'War of vengeance' begins
2006-07-31 18:33
Beirut - Hezbollah's Al-Manar television claimed that fighters hit an Israeli warship off the coast with missiles on Monday.
The Israeli military denied the claim.
Al-Manar said the strike on the warship off the coast of the southern city of Tyre was part of its retaliation for an Israeli strike in Qana that killed at least 56 civilians.
"This is the beginning of our vengeance for the children of Qana," it said.
The Israeli army said that "despite all reports in the Arab media", none of its ships were hit. It said all its ships were accounted for.
In July 15, Hezbollah struck a warship off Beirut's coast with what Israel said was an Iranian-made, radar-guided C-802 missile.
The strike killed four Israeli soldiers after initial Israeli statements that it caused little damage to the craft.
- AP