Despite diplomatic contacts, aerial strikes continue: The Israel Air Force struck 40 targets across southern Lebanon on Saturday night, including Hizbullah buildings, bridges, a rocket launcher and access routes.
On Saturday evening, an Israeli air strike hit Lebanon's main road to Damascus on Saturday just 1 km from the border with Syria, cutting the highway in both directions.
Witnesses and security sources said three air strikes hit the road between Lebanese and Syrian immigration offices, but on the Lebanese side of the border. There was no information on casualties.
The Israeli military said it had struck the road to cut arms supply routes from Syria to Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon.
"The military attacked the road from Lebanon to Syria to prevent the smuggling of weapons," an army spokeswoman said.
A UN Spokesman said two Indian soldiers with the organization’s peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon were wounded and their observation post damaged by an Israeli air strike on Saturday.
Milos Strugar, spokesman for the UNIFL force, said the two had been evacuated to hospital. He said the observation post inside their position had been damaged.
Last week, an Israeli air raid killed fourUN observers, an attack that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said was "Apparently deliberate". Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed his sorrow and ordered a probe but said the UN position was not targeted intentionally.
Israeli aircraft have been pounding southern Lebanon, southern Beirut and other parts of the country in an 18-day-long war against Hizbullah.
First published: 22:31, 07.29.6