Subscribe to our e-mail alerts

E-mail:

Israel News Feed Or subscribe to our RSS feed | What is RSS?
Israel News from Jerusalem Newswire
War on Terror

Ceasefire talks continue; Israel presses ground offensive

IDF expected to expand presence in southern Lebanon


By Ryan Jones
July 24, 2006

While the international community continued efforts to come up with a suitable ceasefire, Israel Sunday pressed forward with its ground offensive in southern Lebanon with the intent of rooting out Hizb'allah as thoroughly as possible.

The large contingent of Israeli forces on the ground in Lebanon managed to capture the Hizb'allah stronghold of Maroun al-Ras Sunday following nearly 48 hours of fierce fighting.

The next major target the government is expected to approve is the Lebanese coastal city of Tyre, from which the bulk of Hizb'allah missile attacks on Haifa have originated.

Senior military officials told Ha'aretz that great care is being taken with the lives of Israel's soldiers:

The operation is moving "slowly and carefully, under heavy fire, from the air, tanks and artillery, in order to soften up resistance."

Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting. More than 100 Hizb'allah gunmen are believed dead.

Despite the degree of caution, the IDF is hoping to quickly achieve its objectives, believing it has 7-10 more days before the international community insists on a ceasefire.

On Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met with US President George W. Bush to request an immediate ceasefire be imposed upon Israel, which France and other Western European powers have been calling for for more than a week.

The Saudi proposal for ending the crisis consisted of an immediate bilateral ceasefire, a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizb'allah, and the indefinite postponement of any efforts to disarm the terror group.

Those terms would seem to fly in the face of Bush's position, which regards Hizb'allah as the root cause of the present troubles, and his stated desire to see Iranian-backed organization removed as a threat to Israel.

Israeli officials expect Washington to continue holding back international pressure for a ceasefire until Hizb'allah is sufficiently weakened to allow for a lasting cessation of hostilities along the border.

US Secretary of Rice was set to arrive in Jerusalem Monday for talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over the best way to procede with handling what has become a war. Prior to her arrival, Olmert expressed his willingness to consider the insertion of a multi-national force into southern Lebanon when the fighting does come to an end.

Like the article?
Help spread the word:
Jnewswire updates
Never miss another story
  • Inbox already too full?
    Subscribe to our
    RSS feed instead!