Israel targets Hezbollah hide-outs

Israel intends to destroy Hezbollah’s tunnels, hideouts, weapons stashes and other assets during its expected land incursions into southern Lebanon.

It does not plan to create a buffer zone as it did during its occupation of the area from 1982 to 2000, a senior military official said today.

The goal is to weaken Hezbollah to make it easier for the Lebanese army to move into areas previously controlled by the guerrillas, possibly with the aid of a beefed up international peacekeeping force, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the topic dealt with sensitive military matters.

Israeli troops and tanks massed on Lebanon’s border today. Army chief of staff Lt Gen. Dan Halutz said the army plans to send in ground forces to Lebanon as needed but that the incursions would be “limited".