at least twice our size. I think most of us would fight back as hard and fast as we can, as words would be useless. While the gang might get us eventually, we could still try to take as many of them with us as we can.

[Shuriken]

Israel ir being criticized for acting not "proportionally". I also don't see how destroying airfield (thus paralyzing the hole nation and its tourism industry) and blowing up bridges and powerplants could help in finding those Israel soldiers. It definitely look like Israel is using this incident with kidnapping for waging a war in ME.

And according to CNN Israel is looking for a way to involve Iran into this...

"Israel’s foreign ministry says it has information that Lebanese guerrillas are trying to transfer the captured Israeli soldiers to Iran, The Associated Press reports. CNN is working to confirm."

Edited July 13, 2006 by Shuriken

[Fluffybunny]

Israel hits hundreds of targets in LebanonLink

Israel: 'We mean business'

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday he fears a "regional war is mounting" with Israel's two ongoing military campaigns in Lebanon and in Gaza, where forces were deployed after the capture of an Israeli soldier last moth.

"This is not our interest and will not bring peace and stability to the region," Abbas said, referring to "this [israeli] aggression."

President Bush warned Israel to take care not to "weaken" Lebanon's government.

Bush also stressed during a visit to Germany that Syria "needs to be held to account."

Hezbollah enjoys substantial backing from Syria and Iran and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel. The group holds posts in Lebanon's government.

Israeli Security Cabinet Minister Isaac Herzog said: "We are taking strong measures so that it will be clear to the Lebanese people and government ... that we mean business."

The United Nations will send a team to the Middle East to urge both sides to use restraint, a spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday.

Captives named

Israeli airstrikes were aimed at targets used by Hezbollah for storing weapons, the IDF said.

Warplanes also hit al-Manar television station because Hezbollah uses it to incite and recruit activists, the IDF said. A broadcast tower was destroyed and three people injured, but the station was able to continue broadcasting, al-Manar editor Ibrahim Moussawi said.

Israel's Cabinet authorized a "severe and harsh" response to the abduction of the two soldiers, named Thursday as Ehud Goldvasser, 31, from Nahariya, and Eldad Regev, 26, from the Haifa suburb of Kiryat Motzkin.

Hezbollah called for a prisoner exchange but, as in Gaza, Israel has rejected the call.

Hezbollah chief Nasrallah told reporters that seizing the soldiers was "our natural, only and logical right" to win freedom for Hezbollah prisoners held by Israel.

Nasrallah said the two soldiers had been taken to a place "far, far away" and that an Israeli military campaign would not win their release.

More than 70 Katyusha rockets have hit Israel in the past 24 hours, the IDF said.

In addition to the attack on Safed, missiles hit the Arab village of Carmiel in northern Israel, wounding at least 38 people, according to Israeli ambulance services.

Earlier Thursday, one woman was killed and 15 people injured in a rocket attack on Nahariya, also in northern Israel.

[Birmingham]

I finally got thru to a friend who works at the Beirut Airport this afternoon. She said that it is a well know secret that Hizbollah uses the airport to bring in weapons and fly volunteers out and then after they are train, back into the country. She discribed how aircraft would land and instead of going to the normal cargo handling areas, would park next to the Hizbollah neighborhood on the edge of the airport. Then crates and people would be offloaded and disapear into these neighborhoods. She has been worried that something like this would happen after Hizbollah made the airport a transit point for military equiptment and personal.

As far as the kidnappings from inside Isael and demands for a prisoner exchange - what would have happened if this happened on Americans southern boarder. If a militia associated and supported by a Mexicam political party kidnapped US soldiers and/or Border Policemen and removed then back accoss the boarder. Then demanded that all Mexicans in US jails be released, no matter what their crimes, to get the Americans back. There is an American expression - All hell would break lose.

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

I finally got thru to a friend who works at the Beirut Airport this afternoon. She said that it is a well know secret that Hizbollah uses the airport to bring in weapons and fly volunteers out and then after they are train, back into the country. She discribed how aircraft would land and instead of going to the normal cargo handling areas, would park next to the Hizbollah neighborhood on the edge of the airport. Then crates and people would be offloaded and disapear into these neighborhoods. She has been worried that something like this would happen after Hizbollah made the airport a transit point for military equiptment and personal.

As far as the kidnappings from inside Isael and demands for a prisoner exchange - what would have happened if this happened on Americans southern boarder. If a militia associated and supported by a Mexicam political party kidnapped US soldiers and/or Border Policemen and removed then back accoss the boarder. Then demanded that all Mexicans in US jails be released, no matter what their crimes, to get the Americans back. There is an American expression - All hell would break lose.

There are a few American expressions for that scenario:

"Opening a can of Whoop A$$."

"Good Ole' Fashioned All-American Beat Down."

"Out Behind the Wood Shed."

And a couple more I can't post here.

And thanks for posting that about your friend. It sounds like she is not in support of the terrorists, but just trying to do her job at the airport. It is good to know not everyone turns a blind eye to the actions of these animals.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Never_Hit_Nirvana

[RedEyeJedi]

Israel are the animals!!!!

50 people dead. A whole family of 10 and a whole family of 7 dead IN THEIR HOMES!!

For 2 soldiers who are alive?????

Israel are evil. No two ways about it. Israeli government are terrorists.

So if 2 Americans were kidnapped by Canadian terrorists at the border, the US would be right to bomb them??

Edited July 13, 2006 by RedEyeJedi

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

Israel are the animals!!!!

50 people dead. A whole family of 10 and a whole family of 7 dead IN THEIR HOMES!!

For 2 soldiers who are alive?????

Israel are evil. No two ways about it. Israeli government are terrorists.

So if 2 Americans were kidnapped by Canadian terrorists at the border, the US would be right to bomb them??

This old garbage again? I repeat, Israel is justified in their actions because they are in a truly incomparable situation to anyone else on earth. They are surrounded by nations that would love to see Israel wiped from the earth. Their responses must be harsh and swift to show strength; to show anything else would surely mean their end.

And the Canada-U.S. question is just silly. The Canadian government would be just as horrified at the kidnappings as the U.S. would be. Has the Palestinian government shown anything resembling horror at the kidnapping of Israelis? No. To try and compare the two situations is just moronic.

Although I do like what Denis Leary said about Canada:

"They're right above us and I don't trust 'em!"

Edited July 13, 2006 by Never_Hit_Nirvana

[RedEyeJedi]

You watch too much TV. The wrong kind.

Justified in causing the deaths of innocent families??? Why? That is truly sick. Are Israeli lives more important than any others? Are they worth more?

If you can't see that this is all an excuse. Israel doing exactly what they have wanted to do for a while on very flimsy reasons, you don't deserve to be bandying the word 'moronic' around.

Israel have denied the Lebanese governments appeals for talks and a cease-fire and it appears they have been planning this.

Time to wake up folks.

IT SEEMS ISRAEL PLANNED DELIBERATE PROVOCATION OF HAMAS AND HIZBOLLAH

[MaNgO_gIrL_hErE]

This old garbage again? I repeat, Israel is justified in their actions because they are in a truly incomparable situation to anyone else on earth. They are surrounded by nations that would love to see Israel wiped from the earth. Their responses must be harsh and swift to show strength; to show anything else would surely mean their end.

And the Canada-U.S. question is just silly. The Canadian government would be just as horrified at the kidnappings as the U.S. would be. Has the Palestinian government shown anything resembling horror at the kidnapping of Israelis? No. To try and compare the two situations is just moronic.

Although I do like what Denis Leary said about Canada:

"They're right above us and I don't trust 'em!"

The Lebanese government has condemned Hizbollah's act, I don't see what the Palestinian government's saying has to do with the bombing of Beirut.

Israel has a right to defend themselves but not at the expense of the innocent civilians. They should keep their fighting at the borders if they want to do so. They are targeting civillian's homes, a whole family was killed...man, wife and their 8 children...How can you justify that? This is not defending themselves, but it's finding an excuse to get into Beirut and destroy the country again. The Lebanese government didn't have anything to do with Hizbollah's actions, so why should they be held responsible? I hope that Israel stops targetting civillian's and Lebanon's infrastructure, otherwise it's definately gonna be war because the Lebanese army hasn't intervened (sp?) yet, but they will in case this happens

[Atheist God]

This old garbage again? I repeat, Israel is justified in their actions because they are in a truly incomparable situation to anyone else on earth. They are surrounded by nations that would love to see Israel wiped from the earth. Their responses must be harsh and swift to show strength; to show anything else would surely mean their end.

And the Canada-U.S. question is just silly. The Canadian government would be just as horrified at the kidnappings as the U.S. would be. Has the Palestinian government shown anything resembling horror at the kidnapping of Israelis? No. To try and compare the two situations is just moronic.

Although I do like what Denis Leary said about Canada:

"They're right above us and I don't trust 'em!"

First off I think Isreal deserves to get wiped out and will eventually happen. Isrealis have done nothing but power grab after power grab...

They fly fighters over Syria steal land and slaughter palestinians etc.

What Isreal is doing is the same thing Nazi Germany did before we went to war. This is mostly Iran flexing it's muscle in the region and Israel cannot win again'st them. Theirarmies will be spread thin and then they will be invaded and the country that the UN put there after stealing the land from Palestine in the first place will be anhilated. America won't get involved either.

As for Canada you Americans better start showing us some respect because we can get angry too. We supply many of your natural resources for cheap and tax free. We have been nothing but fair yet you won't even give us the 6 billion you owe us. Then slaunder us in the media. We have everything the US does and better except for that super high deficit which will eventually bankrupt your country. America is getting pushy and no we won't stand for it. We do not need an army to cripple your country we can do it economically first by cutting off the oil we sell you. Then after that Water, Uranium, Natural Gas etc. That would plunge your economy into oblivion and since China and Asia etc love Canada because we understand the concept of fair trade they will become our new largest customers.

You under estimate our power...

Canada Forever

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

First off I think Isreal deserves to get wiped out and will eventually happen. Isrealis have done nothing but power grab after power grab...

They fly fighters over Syria steal land and slaughter palestinians etc.

What Isreal is doing is the same thing Nazi Germany did before we went to war. This is mostly Iran flexing it's muscle in the region and Israel cannot win again'st them. Theirarmies will be spread thin and then they will be invaded and the country that the UN put there after stealing the land from Palestine in the first place will be anhilated. America won't get involved either.

As for Canada you Americans better start showing us some respect because we can get angry too. We supply many of your natural resources for cheap and tax free. We have been nothing but fair yet you won't even give us the 6 billion you owe us. Then slaunder us in the media. We have everything the US does and better except for that super high deficit which will eventually bankrupt your country. America is getting pushy and no we won't stand for it. We do not need an army to cripple your country we can do it economically first by cutting off the oil we sell you. Then after that Water, Uranium, Natural Gas etc. That would plunge your economy into oblivion and since China and Asia etc love Canada because we understand the concept of fair trade they will become our new largest customers.

You under estimate our power...

Canada Forever

Why is over-reaction a hallmark of boarders? I was kidding about Canada. Sheesh.

And wanting to see Israel wiped from the earth is just sick. Get some help.

And your logic is invalid as Hitler had no basis for what he did. Israel faces attacks on a daily basis and exists pretty much behind enemy lines, thus, I repeat, a-gain, their responses have to be disproportionately harsh to show strength. If they let it slide, it would only increase and lead to the nation's destruction.

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

The Lebanese government has condemned Hizbollah's act, I don't see what the Palestinian government's saying has to do with the bombing of Beirut.

Israel has a right to defend themselves but not at the expense of the innocent civilians. They should keep their fighting at the borders if they want to do so. They are targeting civillian's homes, a whole family was killed...man, wife and their 8 children...How can you justify that? This is not defending themselves, but it's finding an excuse to get into Beirut and destroy the country again. The Lebanese government didn't have anything to do with Hizbollah's actions, so why should they be held responsible? I hope that Israel stops targetting civillian's and Lebanon's infrastructure, otherwise it's definately gonna be war because the Lebanese army hasn't intervened (sp?) yet, but they will in case this happens

Beruit is connected in that it also harbors terrorists, and most of the terror networks in the area are connected in some way shape or form. And Hezzbollah has tried to goad Israel to smacking Palestine up before ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah). The Israelis have one of the best intelligence forces in the world, and if they think they need to bomb a house then there must be a valid reason (i.e. the planner of the kidnapper was there) and killing his family is just national security. I know it sounds gruesome, but it is a fact. If you don't kill the kids, they will only grow up to suicide-bomb you. Just because the news reports deaths in a house in that part of the world, you can't instantly think them innocent. Fighting terrorists is a horrid mess and isn't as clean cut as fighting an army in uniform. Sometimes things get brutal. Sometimes houses get bombed for opening their doors to the wrong people.

And Israel could have been mistaken, or just missed. They're human, they're fallible.

The whole situation is a brutal mess. And while I might not agree with some of Israel's actions, I do defend their right to action, especially in light of their unique circumstances.

[Oubli]

Why is over-reaction a hallmark of boarders? I was kidding about Canada. Sheesh.

And wanting to see Israel wiped from the earth is just sick. Get some help.

And your logic is invalid as Hitler had no basis for what he did. Israel faces attacks on a daily basis and exists pretty much behind enemy lines, thus, I repeat, a-gain, their responses have to be disproportionately harsh to show strength. If they let it slide, it would only increase and lead to the nation's destruction.

I think you hit a nerve there... Trouble maker!

[Sweetpumper]

As for Canada you Americans better start showing us some respect because we can get angry too.

Easy. We don't want America Jr. to get angry.

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

I think you hit a nerve there... Trouble maker!

Oops, not like I meant to do that or anything.

[Nasadude85]

Hmm... I'm surprised that a lot of people here are going straight to the defense of Lebanon. Hasn't anyone been watching the news?? I think it is a good thing Israel has reacted. Loads of Israel citizens die every day just because of terrorist groups. If terrorists were right next door, I'd say take them out. You say Israel has killed too many citizens... That is because the terrorists hid the bombs in places where they knew innocent ppl would die!

I don't know...

Maybe its because I'm american

[Never_Hit_Nirvana]

Hmm... I'm surprised that a lot of people here are going straight to the defense of Lebanon. Hasn't anyone been watching the news?? I think it is a good thing Israel has reacted. Loads of Israel citizens die every day just because of terrorist groups. If terrorists were right next door, I'd say take them out. You say Israel has killed too many citizens... That is because the terrorists hid the bombs in places where they knew innocent ppl would die!

I don't know...

Maybe its because I'm american

Good point! Terrorists manipulate the media, by, as you said, hiding bombs and leaders in civilian areas. Unfortunately, most people can't think far enough to realize that. They just read the causality reports and start sobbing, without thinking of why the casualties happened.

[Stellar]

I hate to say it, but this may in a way almost be preferable to the uneasy peace of the past. Before all of this, Isreal's hands were basically tied, but now they can actively and freely hunt down the enemy. This could be good, but it could also be bad.

wow... this is developing by the second... check out cnn.com

Syria and Iran might join in, and then the USA might drag the UN in... and with Korea trying to fire missiles at Hawaii... Japan and the USA might attack Korea if missiles do make it to Hawaii

It might become a WW3

You're exaggerating.

Israel ir being criticized for acting not "proportionally".

What do you mean "not acting proportionally"? Kidnapping a countries soldier is an act of war. This is a war, no? War isnt about maintaining a stalemate, war is about winning.

And according to CNN Israel is looking for a way to involve Iran into this...

"Israel’s foreign ministry says it has information that Lebanese guerrillas are trying to transfer the captured Israeli soldiers to Iran, The Associated Press reports. CNN is working to confirm."

Read carefully. CNN doesnt say Isreal is looking for a way to involve Iran into this, it shows that Isreal has information that involves Iran in this.

Israel are the animals!!!!

50 people dead. A whole family of 10 and a whole family of 7 dead IN THEIR HOMES!!

Isreal? Isreal is retaliating. They cant just sit back and let their own people die constantly. Hamas had the ability to end the war, they can make things right. Are they?

For 2 soldiers who are alive?????

Would you rather they ignored it and had 2 soldiers or 2 citizens continually abducted, week after week?

So if 2 Americans were kidnapped by Canadian terrorists at the border, the US would be right to bomb them??

If they are supported by the Canadian government, yes they would.

Justified in causing the deaths of innocent families??? Why? That is truly sick. Are Israeli lives more important than any others? Are they worth more?

Who's sicker, Isreal for doing the necessary to prevent this in the future, or the Hamas who could end this by returning the prisoner but refusing to do so?

If you can't see that this is all an excuse.

It doesnt matter if they were waiting for something to happen or not, it is justified. Isreal didnt start the war, Hamas did. Isreal is trying to end it.

Israel has a right to defend themselves but not at the expense of the innocent civilians. They should keep their fighting at the borders if they want to do so.

You cant fight a war by keeping the fighting at the borders. Keeping the fighting at the borders does not give them any chance of finding their kidnapped soldier.

They are targeting civillian's homes, a whole family was killed...

What are you talking about? You cant support your claim at all!

man, wife and their 8 children...How can you justify that?

You cant... but thats what happens in a war. All the more reason for Hamas to return the soldiers.

This is not defending themselves, but it's finding an excuse to get into Beirut and destroy the country again.

They dont need excuses, theyre being given ample justification.

I hope that Israel stops targetting civillian's

I hope that you stop making baseless accusations about things you dont understand.

and killing his family is just national security. I know it sounds gruesome, but it is a fact. If you don't kill the kids, they will only grow up to suicide-bomb you.

bulls***. Intentionally killing civilianse, be they the family of a target or not, is unlawful, it is a warcrim, and should NOT happen.

Loads of Israel citizens die every day just because of terrorist groups.

Dont exaggerate.

Edited July 13, 2006 by Stellar