Israel Steps Up Assault on Beirut Suburbs

[steve2470]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LEBANON_ISRAEL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL

By SAM F. GHATTAS
Associated Press Writer


BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Warplanes bombed Beirut's southern suburbs again early Sunday, witnesses reported, after a day in which Israel tightened a noose around this reeling nation with the heaviest air strikes yet in the four-day-old conflict.

The Israeli air force on Saturday hit strongholds of the Shiite Muslim guerrilla group Hezbollah, bombed central Beirut for the first time, and pounded seaports and a key bridge. Then, in Sunday's early morning darkness, a half-dozen thunderous explosions shook southern Beirut, where Hezbollah is headquartered and much of the intensifying air assault has been targeted since cross-border hostilities erupted Wednesday.

Trying to defuse the crisis, Lebanon's prime minister indicated he might send his army to take control of southern Lebanon from Hezbollah guerrillas - a move that might risk civil war. In a more ominous sign that the struggle could spread, Israel accused Iran of helping fire a missile that damaged an Israeli warship, a charge Iran denied.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, fired waves of rockets ever deeper into Israel, and Israeli officials warned that Tel Aviv, 70 miles inside Israel, could be hit.

<snip>

[ananda]

1. gulp

Sometimes I wish there really were 4400 people sent from the future to save humanity from itself.

I fear.

[Sapphocrat]

2. How can anyone justify bombing SUBURBS?!

Rhetorical question, of course.

:( *sigh* :(

[rzemanfl]

3. It's where the Repukes are concentrated, so, well, yes. I don't

know about Lebanon though. (Mods, this is a joke, not a threat, I do not have an airplane, any clue how to fly, bombs or anything like that, can't afford to blow up my car and am too self-centered to blow my own self up)

[sg_]

4. A person from another forum I post on...

lives in Lebanon (Beirut im nearly sure). He was saying ~2 hours ago that the Israelis dropped leaflets saying to keep away from 2 bridges (one is ~200meters from his home). He says that will leave them with all routes out destroyed if them bridges are bombed.


:(

[Igel]

6. Obviously a clever ploy--lots of kids and civilians will

run to read the leaflets, then BOOM! More targeting of civilians, is there no shame? :crazy:

[ShockediSay]

5. Of course, THAT'S not terrorism

attacking civilians of a nation w/out a standing army

:sarcasm:

[951-Riverside]

7. When the retaliation starts, they will get no sympathy from me

[melnjones]

8. My favorite line from another article...

"Israel has deployed Patriot missile batteries in the northern city of Haifa to intercept rockets.

It also warned the Lebanese army on Sunday against shooting at its aircraft and said it would not hesitate to strike "at any party operating against it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060716/ts_nm/mideast_dc_364

Hypocrisy is amazing...