Heavy exchanges of fire in Aita al-Shaab
(VIDEO) Gun battles rage between IDF forces, Hizbullah gunmen in south Lebanon; Air Force attacks some 120 targets throughout Lebanon, among them 80 Hizbullah structures, four rocket launchers; reports say senior Hizbullah member, his wife and five children killed in IAF strike in south Lebanon
Heavy fire is being exchanged Wednesday between IDF forces and Hizbullah terrorists in Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon.
Earlier there were reports of clashes in the al-Taibeh area, in south Lebanon’s eastern sector.
A Golani Brigade soldier was moderately wounded in gun battles in Bint Jbeil.
Israeli Air Force warplanes attacked early Wednesday more than 120 targets throughout Lebanon, among them 80 Hizbullah structures, four rocket launchers, a cave used to hide weapons, 25 roads and seven bridges -most of them on the Litani River.
AFP reported that a senior Hizbullah operative, his wife and five children were killed in an IAF attack in the city of Mashghara, in the eastern zone of southern Lebanon.
Local medical sources said two Palestinians were killed in another IAF attack on the Palestinian refugee camp Ein el-Hilweh, south of Sidon. Al-Manar TV reported that the IAF fire was aimed at Fatah offices located in the camp, but IDF officials said the target was the home of a Hizbullah member.
Paratroopers Brigade forces who have been operating in a number of locations in south Lebanon in recent days returned to Israel the night between Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for the next phase of the offensive. IDF sources said they estimate the paratroopers struck more than 80 terrorists since the fighting began nearly a month ago.
On Wednesday morning cabinet is expected to discuss the expansion of the ground offensive in south Lebanon.
On Tuesday four IDF soldiers were killed in Lebanon. Staff Sergeants Moran Cohen and Oren Lifschitz, both paratroopers, were killed during battles in Bint Jbeil; earlier on Tuesday two reserve soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in heavy exchanges of fire in the village Labouna in the Bint Jbeil area in southwest Lebanon.
One of the reservists killed was identified as Gilad Balahsan, 28, from Carmiel.
