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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve harris who wrote (192307)	7/20/2006 2:10:22 PM
From: michael97123	Respond to of 281500

Israel: Half Hezbollah's military power destroyed Annan calls for cease-fire, condemns both sides CNN Thursday, July 20, 2006; Posted: 2:03 p.m. EDT (18:03 GMT) Israeli airstrikes leave debris in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday. BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Israeli special forces battled Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday during a second day of fierce ground fighting in war-ravaged southern Lebanon. The Israeli offensive began is intended to wipe out the remaining capabilities of the Islamic militia, Israeli military officials said. The Israeli military estimates that its air assault on Lebanon has destroyed about half of Hezbollah's military strength. It is using ground forces to target Hezbollah's remaining artillery, believed hidden in caves, tunnels and basements. CNN cannot independently confirm Israel's estimation of Hezbollah's military strength. As Israel and Hezbollah stepped up their assaults, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday demanded "an immediate cessation of hostilities" to prevent further loss of life, allow humanitarian relief and give diplomacy a chance. While Israel "has a right to defend itself" against Hezbollah attacks on its cities and soldiers, "the excessive use of force is to be condemned," Annan said in an address to the U.N. Security Council. Annan also condemned Hezbollah for starting the crisis and for holding "an entire nation hostage." (Full story) The fighting began after Hezbollah guerillas captured two Israeli soldiers during a raid into northern Israel on July 12. Israel has rejected calls for a cease-fire until it can push Hezbollah back from its northern frontier and retrieve its two soldiers. Since the conflict began, Lebanese Internal Security Forces has recorded the deaths of 258 civilians, with another 582 injured. In a speech to diplomats in Beirut Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora put the death toll higher -- at more than 300 -- and said the wounded numbered about 1,000. (Watch as hospitals in Lebanon are overwhelmed by wounded -- 2:23) Fourteen Israeli soldiers and 15 civilians have been killed, according to Israeli Defense Forces.