Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon after U.N. vote

[Judi Lynn]

Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon after U.N. vote
Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:10am ET

By Tom Perry

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli forces thrust deeper into Lebanon against fierce Hizbollah resistance on Saturday and air strikes killed up to 19 people, hours after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution to end the month-old war.

After the unanimous council vote on Friday night, Israel launched an expanded ground offensive in the south, even though Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he backed the resolution.

Relief officials said Israel was still denying access for aid convoys to distressed civilians despite the resolution.

~snip~
The U.N. resolution called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" and authorized up to 15,000 U.N. troops to move in to enforce a ceasefire. It said Hizbollah must halt all attacks and Israel must stop "all offensive military operations".
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-12T070956Z_01_L07726695_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml

[ERF]

1. Was this not to be expected?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Israel says new Lebanon offensive could last weeks

Israel says new Lebanon offensive could last weeks
by Jean-Luc Renaudie
40 minutes ago

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel has warned its new offensive in Lebanon could last weeks despite a UN resolution for a ceasefire, as the military continued to face tough resistance from the Hezbollah guerrillas it has vowed to destroy.

"We are expanding the combat areas to the Litani river and to areas from which rockets are fired on Israel in order to reduce and eventually stop these attacks," said General Alon Friedman, a senior commander in northern Israel.

"This is a phased plan and the first stage allowing us to control the ground could take a few days. Cleaning up operations will follow, in a stage that could last a few days or a few weeks," he told public radio.

Israeli troops in tanks and armoured carriers pushed deep into south Lebanon Saturday shortly after the UN Security Council agreed to demand a cessation of hostilities.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060812/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictisrael

[Ghost Dog]

3. Israel in immediate non-compliance

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/749631.html

(The UNSC) Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations;
/...

Israel is clearly attacking here, and Hezbollah defending. Hezbollah should immediately refrain from further rocket attacks on Northern Israel in order to score a clear moral advantage at the outset.

[Lerkfish]

4. oh my. I can't wait to hear the rationalizations for this one

should be interesting to hear what the warmongers will come up with to continue to paint Israel as the victim.

[Eugene]

5. AP: Israel Triples Troop Levels in Lebanon

Israel Triples Troop Levels in Lebanon


Saturday August 12, 2006 11:46 AM

AP Photo JRL123

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel has nearly tripled the number of forces in Lebanon
as part of its expanded ground war in Lebanon and expects to fight for another
week despite a U.N. cease-fire deal, the Israeli army chief said Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said Israeli troops would stay in Lebanon until an
international force arrives.

"We have almost tripled our forces that our operating in Lebanon," Halutz told
reporters. In the first stage of the ground war, some 10,000 forces operated
in Lebanon. A tripling of troops would mean Israel now has a fighting force
of some 30,000 soldiers in Lebanon.

-snip-

Israeli officials said late Friday that troops are to make a final push to clear
as much territory as possible of Hezbollah gunmen to make it easier for the
international force, along with 15,000 Lebanese soldier, to take over.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6010846,00.html

Maximizing gains in the run up to a ceasefire. A classic tactic.

Also: Israel Widens Airstrikes Into Lebanon - AP