Reuters Breaking: Israeli strike kills 25 farm workers in Lebanon

[Cooley Hurd]

Reuters link

CHTOURA, Lebanon, Aug 4 (Reuters) - At least 25 farm workers, including many Kurds and Syrians, were killed on Friday when Israeli aircraft bombarded trucks being loaded with fruits at a farm on Lebanon's border with Syria, security sources said.

They said the farm was near the village of Qaa in the northern tip of the eastern Bekaa Valley. Aircraft fired at least three rockets at the trucks which were being loaded with peaches and plums.

The dead and about 15 wounded were being evacuated to hospitals in Syria, they said.

Thanks for the better link, cal04.:thumbsup:

[Ganja Ninja]

1. That would be Syria right?

[xultar]

2. Not on the Syria side.

[jpkenny]

64. But it is a major WAR CRIME. You can't mistake farmers gathering food.

Where the hell is the rest of the world?

[xultar]

65. I don't disagree that it is a war crime for sure. Apparently trucks...

any truck is a target for Israel.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. The Lebanon end of the valley...

[Lerkfish]

6. further convinces me they're trying to provoke Syria into entering the

conflict so the US can attack Syria, and Iran.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. According to the Alertnet story, many were Syrian...

Why else would they bomb civilians who were very clearly NOT Hezbollah fighters???

[genieroze]

60. I guess they had fruit bombs. Maybe they were gonna toss a salad at them.

edited to add :wtf:

[Tight_rope]

31. Exactly...Right on cue for Bushco*

[Nothing Without Hope]

41. Exactly. All part of the plan. n/t

[Miss Chybil]

71. I think you are exactly right. nt

[Ghost Dog]

15. Big map here (sorry to overflow your screen):

[Ghost Dog]

19. BTW, I'm a bit worried about the way the corporate media,

en masse, is referring to the IDF's desire to "push up to the Litani river, 30km (19 miles) north of the border".

As you can see from this map, the lower section of this river, as it turns west (and flows through a deep gorge) to the sea is indeed 30km or so from the blue line border; but the headwaters of the Litani are to be found on the flanks of the central Bekaa Valley, north of Baalbeck. If the IDF is considering controlling the entire river (and taking advantage of its water), as these Bekaa incidents may seem to imply, then they are looking at a long stretch of territory flanking the Syrian border.

River Litani in the Bekaa Valley.


Litani Reservoir.

[legin]

25. Yup

watched Sky News the other day and they were suggesting this with their maps.

[madrchsod]

39. that`s one of the things Israel wants and desperately needs

water. they have wanted to control this area for years

[Zhade]

67. Decades, in fact. When Israel invaded in the 80s, controlling the river...

...was one of their main goals.

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. Yes, exactly. Israel's government wants that Lebanese water. LINKS:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1744760&mesg_id=1754772

I expect that any "just peace" that Israel calls for will include, one way or another, their taking over these important Lebanese water resources near the border. They've demanded this water, tried to claim it though it is in Lebanon, issued threats over it, for years. The destruction of the Southern Lebanese villages are another part of this, I believe; they represent competition for this water.

[atreides1]

11. Does it make a difference????

[Ganja Ninja]

13. It would to the Syrians.

An attack in Syria proper would mean a wider war.

[Lerkfish]

14. YES, because if they bomb Syria, then its a whole new shooting match

it might be anyways, because of this.

If Syria enters the fray, then BUshco will attacke syria, and Syria has a mutual protection agreement with Iran, so Iran will obligated to defend Syria.

If that happens, instead of two countries involved (well, two and half if you count palestine), then you have 5 countries involved...ipso facto WWIII.

[atreides1]

23. And the big question is....

....where exactly will Bush find the manpower to attack Syria? Most of the US ground forces are being pulled back towards Baghdad.
And airpower alone can't do the job, besides there have been rumors that the Syrians have upgraded their air defense artillery courtesy of the Russians. And just because they haven't utilized it against the Israeli flyovers doesn't mean they aren't there. They could be waiting until they have to utilize against something big.

I don't have a dog in this fight, and if the Israelis provoke the Syrians, then they can fight the Syrians by themselves as far as I'm concerned.

[Lerkfish]

30. the plan doesn't have to be logical for the neocons to implement it.

neocons are naive, and therefore even more dangerous.

I disagree that mere logic or logistics will prevent them from attacking Syria and Iran.

don't think conventional warfare. They have something else up their little sleeves.

[Massachusetts]

43. ....where exactly will Bush find the manpower to attack Syria?

BINGO! You are correct Sir.

[Zhade]

68. Sing it with me: D - R - A - F - T.

NT!

[Henny Penny]

50. And don't forget the russians...

They are supposed to be building a naval base in Syria...

[cal04]

4. Israeli strike kills 25 farm workers in Lebanon

At least 25 farm workers, including many Kurds and Syrians, were killed on Friday when Israeli aircraft bombarded trucks being loaded with fruits at a farm on Lebanon's border with Syria, security sources said.

They said the farm was near the village of Qaa in the northern tip of the eastern Bekaa Valley. Aircraft fired at least three rockets at the trucks which were being loaded with peaches and plums.

The dead and about 15 wounded were being evacuated to hospitals in Syria, they said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L04814952.htm

[Lerkfish]

7. they were planting evil vegetables.

"sarcasm"

[Mr_Spock]

35. Killer tomato's

Or plums in this case :(

[uppityperson]

48. kick with AOTKT stuff

http://movies.nnov.ru/Covers/Attack%20of%20the%20Killer%20Tomatoes!.jpg
http://www.killertomatoes.com/mainFlash.asp gives you access to the good songs

[BrotherBuzz]

54. Oh, but plums are evil

The name Plum is an 'Old English' derivation of the Latin word prunum, and you, you know the evil truth about prunes. ;)

[jayfish]

10. I'm Sorry To Say This, But The Only Way The Israeli Government...

is going to be restrained, in it's wanton killing spree, is for it to be handed a military defeat. Other than the Israeli government will continue to kill whoever the hell it wants with impunity.

Jay

[Lerkfish]

12. yes, I see no end in sight, unfortunately.

and because Israel has no intention of relenting, neither will Hezbollah....lather, rinse, repeat

[jayfish]

32. I Think Hizbollah Will Be Forced To Relent Due To Attrition.

Sponsor states or no, they simply will not be able to keep up. For sake of Lebanon I hope that happens sooner rather than later.

Jay

[BillZBubb]

61. Baloney. Hezbollah isn't going anywhere.

Israel is killing innocent civilians and not doing much damage to Hezbollah. Hezbollah is just the excuse for Israeli terror.

[Zhade]

70. That's what b*s*co said about the Iraqi insurgency.

Didn't quite work out that way.

And if you're concerned about Lebanon, hoping that the only thing stopping Israel from completely occupying Lebanon goes away is counterintuitive, I think.

[jayfish]

72. I Don't Think Israel Is Going To Occupy Lebanon,...

and Hizgollah has yet to shoot down an F-16 with a Katusha.

Jay

[Zhade]

73. Yeah, probably just the area of the Latani river.

Which is bad enough (not to mention also illegal).

But I don't believe the Israeli government will stop their offensive even if Hezbollah unilaterally disarm.

[legin]

21. Agreed n/t

.

[Zhade]

69. I fail to see why you would be sorry to state that.

Considering Israel's massive war crimes compared to Hezbollah's, it makes sense to think that Israel losing would mean less dead civilians.

I think we all want the killing to stop, period, of course.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Sky news link too

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13536197,00.html

[allemand]

8. BBC: 'Twenty killed' in Israeli strike

An Israeli air strike on a village near Lebanon's border with Syria has killed at least 20 people and injured 30, Lebanese officials have said.

Details are still sketchy but the casualties were being taken to hospitals in Syria, Lebanese security sources told Reuters news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5245884.stm

[underpants]

16. In the middle of a field? Sounds like something from "The Great Escape"

Take everyone out to a field and mow them down.

Sorry that is my first impression of this.

[Ghost Dog]

17. The IDF will presumably claim these trucks,

according to their 'intelligence', were being loaded with weapons and or other supplies for Hizbollah.

[LostinVA]

18. Bingo n/t

[Ghost Dog]

20. We'll see what Fisk, for example, has to report when he gets there,

if they don't take him out first.

(Please watch your back, Robert).

[LostinVA]

22. Fisk is often a shining light in the darkness n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

26. Trucks just like them will be shown in videos from some other time

and place, similar trucks. Not these trucks of course, but trucks never the less. And vegetables can easily be confused with rockets.

[bluedog]

28. yep.reminds me of Colon Powell's' pictures at the UN

all I can say is Israel needs to be reined in......IMO all nations should merge their planes and troops and naval forces on Israels borders..then and only then will they back down

[jayfish]

33. Pineapple Grenades?

:shrug:

Jay

[Supersedeas]

34. To the Condis of the world, the 'word' intelligence justifies everything

[Mr_Spock]

36. Just like our military would

There is nothing the "bully" can do wrong.

It's just not right :(

[legin]

24. Israel does this on purpose too

I was down in the basement in 2002/3, this killing the farm workers is not a new tactic.

[Algorem]

27. Terrorism.

[peacetalksforall]

29. What to the leaders of Israel, the US and the UK know that we don't know

that makes them arrogant blatantly criminal psychopaths? What is it? Do they see success for themselves that we can't see?

For the US ... is it to steal as much money as they can under the guise of war and patriotism?

For Israel - is it more land and water?

For the UK - do they want to reap the benefits of the US psychopaths who offer no pretense about what they are attempting.

Or all they all doing the bidding of the barons who want the little people contained and all the resources of the planet under the feet of the little people = world wide?

Rice Rusmfeld Bolton Bolten Cheney Wolfkowiatz Addington etc etc etc - madmen operatives for the barons?

[acmavm]

37. I am beginning to think that the best thing for the entire planet

right now would be...

no, better not.

[JNelson6563]

38. More needless death.

:cry:

[Nothing Without Hope]

40. As their actions alienate more and more people, the Israeli radicals

running that government seem to be reaching farther and farther in what seems to me to be an attempt to incite attacks from Syria and especially Iran. I think they expect opinion to swing back their way once they manage to incite these attacks.

This was an act of murder.

[lumpy]

45. Israel just might want a big piece of

Lebanon to claim as their own, especially in this juicy bit of Lebanon. Wouldn't be surprised if negotiations are in the making to appease Syria to stay out of the fray. Except for Hezbollah the Lebanese government appears to be helpless.

[Nothing Without Hope]

46. "Juicy piece" is right - I believe they're after the WATER:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1744760&mesg_id=1754772

Look for any "just peace" Israel is willing to accept to include access to the water of Southern Lebanon. I think that's another reason to destroy and clear the southern villages. Removes competition for that water.

[allemand]

44. Israeli air raid kills 33 civilians in Lebanon

By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent

BEIRUT (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike killed at least 33 farm workers in northeastern Lebanon on Friday and Hizbollah fired scores of rockets into Israel in a worsening conflict that world powers have failed to halt.

Most of the dead and 20 wounded were taken to nearby Syria after the raid near Qaa in the Bekaa Valley. At least three rockets hit a farm where workers, mostly Syrian Kurds, were loading plums and peaches on to trucks, local officials said.

It was the second deadliest strike in Lebanon after an air raid killed up to 54 civilians in the village of Qana on Sunday.

Israeli aircraft also destroyed four bridges on the main coastal highway north of Beirut, disrupting efforts to aid civilians displaced or trapped by the conflict in Lebanon.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060804/ts_nm/mideast1_dc_41

[IndianaGreen]

47. David Gergen: "US is no longer an honest broker in the region"

People are beginning to realize that this shitty little war in Lebanon is harming American interests in the Middle East in ways that cannot be measured.

[uppityperson]

49. Obvious comment of the day goes to David Gergen

glad people are realizing this.

[Poll_Blind]

51. Death toll up to 33 and counting (see reply #44) n/t

PB

[Cooley Hurd]

53. Goddamn it...

:(

[wellst0nev0ter]

52. "As I Write, Highly Civilised Human Beings

. . .are flying overhead, trying to kill me."

George Orwell, during the London bombings.

[Ghost Dog]

57. Yes. Another highly accurate observation from Mr. Eric Blair.

Thanks for that, wellst0nev0ter.

[allemand]

55. Picture of some of the killed farm workers

"The 30 something workers killed today in qaa, in the bekaa, on the border with Homs Syria. They had just finished collecting apples, packing them to be put on board of a truck , and they were having lunch. The israeli wasted 2 air strikes on them."
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2006/08/hanady-sent-this-here.html

[leftchick]

56. 33 Dead Farm workers

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Lebanon/201553



Rescuers tend to an injured Syrian kurd farm worker after an Israeli air raid on a farm in northeastern Lebanon killed 33 and wounded 20, August 4,2006. Israel struck four bridges linking Beirut to the north of the country earlier during the day. REUTERS/Mohammed Solh (LEBANON)

<snip>


Four Israeli missiles slammed into a refrigerated warehouse where farm workers were loading vegetables near the Lebanon-Syria border on Friday, killing at least 33 people, a Lebanese civil defense official said.



At least 17 other workers were injured in the attack, and some were likely buried under the rubble, said Ali Yaghi, a Lebanese civil defense official at the scene. Some of the workers were killed by flying rocks and shrapnel after the missiles struck, Yaghi conveyed.


Yaghi said civilian pickup trucks were dispatched to haul the bodies, as well as the wounded, to Syrian city of Homs, because roads toward hospitals in Lebanon had been cut off by Israeli air earlier Friday.



The agricultural site was run by a Lebanese company, and employed some 60 workers. The strike took place near the town of al-Qaa, about 10 kilometers from Hermel, a Hizbullah stronghold that has been hit by Israeli airstrikes at least three times.

[leftchick]

58. This is awful! *graphic*

:cry:



The bodies of Syrian kurd farm workers lie on the ground after an Israeli air raid on a farm in northeastern Lebanon, August 4, 2006. The raid on Qaa in the Bekaa Valley killed 33 and wounded 20. Israel struck four bridges linking Beirut to the north of the country earlier during the day. REUTERS/Mohammed Solh (LEBANON)

[AliceWonderland]

59. Sigh. (n/t)

[bluedog]

62. rolling slide show of damage done in Lebanon

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/home3.asp

[Ghost Dog]

63. Syrian Arab News Agency communicado here:

http://www.sana.org/eng/22/2006/08/04/54695.htm

New Brutal Israeli Massacre in The Lebanese Northern Bekaa
Friday, August 04, 2006 - 08:20 PM

Beirut, (SANA)-
The Israeli enemy on Friday perpetrated a new brutal massacre to be added to its terrorist record by killing scores of Syrian and Lebanese farm workers and their families while loading trucks with fruits in the Lebanese northern Bekaa town of Kaa.
SANA learned that the number of the victims of the Zionist massacre which was perpetrated by two successive air raids in the town of Kaa at noon today reached 33 martyrs and scores of others were wounded .
The sources said that 23 of the victims were of Syrian workers including 18 men, 5 women , and 3 girls , and 10 others were wounded while the rest were Lebanese nationals.
A.N.Idelbi

PS. Worth checking out their front/news pages also, as time goes by.

[Zhade]

66. Man, those must have been some deadly plums.

Um, war crimes anyone?

[HuffleClaw]

74. one more blatant and criminal attempt to goad syria into war

appalling.