VIDEO - Secretary General of Hizbullah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, termed the Wednesday kidnapping of two IDF soldiers along the northern border by members of his terrorist organization, “The promise that was kept.”
Nasrallah appeared before the cameras Wednesday afternoon and delivered a public speech promising that the abducted Israeli soldiers were still alive.
“First, thank God for the victory, the Jihad, and the results," he said. "I want to turn to the brave fighters who today fulfilled the promise and therefore this operation is called 'The promise that was kept.' I thank them and kiss their hands. Today is a day of loyalty to Samir Quntar and the rest of the Lebanese prisoners in Israel.”
'Two soldiers kidnapped'
Nasrallah continued, “We announced that two soldiers were taken hostage. We will make details known as the time is right. It is not true that IDF forces entered the south of Lebanon after the encounter. The Israeli report is not true. No forces entered. Whoever heard this could have assumed that they reached Beirut, but this didn’t happen.”
Regarding the reports of the Israeli tank that was destroyed, Nasrallah said, “The tank was destroyed when it infiltrated Lebanese territory. Other than that there was no infiltration. The hostages are in a secure place, very far away.”
“The operation was carried out at 9:05 a.m., and at 10:30 the Israelis still didn’t know what happened. The infiltration of the tank was at one point only, and it was destroyed. What we did today was our natural right and the only way to bring about the release of prisoners and detainees held by Israel.”
Nasrallah demands prisoner exchange
Regarding the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, he said: “The soldiers will be returned on one condition – indirect negotiations for the exchange of prisoners. If the aim of the Israelis is to bring their soldiers home, they can’t do it with a military operation. The Lebanese government is under very heavy pressure from the United States, the UN and the rest of the international elements. We are getting very severe threats.”
“Up until now the Israelis carried out a series of response operations and we exercised great restraint,” he continued. “Any infiltration into Lebanese territory will meet a very harsh response. Our restraint is not out of weakness. We are exercising level-headed restraint.”
IDF pursues kidnappers
Wednesday afternoon, the IDF continued its ground pursuit of the kidnappers on Lebanese territory. Simultaneous to the ground battle, Lebanese land was being shelled by IDF tank artillery, cannons, planes and navy battleships. The Air Force attacked over 30 targets in Lebanon.
During the IDF operations, the IAF targeted bridges, power stations and a number of Lebanese infrastructure sites. Lebanese media reported that due to the shelling, the Lebanese army was preventing residents from entering Tyre. In one of the shellings, it was reported, at least two Lebanese civilians were killed. Simultaneously, fighter jets flew over Beirut.
The kidnapping itself occurred in the morning hours. Under heavy shelling, that “lit up” the whole region, RPG missiles were fired towards IDF stations. Tracks, blood stains and a breach in the fence were found on the scene. Shortly thereafter, Hizbullah announced that it was holding two Israeli soldiers hostage, who had been transported to a secure location and who would only be released – together with Gilad Shalit – in a large-scale prisoner exchange.
First published: 18:30, 07.12.6