Estimation: Hizbullah planned another kidnapping
Golani commander says newly discovered Hizbullah post may have been manned since summer; emphasizes army will continue to prevent Hizbullah return to border outposts at all costs
Col. Amit Fischer, head of the Golani division's 12th battalion, who commanded the IDF troops that uncovered the weapons that the army believes belong to the Hizbullah cell that kidnapped Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser six months ago, said Thursday that the post was discovered thanks to military trackers who identified markings in nearby brush.
Among the weapons found are three RPG missiles, a MAG machine gun, five LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) missile shells and additional equipment.
Col. Fischer added that according to military estimates that the equipment had been at the post since the time-period of the kidnapping but could not say for certain if the site had been completely deserted in the six months since the abduction.
Fischer said that the army has determined that the post was used by Hizbullah during the kidnapping itself and in preparation for similar attacks.
The Col. emphasized that the search operation was only conducted on the Israeli side of the border and said that the army "will continue to carry out these operations, even at the risk of altercations with Hizbullah fighters, in an effort to prevent them from returning to the outposts they held before the war."
Fishcer added that for this reason the IDF collapsed the post and destroyed the arms found concealed inside it.
The IDF will also examine the equipment retrieved from the site try to uncover new details regarding the difficult kidnapping incident, in which three soldiers were also killed.
Prelimenary examinations of the equipment validated early estimates that the Hizbullah cell used high quality equipment and prepared for the assault thoroughly.
