Zaman Online [Turkey]: Israel Undertakes Last Minute Attacks: 11 Dead

Israel Undertakes Last Minute Attacks: 11 Dead

Foreign News Desk | August 14, 2006 | zaman.com

Although Israel approved the U.N. resolution calling for an immediate end to the fighting, it continued its bloody attacks on Lebanon carrying out last minute strikes.

At least 11 civilians were killed in Israeli air strikes that were carried out while the Israeli cabinet voted to approve the U.N. resolution already approved by the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah claimed that guerrillas had killed at least 31 Israeli soldiers and destroyed an Israeli gunboat off the coast of Tyre earlier on Friday.

The resolution, which demands both parties end the conflicts in southern Lebanon, went into effect Monday at 08.00 a.m.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will allegedly send a senior official to deal with the exchange of prisoners.

Israel had said it would not negotiate a prisoner exchange after Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers on July 12; sparking the attacks on Lebanon.

The Israeli government approved the U.N. cease-fire that was unanimously approved by the 24 member countries.

“The U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 is a good resolution that creates true conditions to implement UNSCR 1559 and prevent a return to the status quo," Olmert said.

Olmert told his ministers during the cabinet meeting, "Hezbollah will no longer exist as a state within a state. Lebanon will be responsible for any problems or violations of the agreement."

Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Dan Halutz said Israel will end the offensive attacks on Lebanon early this morning, but determined that they maintain their right of self-defense.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan announced he had received assurances from both Israel and Lebanon that a cease-fire would take effect as of 08.00 am Monday.

"I am very happy to announce that the two leaders have agreed that the cessation of hostilities and the end of the fighting will enter into force on 14 August," Annan said.

Following the cabinet meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel's troops would pull out from southern Lebanon only after the U.N. force of 15,000 soldiers arrived in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah says it will stop fighting only when the last Israeli soldier has left the country.

Israel stepped up its attacks on the eve of the U.N. cease-fire deal.

Israeli aircraft attacked targets in more than 50 villages and towns, Lebanese security sources said, and bombs targeted civilian buildings and homes in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israeli aircrafts bombed Beirut's southern Dahiye neighborhood destroying eight buildings and a mosque in two minutes.

The fighting between Hezbollah guerillas and the 30,000 Israeli troops in southern Lebanon continued Sunday.

Israel brought down two Hezbollah warplanes in Tyre (Sur) and in Israel.

Twenty-four Israeli soldiers were killed Saturday; seven more were lost on Sunday.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported on Sunday that Israel is ready to discuss the possible release of Hezbollah prisoners in exchange for freeing the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah guerrillas last month.

“Israel has done, is doing and will do all it is able to do in order to effect the return home of the sons," Olmert reportedly told his Cabinet Sunday.