Lebanese Officials Say 40 Killed in Wednesday's Israeli Air Strikes
19 July 2006
Lebanese security officials say Israeli air strikes have killed more than 40 civilians and wounded many more in Wednesday's attacks in the south and east of the country.
The officials say many of the deaths occurred in a village near the port city of Tyre. Israeli attacks there flattened several houses.
Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas clashed on the Lebanese side of the border. Unconfirmed reports on Al Arabiya television say two Israeli soldiers were killed in heavy fighting.
Earlier, the Israeli army said ground troops were operating in southern Lebanon for what the army called "pinpoint attacks" on Hezbollah outposts.
In recent days, Israeli forces crossed into southern Lebanon several times, but withdrew soon after destroying Hezbollah positions.
Israeli warplanes again hit targets in areas south of Beirut in a Hezbollah stronghold already devastated by repeated bombings since Israel began its military offensive last week.
Hezbollah guerrillas fired several rockets at Israel's port city of Haifa today. Israeli medics say there were no casualties.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah fired at least 100 rockets at northern Israel, hitting Haifa and several border towns.
More than 250 Lebanese and 25 Israelis have died in fighting that erupted after Hezbollah guerrillas abducted two Israeli soldiers during a cross-border raid on July 12.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel's offensive against Hezbollah will continue until the soldiers are released and Israelis are safe from rocket attacks.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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