Hezbollah Rockets Target Haifa, Fighting Intense at Lebanese Border Town
25 July 2006
Hezbollah pounded the northern Israeli city of Haifa with rockets Tuesday, as Israeli forces battled the guerrilla group in and near the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbail.
Fierce fighting has raged at the town for two days. Israel describes it as a major Hezbollah stronghold and says at least 20 guerillas have been killed in fighting there. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and 13 wounded near the town Monday.
Further north, Lebanese officials say an Israeli missile strike on a house killed seven people, including several children, in the town near Tyre. The officials say it was not clear why the house was targeted.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials say a Hezbollah rocket killed a girl in northern Israel Tuesday. At least 18 people were wounded in Haifa, which was hit by a barrage of rockets.
Meanwhile, U.N. officials say they are awaiting final approval from Israel to dispatch a humanitarian aid convoy from Beirut to south Lebanon, where an estimated 700,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
Israel began its offensive against Hezbollah after guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers, triggering a battle that killed eight Israelis. The violence has claimed the lives of more than 370 Lebanese, almost all civilians, and 37 Israelis. About 20 Israeli troops have died in the fighting.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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