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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Haim R. Branisteanu who wrote (13655)	6/4/2006 8:50:06 AM
From: Scoobah	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

Unfortunately, the thread degenerated months ago due to the penchant for some posters to incite others for their own entertainment. I guess it was inevitable.

To: Haim R. Branisteanu who wrote (13655)	7/15/2006 11:13:54 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32591

Hezbollah set for open war BEN LYNFIELD IN JERUSALEM THE leader of the militant group Hezbollah yesterday vowed "all-out war" against Israel yesterday shortly after he survived an Israeli air raid that destroyed his home and office in Beirut. Sheik Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called Hezbollah's television station after the Israeli air strikes, which came amid an intensification of its military operations in Lebanon despite international condemnation. The attempt to kill Sheik Nasrallah underlined Israel's determination to take the fight direct to Hezbollah's leadership and Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, vowed the massive campaign would continue until the guerrillas were neutralised. But Sheik Nasrallah said the militant group was ready for "open war" with Israel. Last night an Israeli missile boat off the Lebanese coast which had been firing missiles into southern Beirut was severely damaged after it was struck by what is believed to have been a drone packed with explosives. Addressing Israelis, Sheikh Nasrallah said: "You wanted an open war and we are ready for an open war. Look at the warship that has attacked Beirut, while it burns and sinks before your very eyes. You have chosen an all-out war with a nation which ... has the capability, the experience and the courage." The Hezbollah leader promised "war on every level". He said the Israeli coastal city of Haifa would come under attack, "and, believe me, even beyond Haifa". Army officials said the damaged vessel was being towed back to Israel. They could provide no information on casualties, but al-Jazeera reported that four servicemen were missing. The attack signalled that Hezbollah's military capabilities are more formidable than had been believed. Dan Halutz, the Israeli army chief of staff, said the bombing of the Hezbollah headquarters was a warning to Lebanon that it "must expunge the cancer from its midst or else pay a high price". In the early hours of this morning further Israeli air strike hit offices of the Hamas-controlled economy ministry in Gaza City, setting the building on fire. The death toll in three days of fighting yesterday rose to 73 in Lebanon - almost all civilians, including five who died in strikes in Beirut and the south yesterday - and 12 in Israel, including four civilians killed by Hezbollah rockets. An elderly woman and her grandson were killed and four injured after a rocket hit a house in an Israeli village. Israeli planes again smashed runways at Beirut's airport with hours of air strikes, , and destroyed bridges on the main road to Syria. Warships blockaded Lebanon's ports for a second day. Smoke drifted over the capital after fuel tanks at one of Beirut's two main power stations exploded. Blocks of flats were shattered by other air strikes in Beirut. Israeli warplanes also targeted a radio station belonging to Hezbollah, though it continued to broadcast. Lebanese guerrillas responded with an intensified barrage of at least 50 Katyusha rockets throughout the day into northern Israeli towns. In the mainly Shiite suburbs of south Beirut, the facades of buildings were shorn away, balconies toppled on to cars and the street was littered with glass from shattered windows. "I have huge debts and now my store is damaged," said Fadi Haidar, 36, clearing away broken glass. Still, he supported Hezbollah. "Israel is our enemy and every Muslim must make a sacrifice," he said. Mr Olmert told Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations, that the offensive would not halt until Hezbollah guerrillas were disarmed. He agreed to allow UN mediation towards a ceasefire, but only if the terms included the return of the kidnapped soldiers and the disarming of the guerrillas. Israeli officials said the air campaign against Lebanon was the biggest since its invasion of the country in 1982. Shalom Simhon, an Israeli cabinet minister, said yesterday: "We don't have more than seven to ten days to deal with this problem in southern Lebanon" due to mounting international pressure. In northern Israel, 500,000 people were ordered into bomb shelters or secure rooms during Hezbollah's rocket barrage. Army officials said more than 80 rockets had been fired from Lebanon, striking towns and villages. Fifty people were wounded. Analysts said Israel may send ground troops into Lebanon if the rocket fire continues. General Halutz, who said the two soldiers taken by Hezbollah and a corporal taken by militants in Gaza were still alive, and Israel would continue to target the area around the Hezbollah headquarters. "This is a big area and we will continue to strike it as much as is needed in order to make clear we will not continue with a reality of having our towns rocketed," he said. Web links Israeli Government gov.il Haaretz haaretzdaily.com Jerusalem Times jerusalem-times.net Middle East conflict news.scotsman.com This article: news.scotsman.com Last updated: 15-Jul-06 02:11 BST