Offensive to last several more weeks, says Israeli general

A top Israeli general today said he expected Israel’s offensive in Lebanon to last several more weeks.

Maj. Gen Udi Adam, the chief of Israel’s northern command, spoke as fierce battles took place between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.

“I assume it will continue for several more weeks, and in a number of weeks we will be able to (declare) a victory,” he said at a news conference.

Hezbollah fighters today battled to stop Israeli forces from capturing the town of Bint Jbail in the heaviest fighting of Israel’s two-week offensive in Lebanon.

Arab TV stations and Hezbollah said up to 17 Israeli soldiers had been killed, but Israel did not confirm this.

In Jerusalem, the Israeli military said there were 30 Israeli casualties in today’s fighting, but it would not say if any soldiers had been killed.

Later it reported it had suffered “several” more casualties during evening fighting in the nearby village of Maroun al-Ras.

Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed and “finished off” a four-member Israeli intelligence unit operating between Bint Jbail and Maroun al-Ras, a south-east border town.

The statement was broadcast on Al-Manar TV.

Israeli warplanes, meanwhile, staged 15 airstrikes in southern Lebanon today. In the latest one, an evening strike levelled a six-floor building in the southern port city of Tyre. It was said to be empty.

One person was killed in a strike on the headquarters of the Shiite Amal movement in the town of Zefta, officials said.

Hezbollah guerrillas fired 119 rockets at Israeli towns today, wounding at least 31 people and damaging property, the Israeli army and rescue services said.

Two weeks into fierce fighting between the army and the Lebanese guerrillas, dozens of rockets continue to hit northern Israeli towns and villages despite the military’s attempt to halt it with a massive aerial and ground offensive.

The fighting erupted on July 12 after Hezbollah captured two soldiers and killed three others in a cross-border raid.

Israeli warplanes destroyed the offices of Hezbollah’s south Lebanon commander in the southern port city of Tyre today, according to security officials and witnesses.

The building was empty but 12 people nearby were injured.

The two explosions in the centre of the city raised a giant pall of smoke over Tyre, and electricity was knocked out in some areas.

The target was seven-floor building housing the office of Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, the Hezbollah commander in south Lebanon.

The building was heavily damaged, the top floors were pancaked on top of each other. But witnesses and doctors said it was believed to be empty.

In a neighbouring building that was also damaged, 12 people were injured, including six children.

Among them were a woman and child who were seriously wounded, said Dr Ahmad Mroue at Tyre’s hospital.