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War on Terror

4 soldiers dead as Lebanon ground war heats up

Israeli forces, Hizb'allah in heavy clashes


By Ryan Jones
July 20, 2006

Four IDF soldiers were killed as thousands of troops poured across Israel's northern border Thursday in the first substantial ground offensive against Hizb'allah since the fighting started more than a week ago.

Six other soldiers were wounded when the IDF and Hizb'allah clashed in a series of incursions that targeted six different terrorist positions. Exact Hizb'allah casualty figures are unknown.

The most intense fighting took place just opposite the northern village of Avivim. IDF forces positioned a few hundred meters inside Lebanon waited patiently for hours for the arrival of a terrorist cell that had stockpiled arms and rockets in a nearby bunker.

A senior IDF Northern Command officer told Ynet Wednesday that Hizb'allah has constructed a massive network of bunkers and tunnels not far from Israel's northern border.

IDF Ground Forces Command chief Maj.-Gen. Benny Gantz confirmed Thursday that these bunkers and tunnels are the primary targets of what is at this time a limited incursion.

Speaking to reporters from missile-battered northern communities, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel will not hesitate to launch a substantial ground invasion if that is what it takes to end the Hizb'allah threat. Peretz stressed, however, that Israel does not intend to occupy any part of Lebanon.

"We have no intention of occupying Lebanon, but we also have no intention of retreating from any military measures needed.

"If we come to the conclusion that a ground operation is necessary, we will do it."

The Lebanese Defense Minister countered by saying that if the IDF enters his country in force, the Lebanese army will join Hizb'allah in repelling the invasion, reported The Jerusalem Post.

IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, speaking to ground troops based in northern Israel earlier in the day, warned that the battle is far from over:

"The fighting in the north was added to the fighting in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and may continue for an extended period of time."

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