LEBANON/ISRAEL: ISRAELI AND HEZBOLLAH CLASHES UPDATE

Описание: (12 May 1996) English/Nat

The border war in south Lebanon is heating up again after several Israeli soldiers were wounded in a Hezbollah attack - the first since the end of Operation Grapes of Wrath.

There is confusion about the exact number of wounded - Israeli reports suggested between five and seven soldiers were injured but Hezbollah claims four were killed.

Israeli troops responded to the guerrilla attack with an hour-long artillery assault against suspected strongholds of the Iranian-backed group.

Israeli helicopters once again circle over villages in southern Lebanon.

Early Sunday morning, several Israeli soldiers were injured in a bomb attack by Hezbollah guerrillas - and Israel retaliated in force.

In retaliation for the blast Israeli troops launched an hour-long artillery attack against suspected strongholds of the Iranian-backed guerrilla group.

Warplanes also attacked what Israel called "terrorist" targets.

The injured soldiers were airlifted to hospitals from the south Lebanese border.

They are the first casualties since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect between the two groups on April 26th.

Hezbollah - who claimed responsibility for the attack - claimed on its radio broadcasts that four soldiers were killed.

But on the Israeli side there have only been reports of five to seven injuries.

In Jerusalem, Shimon Peres met cabinet members - aid for victims of last month's run-in with Hezbollah was at the top of the agenda.

Sunday's bombing comes at a touchy time for Peres who is lagging in the polls as voters prepare for elections at the end of the month.

His Operation Grapes of Wrath, although welcomed by Israelis, faced international criticism, especially after the bombing of the U-N base at Qana.

But a government spokesman said Sunday's events showed once again Hezbollah was a direct threat to Lebanese and Israeli lives and Israel had to retaliate.

SOUNDBITE:
"We have no other choice. We have to defend our forces and we will fight back and we will take all the action necessary to make sure that Hezbollah does not succeed."
SUPER CAPTION: Uri Dromi, Israeli government spokesman

Likud opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the ceasefire agreement with hezbollah, agreed last month, endangered Israel's security.

He claimed his party's support and adivse for Shimon Peres throughout Operation Grapes of Wrath went unheeded.

SOUNDBITE:
"Everything that we said would happen unfortunately is coming to be true. That is, Hezbollah viewed these understandings as merely a licence to attack our soldiers and this is bound to escalate. This was a bad editing to this operation and I'm afraid that all of Israel will pay the price."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Opposition Leader

Meanwhile, a convoy of cars has started out in the northern town of Kiryat Shemona - badly hit by Hezbollah rockets last month - on its way to Jerusalem.

The convoy blocked traffic on main highways in a protest against the government.

The drivers claim the government has not lived up to its promises to help the northern city after Operation Grapes of Wrath.

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