Israeli warplanes and gunboats struck a Palestinian guerrilla base south of Beirut late Wednesday, Lebanese security officials said, in the closest raid to the Lebanese capital since fighting erupted in southern Lebanon after guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers.
Warplanes flew over the Naameh base in the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, about 10 miles south of Beirut. Gunboats sailed facing the position, and explosions rang out across the area.
The base is run by the Syrian-backed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and was a frequent target of Israeli
attacks in the past. The latest attack comes after Israeli warplanes pounded more than 30 targets in southern Lebanon and Israeli leaders promised Lebanon a painful response for the capture of the soldiers.
There was no immediate word on casualties at Naameh. Hizbullah said its guerrillas destroyed two Israeli tanks that attempted to cross the border into Lebanon on two different occasions Wednesday.
Israeli ground troops entered southern Lebanon on Wednesday to search for two soldiers captured earlier in the day by Hizbullah guerrillas, Israeli government officials said.
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