Official: Despite UN resolution – offensive to be expanded
Army source tells Ynet that despite UN resolution on ceasefire, IDF's movement towards Litani River will not be halted unless Cabinet orders so. IDF strikes dozens of targets in Lebanon overnight, including two Hizbullah command posts. Lebanese sources say that 15 civilians were killed in air strike near Tyre
The ceasefire resolution that has been approved Friday night by the UN Security Council will have no influence on the IDF's operation in south Lebanon, a military official told Ynet on Saturday.
"At this point we are expanding the offensive in accordance with the Cabinet's decision," he said. "The broadening of the operation will come into effect vis-a-vis a reinforcement of the ground forces, which will operate in south Lebanon with the aid of the IAF and the navy. Our aim is to reach areas from which rockets are being launched at Israel, and target all the terrorists in those places."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Friday gave the Israel Defense Forces the green light to widen operations in southern Lebanon and capture the territory situated south of the Litani River.
"The more time we have – the deeper the operation will be and the greater the areas we are capable of targeting," the officer explained. "We know that many terror cells are located in these regions, but we are willing to do whatever it takes in order to thwart rocket fire at Israel," he stated.
The official noted that some of the zones in which terrorists are operating from are situated south to the Litani River, which the IDF has marked as its destination. "Not all the forces are designated to reach the Litani. Some will act in other places, but the political echelon's green light means we can reach anywhere without limitations. In this way we will be able to hit the places from which 70 percent of the short-range rockets are being launched."
However, the officer, stressed, in order to accomplish this goal the army will require long weeks of extensive operations. If the offense is ended sooner, the IDF's achievement will be merely partial, he said.
Fighting continues
More than 80 targets were attacked in Israeli air strikes in south Lebanon throughout Friday night, including 41 structures that have been used by Hizbullah. Lebanese sources reported that some 15 civilians were hurt in one of the strikes.
Additionally, the IDF continued its ground operation in the region and has started expanding the offensive towards the Litani River, in accordance with the prime minister and defense minister's instruction, issued Friday night.
Ten Hizbullah terrorists were killed by army forces in the eastern sector of south Lebanon, and a rocket launcher was destroyed in the village of Dibel. The IDF reported that "ground forces, aided by the air force and the navy, will carry on operating in the area from which rockets are being launched at Israel, in a bid to counter the attacks and strike Hizbullah."
Among the targets that were struck during the night are two Hizbullah headquarters, one in the town of Tyre, an arms depot, a bunker near the village of al-Hiyam, a Hizbullah operative's house south of Marjayoun, and three structures that have been used by Hizbullah south of the Qana village. Additionally nine bridges and 10 launch pads were hit.
Several people were killed and others wounded in an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon on Saturday, security sources said.
They said Israeli warplanes fired rockets at the village of Rshaf hours after a fierce gun battle nearby between Hizbullah guerrillas and Israeli forces. The exact toll was not immediately clear but one source said 15 people were feared dead.
The IDF said that it would "continue operating firmly in order to protect the people of Israel from terror originating in Lebanese territory and enable the safe return of the kidnapped soldiers – Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser."
Reuters contributed to the report
