DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LEBANON / ATTACKS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262515
BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Hezbollah guerillas in southern Lebanon have
attacked several Israeli and pro-Israeli militia
positions. Israel replied with a number of airplane,
helicopter, and artillery attacks. Edward Yeranian
reports from Beirut.
TEXT: Hezbollah guerillas fired rockets and mortars
at several Israeli army positions in southern Lebanon
in one of their biggest attacks in recent weeks.
Several positions of the U-N peacekeeping force in
southern Lebanon also came under fire.
A U-N spokesman, Daljeet Bagga, said one peacekeeper
was wounded in widespread fighting.
/// BAGGA ACT ///
You see, this is a very large, very concentrated
attack, which started in one position and then
spread out all over the area, almost all the
western and eastern sectors, and we do not know
what the casualties are there, but there could
be many casualties there.
/// END ACT ///
A spokesman for Hezbollah in Beirut said his group
attacked and destroyed the pro-Israeli militia post at
Bayada, blowing up its fortified bunkers. Israel's
South Lebanese Army militia denied that the position
had been taken.
In the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri, a mother
and her five-year-old son were wounded by shrapnel.
Hezbollah's Al Manar television showed pictures of
five other civilians it said were wounded by Israeli
shells.
Lebanese police say Israeli planes and helicopters
carried out retaliatory raids near the southern
Lebanese town of Tyre, over the mountainous Iqlim al
Toufah region, and in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
Israeli troops have evacuated several positions in
southern Lebanon in recent days, turning over some of
them to their pro-Israeli S-L-A militia. Israel says
it will withdraw all its forces from southern Lebanon
before July Seventh. (SIGNED)
NEB/EY/JWH/RAE
18-May-2000 08:04 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1204 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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