Israeli troops enter Lebanon
2006-07-12 13:05
Aita Shaab - Lebanon's Hezbollah militia captured two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday, prompting the first Israeli ground operation into Lebanon since its 2000 troop pullout.
The soldiers' seizure opened a new front in the troubled Middle East after the capture of another Israeli soldier on the Gaza border by Palestinian militants two weeks ago plunged the region into chaos.
The raid by Hezbollah came amid intense cross-border exchanges that left at least four civilians wounded in northern Israel and another four in south Lebanon, including a correspondent of Hezbollah television.
Two Lebanese civilians were later killed and five others wounded as the Israelis mounted their incursion, Lebanese police said.
Celebratory gunfire
"To fulfil a promise to free the prisoners and detainees, the Islamic Resistance captured at 09:05 two Israeli soldiers at the borders with occupied Palestine," Hezbollah said, referring to its military wing.
Defence minister Amir Peretz confirmed the soldiers were captured in an operation along Israel's northern border.
The Syrian- and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militant group, which sits in the Lebanese government and whose armed wing controls the south of the country, said the two soldiers "were moved to a safe place".
As soon as news of the capture was announced, celebratory gunfire erupted across Beirut's southern suburbs - a Hezbollah stronghold. A number of residents also distributed sweets to passing motorists.
Israeli troops cross border
But Israeli troops swiftly crossed the border in the first ground incursion since the Jewish state ended its 22-year occupation of south Lebanon six years ago, as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised a tough response.
"Our planes, tanks and artillery are operating inside Lebanese territory," a military spokesperson said.
Olmert warned those who "try to shake Israel's determination" will "pay heavily" for their acts as he received Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi on the first visit to the region by a Japanese leader in more than a decade.
6 000 more troops called up
Clearing his schedule, Olmert has called an emergency cabinet meeting for 20:00 while the military prepared to call up a reserve division of 6 000 troops, headed for Israel's northern border.
Israel's defence minister, meanwhile, said he would hold the Lebanese government, in which Hezbollah is a member of a ruling coalition, responsible for their fate.
"Israel holds the Lebanese government fully responsible for this morning's attack along the northern border," Peretz said.
"Lebanon is directly responsible for the fate of the soldiers and must act immediately to locate them, prevent any harm to them and return them to Israel," he added.
High alert
Lebanese police said Israeli warplanes flew at low and medium altitude over southern Lebanon and pounded several Hezbollah positions as well as a bridge in the western sector of the area.
Israel had been on high alert for possible retaliation from Hezbollah following its threats to kill Hamas militants based in Damascus and since it sent warplanes over a Syrian presidential palace late last month.