VIDEO - The IDF continued to widen its operations in south Lebanon on Thursday. Thousands of soldiers – about six brigades – are operating in the area. Bitter battles are currently taking place in several places.
Among the units operating are Golani, Nahal, Brigade 7 of the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and more – and all under heavy aerial cover.
Troops are operating in around 20 villages along the border, including some on the coast, within six kilometers of the border.
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| Reserve forces enter Lebanon (Video: IDF Spokesperson Unit) |
Troops have been ordered to "clean-up" buildings of terrorists and weapon stashes. In some villages there is fighting, in Aita al-Shaab for example where clashes broke out with Hizbullah fighters but no soldiers were injured.
Sergeant Adi Cohen, 18 of Hadera, was killed in the village on Wednesday and seven others were injured, one seriously.
Olmert: 15,000 troops needed
The army has been ordered to hasten its operations under the calculation that international pressure on Israel to halt its offensive will intensify ahead of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the crisis.
Troops in action (Photo: Abir Sultan, IDF Spokesperson Unit)
Speaking to European media Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the fighting will last days and not weeks, until an international peacekeeping force is mandated in southern Lebanon.
Olmert said about 15,000 soldiers are needed to control southern Lebanon and help the Lebanese government impose its sovereignty on the whole Lebanese territory.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said 900 Lebanese civilians have been killed and over 3,000 have been injured since fighting broke out on July 12.
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