Fears of 'all-out war'
2006-07-13 11:44
Beirut - Israeli fighter jets bombed Lebanon's only international airport and killed 28 civilians in a wave of retaliatory strikes over the killing and capture of soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas in the worst cross-border violence in 10 years.
An Israeli woman was also killed when Hezbollah fired off a barrage of rockets across the volatile border, sending panicked residents of communities in northern Israel into bomb shelters.
As the international community issued urgent appeals for restraint, the Middle East quartet was holding consultations in a bid to prevent the conflict from developing into "all-out war".
Restraint
France and Russia condemned Israel's action as "disproportionate," although the United States has backed its main Middle East ally over the crisis.
The United States urged restraint from all parties in the Middle East "while recognising Israel's right to defend itself," a White House official said on Thursday on condition of anonymity.
"We have to remember how this started, with Hezbollah rockets attacking Israel across the border and the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers," said the official.
At least 50 raids in Lebanon
A day after Israel sent troops back into Lebanon for the first time in six years, its war planes conducted at least 50 raids on Thursday, slamming missiles into runways at Beirut airport, Hezbollah's television station and other targets in the capital and across the south of the country.
The killing of eight soldiers and the capture of another two by Hezbollah militants in fighting on the volatile Israel-Lebanon border on Wednesday opened up a dangerous new front in the Middle East conflict.
Airport lost $5m
The raids on Lebanon forced the closure of Beirut's brand-new airport and the diversion of flights to the neighbouring Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Lebanon said its only international airport will remain shut for at least 48 hours.
"The airport will be partly operational within 48 hours, but reopening the airport is a political decision that will be decided by the cabinet," transport minister Mohamad Safadi told reporters.
"The runways have all been hit, although some less than others," he said.
"The closure of the airport has inflicted losses of $5m only for today. This does not include damages, which will be determined later," an airport official said.
Blockade
Israel also announced an air, sea and land blockade against its northern neighbour, with warships patrolling Lebanese coastal waters, in what the military said was an effort to halt arms smuggling.
Lebanon denies involvement
The Lebanese government - which includes a Hezbollah minister - denied any involvement in the Hezbollah action and demanded an urgent UN security council meeting.
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, whose cabinet was due to meet again on Thursday, also called up world leaders "to ask them to help Lebanon in the face of the aggression and in order to contain the situation".
AP and AFP