Day 16: Starts with rockets, ends with mortars

In the 16th day of the conflict in the north, 83 rockets were launched and landed in Israel. Thursday evening, residents of communities on the northern border were victims of mortar attacks as well.

Magen David Adom Spokesperson Yerucham Mandola announced that MDA paramedic teams treated some 70 injured in 43 different attacks in the Galilee.

Twenty-five rockets fell in Kiryat Shmona and the surrounding area, 16 landed near Maalot, 14 near Rosh Pina and Hatzor Haglilit, 12 in Nahariya, eight in the Safed region and eight near Carmiel.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that the Israel Air Force struck 67 targets in Lebanon throughout the day. Among the targets bombed were 28 buildings of the Hizbullah organization and two rocket launchers. So far the Air Force has executed more than 6,800 sorties in Lebanon.

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The Nahariya hospital received 86 patients on Thursday as a result of the attack, two sustaining injuries from shrapnel and the rest suffering from shock.

Injured evacuated in Nahariya (Photo: Reuters)

Dr. Hussein Amar, head of the emergency room in the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, told ynet: "The hospital received 15 people sustaining light injuries or suffering from shock during the course of the day. The emergency room in Kiryat Shmona took care of 27 casualties today, among them 3 injured from shrapnel."

More than 10 fire crews in the Upper Galilee, assisted by two firefighting planes, dealt with dozens of fires that broke out in the area and in the Galilee panhandle as a result of rocket barrages. One of the firemen was lightly injured and was subsequently hospitalized. Some 10 residences in the Galilee were directly hit by rockets, two vehicles caught fire and three factories and two high schools in Kiryat Shmona suffered damages.

Chairman of the Border Communities Committee, Eitan Davidi, told Ynet of the mortar attacks Thursday evening: "With nightfall, a heavy barrage of rockets and mortars began. The few remaining residents in the area followed IDF instructions and were staying in shelters and fortified structures. Fortunately, the attacks did not result in casualties or damages. This was by far the most difficult barrage that we've sustained since the onset of the fighting."

First Lieutenant Yiftah Shrier's funeral, Thursday (Photo: AP)

Seven of the IDF soldiers killed in a deadly ambush in Bint Jbeil on Wednesday were laid to rest Thursday. Hundreds attended the funerals and tried to ease the pain of the families.

Nine soldiers and officers were killed in the bitters battles and 27 were injured. The day opened with a harsh encounter in the village of Bint Jbeil, "Hizbullah's capital," in southern Lebanon, which claimed the lives of eight – a deputy battalion commander, two company commanders and five soldiers.

The injured were evacuated for hours under heavy fire, and then more bitter news arrived from the battlefield: A missile fired by Hizbullah killed an officer and wounded five soldiers.

Commander of the Galilee District Police, Dep. Cmdr. Daniel Hadad, said: "I can say that some ninety percent of the remaining population in the Galilee district heeds the security regulations issued by the police and the home front command. Whoever follows these instructions is not hurt by rockets."

Hadad addressed the intensity of work in the district.

"In our district alone, we have sustained some 1,300 rocket attacks up to now, and police forces arrive at the hit sites. In addition to this role, police also aid those in distress, helping the local authorities distribute food and assisting the rescue teams. Nevertheless, I must say that I haven't noticed signs of erosion among the police officers. I found them to be highly motivated, with one clear purpose – to save lives and reduce damages."

Police forces in the district, aided by volunteers, deployed, since the onset of the fighting, in different communities in order prevent looting from houses hit by rockets or apartment buildings whose residents are in a collective shelter or have left the area. According to Hadad, at this point in time, 14 known burglars have been arrested and no other incidents of theft have occurred.

In light of the situation's escalation, the security cabinet approved an additional enlistment of three reserve divisions.

"We will first call up commanders and, when the time is right, soldiers," said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz, said: "On the 16th day of the fight and in the difficult operations yesterday (Wednesday), we suffered heavy losses, but this will not break our spirit or weaken our hand. We can hurt, but not break. We can worry, but not desist."