IDF post, Sunday
Photo: AFP
Northern border shelling
Photo: Reuters
Officer: Bullets flew between our legs
(VIDEO) Sunday's tough battle on northern border provides unfolding dramas in worst fighting since IDF left Lebanon. Army commander: 'My soldiers operated in best possible way'
VIDEO - The fighting
that took place Sunday between the IDF and Hizbullah has been categorized as the worst and most significant since Israel left Lebanon.
IDF officers said after the ceasefire that their hope is that the message got across, but that if Hizbullah decides to attack again the Israelis are ready with an adequate retaliation. Meanwhile, officials at the northern border took the time to summarize the events of the last 24 hours.
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"They had snipers fire at us from all directions. I saw the bullets hit the asphalt, and ricochet on us; I knew I had to evacuate the infantry force from there. The battle lasted an hour, while I thought I'll never get out of it, until the last terrorist was hit," Captain Phares Abdullah, a company commander at the Herev battalion, described.
Captain Abdullah arrived at the northern border only a month ago after serving in the territories. When Hizbullah started shooting in the morning toward the eastern region he decided to make his way to the Nurit post.
"I knew that it's only a matter of time until they start shooting there," he told Ynet.
A sniper bullet hit the wheel of his jeep as soon as he entered the post.
"We heard explosions. They were clearly mortar shells. When we left the jeep the bullets flew between our legs. The target was to reach infantry force near the fence," he said.
Video: Yaron Brenner
When Captain Abdullah arrived at the fence only a mound of soil separated between the IDF soldiers and the Hizbullah terrorists.
"I knew that I had to evacuate the soldiers from there. I coordinated a tank fire toward the source of the shooting, went up to give cover to the soldiers and they ran. The firing continued and I rescued my soldiers--the communication specialist and the driver--the same way, while firing toward the source of the shooting."
"It was not simple, I waited until there was no more shooting, a helicopter gunship fired toward the area and only then I realized that it was over and everyone escaped injuries," he recounted.
'Serious threat that cannot be taken lightly'
Captain Elad Tzuri, commander of the Alon Company of the 82nd armored battalion, led the battle while commanding eight tanks.
"The soldiers were excited, they knew that at some point they will have to face and fight Hizbullah terrorists and they did it the best way they could. It was definitely challenging, the terrorists shot at us but the tanks maneuvered well, were determined, and achieved accurate hits," he said.
IDF strikes Hizbullah post (Video: IDF Spokesperson's Office)
"In the last fight, a few tanks got hit, but we learned the lessons, changed our methods, and ended up with no injuries," added captain Tzuri in satisfaction and stressed that despite the fact that his soldiers surprised the Hizbullah, no one is complacent.
"When we first saw that terrorist, we realized it was a serious threat that cannot be taken lightly," he said.
The battalion commander, Lt. Colonel Oded Basiuk, had only good things to say about his soldiers.
"The tanks fired on the move and destroyed many targets," he said.
He added that after the combat, the crews armed the tanks again in preparation for another battle that may be coming in the next few days. Everyone knows that despite the calm in the north, one cannot remain unconcerned.
Northern border on fire (Photo: Hagai Aharon)
The one person who "missed out" on the combat was commander of the Baram western brigade, Colonel Chen Livni, who is overseas as part of preparations for his next role as an IDF attaché in the United States.
Division Commander Brig. General Gal Hirsch mentioned Colonel Chen's contribution to the success of the soldiers on Sunday: "Chen took a big part in preparing the soldiers to a possible attack by Hizbullah. He has been working very hard lately and was not here yesterday, but he called to receive updates."
"His second in command took over the operation and everything went well," Hirsch said.
